Nikolai Alho

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Nikolai Alho
Nikolai Alho.jpg
Nikolai Alho with HJK in 2018
Personal information
Full name Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho
Date of birth (1993-03-12) 12 March 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Asteras Tripolis
Number 17
Youth career
1999 Honka
HJK
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010−2012 Klubi 04 44 (13)
2012–2016 HJK 80 (13)
2012 → Lahti (loan) 8 (1)
2017 Halmstad 21 (1)
2018–2020 HJK Helsinki 70 (5)
2021–2022 MTK Budapest 17 (0)
2022–2024 Volos 75 (2)
2024– Asteras Tripolis 1 (0)
International career‡
2007−2008 Finland U15 6 (1)
2008−2009 Finland U16 15 (2)
2009−2010 Finland U17 12 (2)
2010−2011 Finland U18 12 (1)
2011 Finland U19 1 (0)
2012 Finland U20 2 (0)
2012 Finland U21 11 (0)
2014− Finland 37 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 28 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024

Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho (born 12 March 1993) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis and the Finland national team. Beyond football, Alho is known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting various causes related to children and young people in Finland. [1]

Contents

Club career

HJK

A product of his local side HJK, Alho came through its reserves, Klubi 04, before signing a professional contract on 2011, keeping him with the Helsinki-based side until 2014.

On 13 June 2013, he played his first league game for HJK and went on scoring twice in a 6−0 home win over FC Inter. On 17 September 2013, he signed a contract that was effective until the end of 2015. [2]

In 2014 HJK qualified for the Europa League group stage. Alho scored the decisive goal against Rapid Wien in the qualifying play-off round match. [3]

Loan to Lahti

On 22 August 2012, Alho was announced at Lahti on loan for the rest of the season. [4]

Halmstad

Alho moved to Allsvenskan side Halmstads BK in January 2017. [5] He left after one season. [6] After a difficult season the team was relegated back to Superettan.

Return to HJK

Alho moved back to HJK for the 2018 season. [7] After a successful season HJK won the Veikkausliiga. This was Alho's 4th domestic championship.

During the 2018 season Alho was also played as a right back by former HJK manager Mika Lehkosuo. Alho, known for his speed, aggressiveness and crossing ability, he was a perfect fit for a modern-day right back. Alho made the switch and had a successful season as right back during the 2019 season. [8]

MTK Budapest

He signed for Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I (NB I) side MTK Budapest at the beginning of the 2021 winter transfer window. [9]

Volos

He signed for Super League Greece club Volos F.C. at the beginning of the 2022 winter transfer window, for an undisclosed fee. [10] On 19 December 2022, his contract was extended until the end of the 2023–24 season. [11] During the 2022–23 season, his first full season with the club‚ he played more minutes than any other player in his team, in all competitions combined. [12] After the 2023–24 season, he announced he would depart from the club. [13]

Asteras Tripolis

On 17 June 2024, Alho signed a two-year deal with a fellow Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis on a free transfer. [14] [15] [16]

International career

He made his senior debut for the Finland national football team on 24 January 2014 at Nizwa Sports Complex in Nizwa, Oman, in a friendly match against Oman. [17]

Alho was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021. [18]

Personal life

Alho's biological father is Ghanaian and his mother is Finnish. [19] He was adopted soon after by his English mother and Finnish father and was raised in Espoo with his younger sister, also adopted. He is a native speaker of both English and Finnish.

Alho attended the International School of Helsinki for the majority of his childhood, before transferring to Sports High School, Mäkelänrinteen Lukio.

Outside football

Alho is also well known for making music. His debut single "Standing Right Here" went viral on YouTube and also hit radio stations in Finland in 2013. Alho was noticed by JVG the same year and signed a deal with their label, PME Records and WMG in December 2013. His contract with PME Records and WMG ended in November 2014. Alho has stated that he will continue to make music as a hobby but not sign again with a major label until after his football career is over. Football is and always has been his first priority. [20]

Alho is also the owner of an independent record label, 325 Media. Other owners include Jesse Joronen and Valtteri Moren. [21] [22] [23]

Career statistics

Club

As of 28 September 2024 [24] [25] [26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup [lower-alpha 1] League cup [lower-alpha 2] EuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Klubi 04 2010 Ykkönen 221———221
2011 Kakkonen 159———159
2012 Kakkonen73———73
Total44130000004413
HJK Helsinki 2011 Veikkausliiga 000010—10
2012 Veikkausliiga9021601 [lower-alpha 3] 0181
2013 Veikkausliiga23300622 [lower-alpha 3] 1316
2014 Veikkausliiga22711519 [lower-alpha 4] 13710
2015 Veikkausliiga2000000020
2016 Veikkausliiga24330406 [lower-alpha 5] 0373
Total80136222318212620
Lahti (loan) 2012 Veikkausliiga81———81
Halmstad 2017 Allsvenskan 21141——252
HJK Helsinki 2018 Veikkausliiga27571—4 [lower-alpha 4] 0386
2019 Veikkausliiga22000—6 [lower-alpha 4] 0280
2020 Veikkausliiga21080——290
Total70515100100956
MTK Budapest 2020–21 NB I 13030——160
2021–22 NB I4010——50
Total170400000210
Volos 2021–22 Super League Greece 15000——150
2022–23 Super League Greece34120——361
2023–24 Super League Greece26120——281
Total752400000792
Asteras Tripolis 2024–25 Super League Greece1000——10
Career total3163533422328240044

International

As of match played 4 June 2024
Finland
YearAppsGoals
201410
201500
201600
201700
201800
201900
202060
2021100
202280
202390
202430
Total370

Honours

HJK

Individual

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References

  1. ↑ ali, Uh (2 February 2024). "Nikolai Alho Age, Height, Net Worth, Wife, Stats, Religion, Family Bio & More". Unfold Everyone. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ↑ "Nikolai Alho jatkosopimukseen HJK:n kanssa". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish).
  3. ↑ HJK eteni Eurooppa-liigaan!, Iltalehti, 28 August 2014
  4. ↑ "Nikolai Alho lainalle FC Lahteen". www.veikkausliiga.hs.prewise.com (in Finnish).
  5. ↑ "Halmstad värvar finsk anfallare". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Finnish).
  6. ↑ "Suomalaislaituri saa lähteä kesken sopimuksen Ruotsin jumboseurasta - "Odotimme hänen pelaavan paremmin"". yle.fi (in Finnish).
  7. ↑ "Nikolai Alho palaa Klubiin". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish).
  8. ↑ HJK:n jättänyt laituri on uuden joukkueensa vanhimpia pelaajia vain 23-vuotiaana: "Ehkä vähän outoa", Yle, 20 February 2017
  9. ↑ "MTK: finn válogatott jobbhátvéddel erősítettek". Nemzeti Sport. 21 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ο Βόλος ανακοίνωσε τον Φινλανδό μπακ Άλχο". www.sport24.gr. 9 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Στον Βόλο μέχρι το 2024 ο Αλχο, volosfc.com, 19 December 2022
  12. ↑ N.Alho, int.soccerway.com
  13. ↑ Nikolai Alhon tapahtumarikas kausi sai onnellisen päätöksen, Football Association of Finland, 8 May 2024
  14. ↑ Ο Nikolai Alho στον ΑΣΤΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗΣ!, asterastripolis.gr
  15. ↑ Huuhkajien luottopelaaja sai huippusiirron, Iltalehti, 18 June 2024
  16. ↑ Virallista! Tässä on Nikolai Alhon uusi seura, suomifutis.com, 18 June 2024
  17. ↑ "Huuhkajat tasapeliin Omanissa". Football Association of Finland. 24 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Näillä pelaajilla Huuhkajat lähtevät kohti EM-kisoja – kaksi nimeä kiinnostivat yli muiden" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Virtanen, Ari (26 May 2019). "Pukukopin "Veli" Alho". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 August 2019. Biologinen äitini on suomalainen ja biologinen isäni on ghanalainen.
  20. ↑ "HJK:n tähtipelaaja hylkäsi levytyssopimukset ja päätti panostaa jalkapalloon: "Ilmoitin, että ei kiitos" - Veikkausliiga - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Nouseva jalkapallotähti tekee räppiä - levy tulossa!, Iltalehti, 23 May 2014
  22. ↑ Ensinäyttö: Laulava jalkapalloilija Nikolai Alho, Yle, 18 December 2014
  23. ↑ 325 media laajentaa rosteriaan, klangi, 1 November 2018
  24. ↑ "Nikolai Alho". flashscore.
  25. ↑ Nikolai Alho, National-Football-Teams
  26. ↑ Nikolai Alho, Finnish FA
  27. ↑ Nikolai Alho lupailee vielä joskus paluuta HJK-paitaan – "Pelkkää rakkautta seuraa kohtaan", veikkausliiga.com, 17 January 2021
  28. ↑ "Pallo-Koplan Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue on valittu". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 January 2023.

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