Joni Kauko

Joni Ensio Kauko (born 12 July 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan and the Finland national team. Kauko was born in Turku, Finland where he played for the local youth teams before starting his senior career in Inter Turku at age 17 in 2008.

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

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

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

In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish club Randers FC. Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season.

ATK Mohun Bagan AC

On 24 June 2021, shortly after Finland's elimination from the Euro 2020, Kauko joined Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan on a two-year deal. 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, but they lost 6–0 and were eliminated from the tournament, in which he made his debut for the club.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Йони Кауко (russian)