Mikael Soisalo Explained

Mikael Soisalo
Fullname:Mikael Soisalo[1]
Birth Date:1998 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Helsinki, Finland
Position:Right-winger
Currentclub:Puskás Akadémia
Clubnumber:20
Youthyears1:2002–2012
Youthclubs1:Honka
Youthyears2:2012–2015
Youthclubs2:HJK
Youthyears3:2017–2018
Youthclubs3:Middlesbrough
Years1:2015
Clubs1:Klubi 04
Caps1:4
Goals1:0
Years2:2016
Clubs2:Ilves
Caps2:31
Goals2:7
Years3:2017–2018
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2020
Caps4:32
Goals4:1
Years5:2021
Clubs5:Varzim (loan)
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2021–2023
Clubs6:Riga FC
Caps6:67
Goals6:16
Years7:2023–
Caps7:21
Goals7:2
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalteam1:Finland U16
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2014–2015
Nationalteam2:Finland U17
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2016
Nationalteam3:Finland U18
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2016–2017
Nationalteam4:Finland U19
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalyears5:2017–2020
Nationalteam5:Finland U21
Nationalcaps5:20
Nationalgoals5:2
Nationalyears6:2022–
Nationalteam6:Finland
Nationalcaps6:4
Nationalgoals6:0
Pcupdate:11 August 2024
Ntupdate:17 November 2022

Mikael Soisalo (born 24 April 1998) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-winger for Hungarian club Puskás Akadémia. He has also represented the Finland national under-21 football team.[2] Soisalo was born in Helsinki, Finland. He began his senior club career on league level playing for Ilves, before signing with Zulte Waregem at age 20 in 2018.[3]

Club career

Klubi 04

He started his career playing for in the lower leagues of Finnish football in HJKs reserve team.[4] He has also played for the junior teams of Finland national football team.

Ilves

On 14 December 2015 it was announced he had joined Ilves a team from Tampere on a 3-year contract.[5]

He stated that his goal for the 2016 Veikkausliiga (Finnish 1 tier) season would be to get a start in the starting line-up.[6] He played an active role in the team's success, they finished fourth in the league and at times they even fought for the championship.[7]

Middlesbrough

On 5 January 2017, Soisalo joined Middlesbrough on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around €200,000, and was registered to their U21 academy squad.[8] [9]

On 13 March 2017, he scored a hat-trick for the Middlesbrough reserves against Blackburn reserves. The manager praised him for his performance and how he had integrated into the team.[10]

Zulte Waregem

On 18 June 2018, Middlesbrough announced that Soisalo was to join Belgian side Zulte Waregem after just one full season with Middlesbrough's U-23 side.[11] The transfer fee was not disclosed.

Varzim (loan)
Soisalo was loaned out to Portuguese club Varzim S.C. on 29 January 2020 for the rest of the season with a purchase option.[12] However, he only played two games for the club and returned to Zulte in the summer 2020.

Riga FC

For the 2021 season, Soisalo moved to Riga FC on a 2-year contract. He made his debut on 13 March, playing the first 65 minutes of a 0–2 win at Ventspils.[13] He had an impressive start and had scored seven goals in 15 games in July 2021.[14]

Puskás Akadémia

On 27 August 2023, Soisalo was bought by Hungarian top-flight club Puskás Akadémia for an undisclosed fee.[15] He scored in his debut, in a 3–1 away victory against Mezőkövesd on 3 September 2023.

International career

He has been an integral part of the various youth national teams starting from the U-15. During 2016, he took part in Finland's qualifying campaign for the UEFA under 19 Championship. He played well against Kazakhstan, scoring once and assisting three goals.[16] He scored his first goal for Finland U21 on 9 October 2020 in a UEFA European U21 Championship qualification match in Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballymena against Northern Ireland U21.[17]

In March 2022, Soisalo received a first call up for the Finland senior squad for the first time, coming into the squad after the withdrawal of Lassi Lappalainen and Onni Valakari for matches against Iceland and Slovakia.[18]

Career statistics

Club

[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Klubi 042015Kakkonen400040
Ilves2016Veikkausliiga317543611
Zulte Waregem2018–19Belgian First Division A2010080281
2019–20Belgian First Division A200020
2020–21Belgian First Division A200020
Total241000080321
Varzim (loan)2019–20LigaPro200020
Riga FC2021Virslīga1982081299
2022Virslīga2741062346
2023Virslīga2140050264
Total671630193008919
Puskás Akadémia2023–24NB I1822100203
2024–25NB I30002151
Total212212100254
Career total148261052148018735

International

.

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Finland202240
Total40

Honours

Klubi 04

2015Riga FC

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Middlesbrough . English Football League . 23 . 18 June 2018.
  2. News: Mikael Soisalo . 30 January 2020. Football Association of Finland. Finnish.
  3. Web site: Ilveksessä loistanut Mikael Soisalo hehkuttaa siirtoaan Belgian liigaan: "Seuraava tavoitteeni on miesten maajoukkue" . Mikael Soisalo, who had great performance in Ilves, celebrates his move to the Belgian league: "My next goal is the men's national team" . Finnish . . 17 June 2018 . 30 January 2020.
  4. Web site: Ilves-tähti Soisalo aikoo kaataa tänään vanhan seuransa: "Jos saan kunnon syöttöjä, teen maalin" - Aamulehti. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221021543/http://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/. 2016-12-21.
  5. Web site: Ilves nappasi HJK-lupauksen – "Poikkeuksellinen pelaaja". 14 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Ilves nappasi HJK-lupauksen – "Poikkeuksellinen pelaaja". 14 December 2015.
  7. Web site: Ilves-tähti Soisalo aikoo kaataa tänään vanhan seuransa: "Jos saan kunnon syöttöjä, teen maalin" - Aamulehti. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221021543/http://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/. 2016-12-21.
  8. Web site: Finnish Forward Joins Middlesbrough Academy. 5 January 2017. 12 April 2018. Middlesbrough F.C..
  9. https://talksport.com/football/178280/done-deal-middlesbrough-sign-18-year-old-finnish-starlet-mikael-soisalo-170105222604/ DONE DEAL! Middlesbrough sign 18-year-old Finnish starlet Mikael Soisalo
  10. Web site: Introducing Mikael Soisalo: Middlesbrough Academy's hot prospect from a cold country. 14 March 2017. 12 April 2018. Teesside Gazette. Jonathan Taylor.
  11. Web site: Mikael Soisalo Set To Join Zulte Waregem. 18 June 2018. 18 June 2018. Middlesbrough F.C.. mfc.co.uk.
  12. https://varzim.pt/site/soisalo-e-reforco-do-varzim/ Soisalo é reforço do Varzim
  13. Web site: FK Ventspils vs Riga FC: Live score, updates and head-to-head results 03/13/2021. 13 March 2021. tribuna.com. 24 August 2021.
  14. Web site: Finland - M. Soisalo - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway.
  15. Web site: MTV Urheilun tiedot: Huuhkajista tuttu hyökkääjä sai kovan siirron Euroopassa.
  16. Web site: Ilves-tähti Soisalo aikoo kaataa tänään vanhan seuransa: "Jos saan kunnon syöttöjä, teen maalin" - Aamulehti. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221021543/http://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/. 2016-12-21.
  17. Web site: Pikkuhuuhkajat hienoon voittoon Pohjois-Irlannissa . Little Eagle Owls win a great victory in Northern Ireland. Finnish . . 9 October 2020 . 5 September 2021.
  18. Web site: Muutoksia Huuhkajien leiriryhmään. Changes to the Owl Camp Group. Finnish. www.palloliitto.fi. 18 March 2022. 23 March 2022.
  19. Web site: M. SOISALO. Soccerway. 15 September 2021.
  20. Web site: Kauden parhaita palkittiin Captain's Ballissa . 2023-01-02 . www.veikkausliiga.com . fi.
  21. Web site: Koplajoukkue 2016 palkittiin päätöskierroksella . 2023-01-02 . www.veikkausliiga.com . fi.