Toni Kallio Explained

Toni Kallio
Fullname:Toni Kari Mikael Kallio[1]
Height:1.94 m
Birth Date:9 August 1978
Birth Place:Tampere, Finland
Position:Centre back
Years1:1996–1999
Caps1:74
Goals1:14
Clubs1:TPV
Years2:1997
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Clubs2:Jazz (loan)
Years3:2000–2004
Caps3:123
Goals3:17
Clubs3:HJK
Years4:2004–2007
Caps4:53
Goals4:6
Clubs4:Molde
Years5:2007–2008
Caps5:21
Goals5:2
Clubs5:BSC Young Boys
Years6:2008
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Clubs6:Fulham (loan)
Years7:2008–2010
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Clubs7:Fulham
Years8:2009–2010
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Clubs8:Sheffield United (loan)
Years10:2010
Caps10:1
Goals10:0
Clubs10:Viking
Years11:2011
Caps11:1
Goals11:0
Clubs11:Muangthong United
Years12:2011
Caps12:16
Goals12:2
Clubs12:Inter Turku
Years13:2012–2013
Caps13:38
Goals13:6
Clubs13:Ilves
Totalcaps:340
Totalgoals:47
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2000–2010
Nationalteam3:Finland
Nationalcaps3:49
Nationalgoals3:2
Manageryears1:2014–2021
Managerclubs1:Ilves (assistant)
Manageryears2:2021–2023
Managerclubs2:Ilves

Toni Kari Mikael Kallio (born 9 August 1978) is a Finnish football coach and a former player. His preferred position as a player was left back, but he also operated as centre back and used to play as forward when he joined HJK. His nickname is "Bonecrusher", coming from his great physical presence and playing style.

Club career

He started out as a winger, but during his time at Norwegian club Molde was changed into a defender. He is known for his forward runs and good heading, given his tall frame. However, he is also known for making occasional blunders in the national team as he has been forced to play out of his preferred position.

Before joining Molde he played for FC Jazz, TPV Tampere and HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He won the Norwegian Cup in 2005. In 2007, he briefly went on trial at Lokomotiv Moscow and played 3 times. In 2007, he moved to Young Boys in Switzerland.

On 31 January 2008, Kallio joined Fulham on loan, together with Jari Litmanen.[2] He made his Fulham debut the following season against Arsenal, in which he helped secure a 1–0 victory.[3] He was immediately awarded the Man of the Match award by visitors of the BBC website. On 3 July 2008, Kallio signed a two-year deal with Fulham.[4]

Kallio joined Sheffield United on a one-month loan deal in late November 2009,[5] making his debut just over a week later at Plymouth.[6] After making two appearances, Sheffield United extended his loan deal until the end of January 2010 but just hours after Roy Hodgson recalled Kallio due to injuries in defence.[7]

On 1 February 2010, Kallio once again joined the Blades on loan until the end of the season.[8]

On 1 July 2010, Fulham announced that Kallio had been released from his contract with Fulham.[9]

After being released by Fulham, Kallio joined Norway's Tippeligaen side Viking for the rest of the 2010 season.[10] But after making only one appearance as a substitute for the club, the 32-year-old defender was released from his contract on 16 November 2010.[11]

Kallio signed a contract at the beginning of year 2011 with Thai Premier League side Muangthong United F.C. which won the Premier League title on season 2010.[12]

On 19 May 2011 Muangthong United F.C. has been terminated contract. Kallio joined Finnish Premier League side FC Inter Turku on 8 June 2011.[13]

On 18 January 2012 it was announced that he would join Ilves in Finnish second division.[14]

Kallio announced his retirement on 3 October 2013.[15]

Coaching career

He was promoted to the position of the head coach of Ilves after serving as an assistant during 2014–2021. Late in 2021, his contract was extended for the 2022 and 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[16] He was fired in August 2023.

Career statistics

Club

[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
TPV1996Ykkönen185185
1997Ykkönen191191
1998Ykkönen192192
1999Veikkausliiga186186
Total744744
Jazz (loan)1997Veikkausliiga100010
HJK1999Veikkausliiga900020110
2000Veikkausliiga1911020221
2001Veikkausliiga3250041366
2002Veikkausliiga2670020287
2003Veikkausliiga2441040294
2004Veikkausliiga1300040170
Total123172018114318
Molde2004Tippeligaen7272
2005Tippeligaen23320253
2006Tippeligaen24140281
Total5462040606
Young Boys2006–07Swiss Super League15010160
2007–08Swiss Super League621030102
Total2122030262
Fulham (loan)2007–08Premier League00000000
Fulham2008–09Premier League30002050
2009–10Premier League10100020
Total40102070
Sheffield United (loan)2009–10Championship8080
Viking2010Tippeligaen1010
Muangthong United2011Thai League 1101020
Inter Turku2011Veikkausliiga182182
Ilves2012Kakkonen215215
2013Ykkönen171171
Total386386
Career total34337702026137838

International

Finland national team
YearAppsGoals
200051
200100
200230
200300
200440
200560
200690
200780
200881
200950
201010
201100
Total492

International goals

Finland's score given first. As of 18 August 2011.[18]

Toni Kallio international goals
Date Location Opponent Result Competition
1. 27 February 2000Bangkok, Thailand 1–5 31st King's Cup
2. 2 June 2008 Turku, Finland 1–1 Friendly

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kallio: Toni Kari Mikael Kallio: Player . BDFutbol . 18 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Litmanen Joins Fulham . Fulham FC . 8 December 2013.
  3. Web site: Match: Fulham vs Arsenal. ESPNsoccernet. 23 August 2008. 9 December 2013.
  4. Web site: Kallio Signs . Fulham FC . 8 December 2013.
  5. News: Sheff Utd sign Ikeme and Kallio. BBC Sport . 26 November 2009. 5 December 2009.
  6. News: Bonecrusher on debut win. Sheffield United F.C.. 8 December 2009. 8 December 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223207/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/PlayersLog/0,,10418~1898712,00.html. 3 March 2016.
  7. News: Kallio deal falls through. Sky Sports. 24 December 2009. 24 December 2009.
  8. News: Kallio in Return. https://archive.today/20131208155941/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1952122,00.html. dead. 8 December 2013. Sheffield United F.C.. 1 February 2010. 8 December 2013.
  9. Web site: Player Contract Round-Up . https://archive.today/20120526090916/http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/June/PlayerContractRound-Up.aspx . 26 May 2012 . Fulham FC . 1 July 2010 . 8 December 2013 . dead .
  10. Web site: Kallio joins Viking . https://archive.today/20120526090917/http://www.viking-fk.no/newsread/aktuelt.aspx?docid=20943 . 26 May 2012 . Viking FK . 27 August 2010 . 8 December 2013 . no . dead .
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212153804/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/jalkapallo/art-1288351483088.html Kallio released from Viking
  12. http://www.topspot.fi/?p=567 Toni Kallio signs for Muangthong United FC
  13. http://www.fcinter.com/uutiset.php?news_id=2992 Kallio palaa Veikkausliigaan
  14. http://www.palloliitto.fi/uutiset/suomen-palloliitto/toni-kallio-siirtyy-ilvekseen Toni Kallio siirtyy Ilvekseen
  15. http://www.ilvesedustus.com/uutiset.html?210 Toni Kallio lopettaa huikea pelaajauransa
  16. Web site: Ilves. ILVES JA TONI KALLIO SOLMIVAT PÄÄVALMENTAJASOPIMUKSEN TULEVILLE KAUSILLE – MYÖS JONI LEHTONEN JATKAA VALMENNUSTIIMISSÄ. 19 January 2022. fi.
  17. https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/toni-kallio/2/ Toni Kallio
  18. Web site: Kallio Toni . https://archive.today/20130429181108/http://palloverkko.palloliitto.fi/Live/Stats/playerdetails.aspx?playerID=2614968 . dead . 29 April 2013 . Finnish . 8 December 2013 . Suomen Palloliitto (Football Association of Finland) .