Joni Kauko

Joni Kauko

Personal information
Full name	Joni Ensio Kauko
Date of birth	(1990-07-12) 12 July 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Turku, Finland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Inter Kashi
Number	7
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)
2021–2024	Mohun Bagan SG	40	(6)
2024–	Inter Kashi	7	(2)
International career‡
2006	Finland U16	5	(0)
2007–2008	Finland U18	11	(0)
2009	Finland U19	4	(0)
2009–2012	Finland U21	23	(3)
2012–2021	Finland	28	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Finland Baltic Cup 2014
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:00, 10 January 2025 (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 central midfielder for I-League club Inter Kashi.

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

Finland

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.

Lahti

After representing Inter for five seasons, Kauko declined a contract extension after the 2012 season and he signed with FC Lahti for one season. ^[1]

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. ^[2]

Energie Cottbus

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

Denmark

Randers

In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish Superliga club Randers. ^[4]

Esbjerg

Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season. ^[5]

India

Mohun Bagan SG

On 24 June 2021, Kauko joined Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG on a two-year deal. ^{[6] [7] [8]} 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, ^[9] but they lost 6–0 and were eliminated from the tournament, in which he made his debut for the club. ^{[10] [11]}

On 19 November, Kauko made his Indian Super League debut against Kerala Blasters, in a 4–2 win. ^{[12] [13]} He scored his first goal for the club against NorthEast United, on 12 February, in a 3–1 win. ^{[14] [15]} 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. ^[16]

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. ^[17] 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. ^[18] 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. ^[19]

After being out for nearly 16 months due to injury, ^[20] Kauko rejoined Mohun Bagan, replacing Hugo Boumous in the squad for the second half of the 2023–24 season. ^[21] He returned to the pitch as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win against Hyderabad FC. ^[22] On 17 February 2024, Kauko provided a hat-trick of assists in a 4–2 home win over NorthEast United. ^[23] On 31 March 2024, Kauko scored his first goal after the injury, in a 3–2 loss against Chennaiyin. ^[24]

Inter Kashi

For the 2024-25 season, Kauko signed with Indian I-League club Inter Kashi. ^[25] Kauko made his official debut for his new club on 22 November, as a starter in a 1–0 home victory over SC Bengaluru. He scored his first goal for Inter Kashi on 20 December, in a 3–1 home win over Sreenidi Deccan.

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. ^[26] 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. ^[27] 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. ^[28]

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

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 January 2025 ^[30]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup [a]		League cup [b]		Continental		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Sinimustat	2008	Kakkonen	16	7	–		–		–		16	7
Inter Turku	2008	Veikkausliiga	8	0	0	0	–		–		8	0
	2009	Veikkausliiga	19	3	4	1	6	0	2 [c]	0	31	4
	2010	Veikkausliiga	16	0	0	0	7	0	2 [d]	0	25	0
	2011	Veikkausliiga	31	3	0	0	6	1	–		37	4
	2012	Veikkausliiga	24	4	0	0	6	1	2 [d]	0	32	5
	Total		98	10	4	1	25	2	6	0	133	13
FC Lahti	2013	Veikkausliiga	9	0	1	0	7	0	–		17	0
FSV Frankfurt	2013–14	2. Bundesliga	27	0	2	0	–		–		29	0
	2014–15	2. Bundesliga	21	3	1	0	–		–		22	3
	Total		48	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	51	3
Energie Cottbus	2015–16	3. Liga	34	4	1	0	2	1	–		37	5
Randers	2016–17	Danish Superliga	22	1	0	0	–		–		22	1
	2017–18	Danish Superliga	29	2	1	0	–		–		30	2
	Total		51	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	52	3
Esbjerg	2018–19	Danish Superliga	35	8	2	1	–		–		37	9
	2019–20	Danish Superliga	30	6	2	1	–		2 [d]	0	34	7
	2020–21	Danish 1st Division	26	8	0	0	–		–		26	8
	Total		91	22	4	2	0	0	2	0	97	24
Mohun Bagan SG	2021–22	Indian Super League	20	3	0	0	–		6 [e]	4	26	7
	2022–23	Indian Super League	6	2	3	0	–		0	0	9	2
	2023–24	Indian Super League	14	1	0	0	–		0	0	14	1
	Total		40	6	3	0	0	0	6	4	49	10
Inter Kashi	2024–25	I-League	7	2	0	0	–		–		7	2
Career total			394	57	17	3	34	3	14	4	459	67

1. Includes Suomen Cup, DFB-Pokal, Danish Cup and Durand Cup
2. Includes Finnish League Cup and Brandenburg Cup
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearance(s) in AFC Cup

International

As of 21 June 2021 ^{[31] [32]}

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

• Finnish League Cup: 2008
• Veikkausliiga: 2008
• Finnish Cup: 2009

FC Lahti

• Finnish League Cup: 2013

Mohun Bagan

• ISL Championship: 2022–23
• ISL Premiership League Shield: 2023–24

Finland

• Baltic Cup third-place: 2014
• UEFA Nations League: 2018-19 League C Winner

References

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

External links

• Biography portal
• Association football portal
• Finland portal

• Randers FC official profile (in Danish)
• Joni Kauko Archived 8 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine at FSV Frankfurt (in German)
• Joni Kauko – UEFA competition record ( archive )
• Joni Kauko – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Joni Kauko at National-Football-Teams.com
• Joni Kauko at Soccerbase
• Joni Kauko at fussballdaten.de (in German)
• Guardian Football at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 September 2012)