Joni Kauko
Personal information
Full name Joni Ensio Kauko
Date of birth (1990-07-12) 12 July 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Turku, Finland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Mohun Bagan SG
Number 8
Youth career
1995–2001 Runosmäen Nappulat
2002–2005 TPS
2006–2009 Inter Turku
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Inter Turku 98 (10)
2013 Lahti 9 (0)
2013–2015 FSV Frankfurt 48 (3)
2015–2016 Energie Cottbus 34 (4)
2016–2018 Randers 51 (3)
2018–2021 Esbjerg 91 (22)
2021– Mohun Bagan SG 34 (6)
International career‡
2006 Finland U16 5 (0)
2007–2008 Finland U18 11 (0)
2009 Finland U19 4 (0)
2009–2012 Finland U21 23 (3)
2012– Finland 28 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Finland
Third place Baltic Cup 2014
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:16, 31 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 June 2021

Joni Ensio Kauko (born 12 July 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG and the Finland national team.[1][2]

Kauko made his international debut for Finland in January 2012, at the age of 21. He was a regular member of the team that won League C group 2 in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.

Club career

Inter Turku

A product of local Inter Turku's youth system, Kauko signed his professional contract on 27 November 2007 at the age of 17. He made his Veikkausliiga debut six months later on 26 June 2008 against IFK Mariehamn. During his first season with the Turku-based club, he made only eight appearances, but helped his team to win the Finnish championship. He scored his first senior goal for Inter on 3 May 2009 against MYPA.

FC Lahti

After representing Inter for five seasons, his contract was not renewed after the 2012 season and he signed with FC Lahti for one season.[3]

Germany

FSV Frankfurt

Six months after signing with Lahti, it was announced that Kauko had signed a two-year contract with an option to a third, with German 2. Bundesliga side FSV Frankfurt.[4]

Energie Cottbus

Upon expiry of his contract with FSV Frankfurt Kauko signed a two-year contract with German 3. Liga side FC Energie Cottbus.[5]

Denmark

Randers

In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish club Randers FC.[6]

Esbjerg

Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season.[7]

Mohun Bagan SG

On 24 June 2021, Kauko joined Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG on a two-year deal.[8][9][10] He was included in the twenty-two men squad by head coach Antonio Lopez Habas for the team's 2021 AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal match against Uzbek side Nasaf,[11] but they lost 6–0 and were eliminated from the tournament, in which he made his debut for the club.[12][13]

On 19 November, Kauko made his Indian Super League debut against Kerala Blasters, in a 4–2 win.[14][15] He scored his first goal for the club against NorthEast United, on 12 February, in a 3–1 win.[16][17] He ended the league season with three goals in twenty appearances, as Mohun Bagan SG finished third in the standings and were eliminated in the semi-final playoffs.[18]

Kauko scored a brace each against Blue Star, on 12 April, and against Maziya S&RC on 24 May in AFC Cup Preliminary round and Group stage respectively.[19] As 2022–23 season began, he appeared with the club on 20 August against Rajasthan United at the 131st edition of Durand Cup, but lost the match by 3–2.[20] Kauko suffered a serious knee injury in the match against FC Goa on 20th November 2022 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao and was brought off the field in the 59th minute of the match as the Mohun Bagan lost the match 0–3.[21]

After being out for nearly 16 months due to injury,[22] Kauko rejoined Mohun Bagan, replacing Hugo Boumous in the squad for the second half of the 2023–24 season.[23] He returned to the pitch as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win against Hyderabad FC.[24] On 17 February 2024, Kauko provided a hat-trick of assists in a 4–2 home win over NorthEast United.[25] On 31 March 2024, Kauko scored his first goal after the injury, in a 3–2 loss against Chennaiyin.[26]

International career

Kauko was a regular member for the Finland's U21 during 2009–2012, making in total of 23 appearances and scoring three goals. He has also served as a captain for the Finland U-21 team.

He made his senior debut on 22 January 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.[27] During Finland's qualification campaign for the UEFA Euro 2016 he was a member of the team in 8 matches but remained as an unused substitute.[28] In 2018–19 UEFA Nations League he gained four caps and was in the starting line up on 15 November 2018 in a match against Greece.[29]

Kauko was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.[30]


Career statistics

Club

As of 31 March 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League National Cups Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sinimustat 2008 Kakkonen 16 7 0 0 0 0 16 7
Inter Turku 2008 Veikkausliiga 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2009 Veikkausliiga 19 3 0 0 2[a] 0 21 3
2010 Veikkausliiga 16 0 7[b] 0 2[c] 0 25 0
2011 Veikkausliiga 31 3 6[b] 1 0 0 37 4
2012 Veikkausliiga 24 4 6[b] 1 2[c] 0 32 5
Inter Turku Total 98 10 19 2 6 0 123 12
FC Lahti 2013 Veikkausliiga 9 0 8[b][d] 0 0 0 17 0
FSV Frankfurt 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 27 0 2[e] 0 0 0 29 0
2014–15 2. Bundesliga 21 3 1[e] 0 0 0 22 3
FSV Frankfurt Total 48 3 3 0 0 0 51 3
Cottbus 2015–16 3. Liga 34 4 1[e] 0 0 0 35 4
Randers 2016–17 Danish Superliga 22 1 0 0 0 0 22 1
2017–18 Danish Superliga 29 2 1[f] 0 0 0 30 2
Randers Total 51 3 1 0 0 0 52 3
Esbjerg 2018–19 Danish Superliga 35 8 2[f] 1 0 0 37 9
2019–20 Danish Superliga 30 6 2[f] 1 2[c] 0 34 7
2020–21 Danish 1st Division 26 8 0 0 0 0 26 8
Esbjerg Total 91 22 4 2 2 0 97 24
Mohun Bagan SG 2021–22 Indian Super League 20 3 0 0 6[g] 4 26 7
2022–23 Indian Super League 6 2 2 0 0 0 8 2
2023–24 Indian Super League 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Mohun Bagan SG Total 34 6 2 0 6 4 42 10
Career total 375 53 36 4 14 4 425 61
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Finnish League Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Suomen Cup
  5. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in DFB-Pokal
  6. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Danish Cup
  7. ^ Appearance(s) in AFC Cup

International

As of 21 June 2021[32][33]
National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland 2012 0 0 1 0 1 0
2013 0 0 2 0 2 0
2014 0 0 2 0 2 0
2015 0 0 1 0 1 0
2016 0 0 1 0 1 0
2017 0 0 2 0 2 0
2018 4 0 0 0 4 0
2019 5 0 0 0 5 0
2020 2 0 2 0 4 0
2021 5 0 1 0 6 0
Total 16 0 12 0 28 0

Honours

Inter Turku

FC Lahti

Mohun Bagan SG

Finland

References

  1. ^ Randers henter finsk landsholdsspiller, bold.dk, 9 July 2016
  2. ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Joni Kauko Interistä FC Lahteen" (in Finnish). ESS.fi. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Joni Kauko siirtyy Saksaan" (in Finnish). YLE.fi. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Kauko wechselt zu Cottbus" [Kauko transfers to Cottbus] (in German). kicker. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. ^ "FINSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL RANDERS FC" [Finnish international player joins Randers] (in Danish). Randers FC. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  7. ^ "EfB henter Kauko" [EfB picks up Kauko] (in Danish). Esbjerg fB. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan sign Finland midfielder Kauko just days after Euro 2020 campaign". The Times Of India. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  9. ^ "ISL: Mohun Bagan AC rope in Finland international midfielder Joni Kauko". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. ^ ISL 2020-21: ATK Mohun Bagan signs Finnish international Joni Kauko from Euro 2020 sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021
  11. ^ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2021
  12. ^ "AFC Cup: ATK Mohun Bagan ousted after 0-6 drubbing at hands of FC Nasaf". First Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Nasaf 0 – 6 ATK Mohun Bagan". Soccerway. 22 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Hugo Boumous brace as ATKMB rout Kerala Blasters in ISL opener". KhelNow. 19 November 2021.
  15. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan 4 – 2 Kerala Blasters". Soccerway. 19 November 2021.
  16. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan extend unbeaten run with NorthEast United win". KhelNow. 12 February 2022.
  17. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan 3 – 1 NorthEast United". Soccerway. 12 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Hyderabad FC edge past ATK Mohun Bagan on aggregate, reach first-ever ISL final". KhelNow. 16 March 2022.
  19. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan thrash Blue Star SC to book AFC Cup playoffs spot". KhelNow. 12 April 2022.
  20. ^ Bhattacharjee, Neeladri (20 August 2022). "Durand Cup HIGHLIGHTS ATK Mohun Bagan loses 2–3 to Rajasthan United, ATKMB vs RUFC; Mariners lose first match". sportstar.thehindu.com. Kolkata, West Bengal: Sportstar. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  21. ^ "ATK Mohun Bagan's Joni Kauko set to be on the sidelines due to knee injury". Indian Super League. 25 November 2022.
  22. ^ Turvavöille naureskelua, tulisia mehuja ja turvamiehiä treeneissä – Joni Kauko koki Intiassa jotain aivan uutta, ts.fi, Turun Sanomat, 7 January 2023
  23. ^ "ISL 2023-24: Joni Kauko replaces Hugo Boumous at Mohun Bagan Super Giant for remainder of season". Sportstar. The Hindu. 10 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Joni Kauko Interview: I'm really happy that I came back". Indian Super League. 13 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Joni Kauko-inspired Mohun Bagan overcome NorthEast United challenge 4-2 in ISL". The Times of India. 17 February 2024.
  26. ^ Mohun Bagan Super Giant - Chennaiyin FC, espn.com
  27. ^ "Joni Kauko: Toivottavasti näitä tilaisuuksia tulee jatkossa useamminkin" (in Finnish). suomifutis.com. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  28. ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  29. ^ "Tällä ryhmällä Huuhkajat lähtee hakemaan Kansojen liigan lohkovoittoa – Kauko ja Granlund avauksessa" [With this group the Eagle Owls aim for a group win in the Nations League - Kauko and Granlund in opening] (in Finnish). Yle. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Näillä pelaajilla Huuhkajat lähtevät kohti EM-kisoja – kaksi nimeä kiinnostivat yli muiden" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  31. ^ Joni Kauko at Soccerway
  32. ^ "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). palloliitto.fi. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  33. ^ Joni Kauko at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

Mohun Bagan Super Giant – current squad
Finland squad – UEFA Euro 2020
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