Niko Hämäläinen Explained

Niko Hämäläinen
Fullname:Nicholas Antero Hämäläinen[1]
Birth Date:1997 3, df=yes
Birth Place:West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Height:1.84 m
Position:Left-back
Youthyears1:2010
Youthclubs1:Wellington Wave SC[2]
Youthyears2:2010–2013
Youthclubs2:FC Florida
Youthyears3:2013–2014
Youthclubs3:FC Dallas
Youthyears4:2014–2015
Youthclubs4:Queens Park Rangers
Years1:2015–2023
Clubs1:Queens Park Rangers
Caps1:30
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:→ Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Los Angeles FC (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2020
Clubs4:Kilmarnock (loan)
Caps4:28
Goals4:0
Years5:2021
Clubs5:LA Galaxy (loan)
Caps5:14
Goals5:0
Years6:2022
Clubs6:Botafogo (loan)
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2023
Clubs7:RWDM (loan)
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Years8:2023
Clubs8:HJK
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Finland U18
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015
Nationalteam2:Finland U19
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2017–2018
Nationalteam3:Finland U21
Nationalcaps3:12
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:Finland
Nationalcaps4:12
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:21 October 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:13:04, 13 April 2022 (UTC)

Nicholas Antero "Niko" Hämäläinen (born 5 March 1997) is a Finnish professional footballer who most recently played as a left-back for Veikkausliiga club HJK.[3] Born and raised in the United States, he plays for the Finland national team thanks to his eligibility through his Finnish father. He represented Finland at various youth levels before making his senior debut against Estonia on 11 January 2019.

Club career

Queens Park Rangers

On 18 September 2014, Hämäläinen signed for Queens Park Rangers from the FC Dallas Academy.[4] Former West Ham midfielder Ian Bishop, a family friend, arranged a trial for Hämäläinen, where he was spotted by QPR.[5]

2015–16: Dagenham & Redbridge loan

On 6 August 2015, Hämäläinen signed on an emergency loan deal at Dagenham & Redbridge until 5 September 2015.[6]

Hämäläinen made his professional debut on 12 August 2015, in Dagenham & Redbridge's 1–4 loss to Charlton Athletic in the League Cup. He was named in the starting eleven and was replaced by Ashley Hemmings in the 58th minute.[7] His loan was extended in September 2015 for an additional month.[8]

Return to QPR

He made his league debut for QPR as a substitute for Joel Lynch in a 2–1 win against West London rivals Fulham on 1 October 2016. He made his first appearance in the starting lineup on 22 October 2016 in a match against Sheffield Wednesday.[9]

2018–19: Los Angeles FC loan

On 25 February 2019, Hämäläinen joined Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC on a six-month loan deal. Prior to his signing, Jordan Harvey was the only recognised left-back at LAFC.[10] After the announcement of the signing, general manager John Thorrington said “Niko has a bright future ahead of him and we look forward to furthering his professional development at LAFC... I am confident he will prove to be a valuable addition to the group".[11] He made his debut when he came off the bench in the 81st minute and made an assist in the 90+2 minute for the winner in a 2–1 win over Real Salt Lake.[12]

2019–20: Kilmarnock loan

Hämäläinen was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock in August 2019.[13] His decision to move to Scotland was influenced by compatriot Glen Kamara, who plays for Rangers, and Lee Wallace, a teammate of Hämäläinen's at QPR, having joined from Rangers himself in June 2019.[14] So far in 2019–20, Hämäläinen has been named in the Scottish Premiership team of the week twice.

2021: LA Galaxy (loan)

On 6 August 2021, Hämäläinen returned to Major League Soccer and joined LA Galaxy on loan through the end of the 2021 season.[15]

2022: Botafogo FR (loan)

On 12 April 2022, Hämäläinen signed a loan contract for Botafogo FR until July.[16]

2023: RWDM (loan)

On 31 January 2023, Hämäläinen was loaned to RWDM in the Belgian second-tier Challenger Pro League.[17]

On 29 June 2023, Hämäläinen departed Queens Park Rangers following the mutual termination of his contract.[18]

2023: HJK

On 24 July 2023, Hämäläinen signed a deal with HJK for the rest of the 2023 season.[19]

International career

Hämäläinen was eligible for the United States and Finland, having been born and raised in the United States to a Finnish father. He originally played as a youth international for Finland.[20]

He made his senior debut for the Finland national football team on 11 January 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, in a friendly match against Estonia.[21] He played for 84 minutes until he was replaced by Juha Pirinen.[22]

On 30 August 2019, Hämäläinen accepted a call to the United States under-23s, his first call-up to the United States at any level.[23]

Hämäläinen made his competitive debut for Finland against the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on 6 September 2020, thus tying him to the Finland national team.[24]

Hämäläinen was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021, and later for the tournament itself[25]

Personal life

Hämäläinen was born and raised in the United States. He is of African-American[26] and Finnish descent. He is the son of Timo Hämäläinen, who played for the Finnish football club Koparit in 1978–1982 in the SM-sarja before moving to the United States to work.[27] [28]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Queen's Park Rangers2015–16Championship00000000
2016–17Championship30001040
2017–18Championship00000000
2018–19Championship00002020
2019–20Championship00000000
2020–21Championship2201000230
2021–22Championship00000000
2022–23Championship20101040
Total270204000330
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan)2015–16[29] League Two1000100020
Los Angeles FC (loan)2019MLS300030
Kilmarnock (loan)2019–20Scottish Premiership280301000320
LA Galaxy (loan)2021MLS14000140
Botafogo (loan)2022Série A001010
RWDM (loan)2022–23Challenger Pro League40000040
HJK2023Veikkausliiga800050130
Career total8506060501020

International

[30]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Finland201910
202030
202180
Total120

Honours and achievements

Individual

Club

HJK

2023

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Queens Park Rangers . English Football League . 58 . 26 October 2019.
  2. News: RPB Strikers' Byrne, Hamalainen earn national soccer honors. The Palm Beach Post. Wagner. Jodie. 14 April 2011. 28 September 2016. https://archive.today/20160928041707/http://youthsportsdaily.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2011/04/14/rpb-strikers-byrne-hamalainen-earn-all-tournament-honors-at-national-soccer-tourneyh/. 28 September 2016. live.
  3. https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/12/15/veikkausliigan-pelaajasiirrot-talvikaudella-2023-24 Pelaajasiirrot 2023–23
  4. News: NICHOLAS HAMALAINEN ARRIVES AT QPR. 12 August 2015. Queens Park Rangers. 18 September 2014.
  5. Web site: ASN: Now a Kilmarnock starter, Hamalainen pondering international options. americansoccernow.com. 19 February 2020.
  6. Web site: NIKO HAMALAINEN JOINS DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE ON LOAN. QPR. 6 August 2015 . en. 19 February 2020.
  7. News: Charlton 4–1 Dag & Red. 12 August 2015. BBC Sport. 11 August 2015.
  8. News: Niko Hamalainen: Dagenham & Redbridge keep QPR youngster . BBC Sport . 9 September 2015.
  9. News: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Queens Park Rangers . 22 October 2016 . 20 January 2019 . BBC Sport.
  10. Web site: LAFC: Niko Hamalainen another dart to throw at left-back problem. 27 February 2019. MLS Multiplex. en-US. 19 February 2020.
  11. Web site: LAFC Acquires Defender Niko Hämäläinen On Loan. 25 February 2019. LAFC.com. 19 February 2020.
  12. Web site: LAFC Acquires Defender Niko Hämäläinen On Loan . LAFC.com . 25 February 2019.
  13. Web site: Kilmarnock: QPR defender Niko Hamalainen joins on season-long loan . BBC Sport . 20 August 2019 . 20 August 2019.
  14. News: Kilmarnock: QPR defender Niko Hamalainen joins on season-long loan. 20 August 2019. BBC Sport. 19 February 2020. en-gb.
  15. News: Baxter . Kevin . Galaxy continue signing spree, add defender Niko Hamalainen to bolster roster . 6 August 2021 . Los Angeles Times . 6 August 2021.
  16. Web site: Botafogo anuncia Niko Hämäläinen, lateral do Queens Park Rangers que chega por empréstimo . 2022-04-13 . Lance! . 12 April 2022 . pt-BR.
  17. Web site: Queens Park Rangers. Niko Hamalainen departs on loan. 31 January 2023. 12 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Niko Hamalainen departs. www.qpr.co.uk. 29 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  19. Web site: Filip Rogić ja Niko Hämäläinen vahvistamaan Klubia. hjk.fi. 24 July 2023. 25 September 2023.
  20. Web site: QPR youngster Niko Hamalainen called-up by Finland Under-21s . 29 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053320/http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/qpr-niko-hamalainen-finland-under-21-3324123.aspx . 2 February 2017 . dead .
  21. Web site: ESPN. Finland v Estonia game report. 11 January 2019.
  22. Web site: International football MATCH: 11.01.2019 Estonia v Finland . eu-football.info . 11 January 2019 . 24 April 2019.
  23. Web site: Kreis calls 24 players to u-23 training camp and match vs. japan in san diego . USSoccer.com . 30 August 2019 . 2 September 2019.
  24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53973001 Republic of Ireland 0-1 Finland
  25. News: Näillä pelaajilla Huuhkajat lähtevät kohti EM-kisoja – kaksi nimeä kiinnostivat yli muiden . 19 May 2021 . 24 May 2021. Helsingin Sanomat. fi.
  26. Web site: Huuhkajien Niko Hämäläinen on nähnyt karun todellisuuden USA:ssa – äiti kertoi jo lapsuudessa, kuinka toimia jos poliisit pysäyttävät. 2 September 2020. fi. Niko Hämäläinen has seen the harsh reality in the USA - My mother told me in childhood what to do if the police stops me. I have seen how the police treat blacks in America. I was born and raised surrounded by these things. When I was 12, my mother had to talk to me for the first time about what to do if the police stops me. If not handled properly, it can have fatal consequences. I was 12 years old. It's crazy. It really shouldn’t be that at that age you have to discuss these things. It's just wrong.
  27. Web site: Who is Niko Hamalainen? The lowdown on the QPR youngster making his debut against Sunderland - West London Sport . 29 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202083636/http://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/niko-hamalainen-lowdown-qpr-youngster-making-debut-sunderland . 2 February 2017 . dead .
  28. Web site: Tässä on 18-vuotias suomalaisen futiksen uusi tähti – "Välillä ihmetyttää, lyökö sydän ollenkaan" . Ilta-Sanomat . 23 September 2015 . 29 January 2017 . fi.
  29. Web site: Games played by Niko Hämäläinen in 2015/2016. Soccerbase. 2 October 2016.
  30. Web site: Niko Hamalainen. National-Football-Teams.com . 16 June 2021.
  31. Web site: Tässä ovat Captain's Ball -futisgaalan kaikki palkitut tahot . Here are all the awards of the Captain´s Ball Gala . fi . Suomifutis . 30 October 2015 . 14 September 2019.