Mikael Soisalo

Mikael Soisalo (born 24 April 1998, Helsinki) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-winger for Portuguese club Varzim. He also represents 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]

Mikael Soisalo
Personal information
Full name Mikael Soisalo[1]
Date of birth (1998-04-24) 24 April 1998
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Right-winger
Club information
Current team
 Varzim
Number -
Youth career
2002–2012 Honka
2012–2015 HJK
2017–2018 Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Klubi 04 4 (0)
2016–2017 Ilves 31 (7)
2018– Zulte Waregem 30 (1)
2020– → Varzim (loan) 0 (0)
National team‡
2013–2014 Finland U16 8 (1)
2014–2015 Finland U17 13 (2)
2016 Finland U18 10 (3)
2016– Finland U19 6 (2)
2017– Finland U21 16 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 August 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2019

Club career

Career in Finland

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. On 14.12.2015 it was announced he had joined Ilves a team from Tampere had sign him with a 3 years’ 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.[8]

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 has integrated into the team.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Middlesbrough" (PDF). English Football League. p. 23. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. "Mikael Soisalo" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  3. "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"] (in Finnish). Aamulehti. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. https://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/
  5. http://www.suomifutis.com/2015/12/ilves-nappasi-hjk-lupauksen-poikkeuksellinen-pelaaja/
  6. http://www.suomifutis.com/2015/12/ilves-nappasi-hjk-lupauksen-poikkeuksellinen-pelaaja/
  7. https://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/
  8. "Finnish Forward Joins Middlesbrough Academy". Middlesbrough F.C. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. Jonathan Taylor (14 March 2017). "Introducing Mikael Soisalo: Middlesbrough Academy's hot prospect from a cold country". Teesside Gazette. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  10. "Mikael Soisalo Set To Join Zulte Waregem". mfc.co.uk. Middlesbrough F.C. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  11. https://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/ilves-tahti-soisalo-aikoo-kaataa-tanaan-vanhan-seuransa-jos-saan-kunnon-syottoja-teen-maalin-24003811/
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