Joel Pohjanpalo

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Joel Pohjanpalo
Pohjanpalo with Bayer Leverkusen in 2022
Personal information
Full name Joel Julius Ilmari Pohjanpalo
Date of birth (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Venezia
Number 20
Youth career
1999–2005 PK-35
2006–2010 HJK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Klubi 04 26 (33)
2011–2016 HJK 50 (16)
2013–2014 → VfR Aalen (loan) 22 (5)
2014–2016 → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 55 (13)
2016–2022 Bayer Leverkusen 23 (7)
2020 → Hamburger SV (loan) 14 (9)
2020–2021 → Union Berlin (loan) 19 (6)
2021–2022 → Çaykur Rizespor (loan) 33 (16)
2022– Venezia 83 (46)
International career‡
2009 Finland U15 4 (0)
2010 Finland U16 13 (2)
2011 Finland U17 1 (0)
2011 Finland U18 10 (4)
2012 Finland U19 3 (1)
2012–2015 Finland U21 11 (2)
2012– Finland 77 (16)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Finland
Baltic Cup
Third place 2014 Latvia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Joel Julius Ilmari Pohjanpalo (born 13 September 1994) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Venezia and the Finland national team.[1]

Pohjanpalo began his career with HJK, making his Veikkausliiga debut on 26 October 2011 at the age of 17;[2] he moved out to Germany at age nineteen in 2013. After multiple successful loan spells in Germany and Turkey, Pohjanpalo left Bayer Leverkusen in 2022 and was acquired by Italian side Venezia, where he quickly became a fan favourite cult player, and as the team captain, helped Venezia promote to Serie A in 2024.[3][4][5][6]

Pohjanpalo made his full international debut for Finland in November 2012 at the age of eighteen, and has since made over 70 appearances, including playing in matches for 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, and in the UEFA Euro 2020 final tournament.

Club career

Born in Helsinki, Finland, Pohjanpalo started football in a youth team of a Helsinki-based club PK-35 in 1999.

HJK

A product of his hometown club HJK, Pohjanpalo emerged through the youth ranks, first appearing with the reserve team (Klubi-04) in 2011 at the age of 16. He made his Veikkausliiga debut on 26 October 2011, starting against RoPS. During his first season in the Finnish 2nd division with Klubi-04, he made 21 appearances, scored a record-breaking 33 league goals and was awarded as the series player of the season.[7] Following his excellent performances with the reserves, Pohjanpalo signed a new contract with HJK on 7 December 2011, keeping him in the Finnish capital until 2015.

Pohjanpalo started HJK's first league match of the 2012 Veikkausliiga season on 15 April 2012, scoring a hat-trick within the space of three minutes (162 seconds) against IFK Mariehamn.[8] After a three-day trial with Liverpool in August 2012, Pohjanpalo was offered a three-year contract but rejected the deal due to a lack of guaranteed playing time for Liverpool F.C. Reserves.[9] He finished the 2012 season at HJK with 19 goals in 42 games in all competitions. He was awarded as the Veikkausliiga rookie of the season.[10]

Bayer Leverkusen and loans

2013–14: VfR Aalen (loan)

On 1 September 2013, Pohjanpalo was loaned to Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen for a loan fee of €500,000, who then loaned him to 2. Bundesliga team VfR Aalen.[11] At Aalen, Pohjanpalo started thirteen matches and appeared as a substitute in a further nine, scoring five goals.

2014–16: Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)

Pohjanpalo with Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2014

In April 2014, Pohjanpalo renewed his contract with HJK, extending it to 2018. At the same time HJK extended his loan contract with Bayer Leverkusen a further two years, which Pohjanpalo spent on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf.[12] He was voted the 2. Bundesliga Player of the Month in October 2014, following a hat-trick against Darmstadt 98. His loan spell with Fortuna Düsseldorf was extended for 2015–16 season. In March 2016, Pohjanpalo was assigned to the club's reserve team Fortuna Düsseldorf II for one week, due to appearing late at the local night club and thus breaking the entry ban and violating the club's code of conduct.[13]

Bayer Leverkusen

On 21 March 2016, Leverkusen announced that they had exercised their option to permanently sign Pohjanpalo from HJK Helsinki for a transfer fee of €1.5 million.[14] On 27 August 2016, Pohjanpalo finally made his debut for the club in their opening game of the 2016–17 Bundesliga season against Borussia Mönchengladbach. He scored just a minute after being substituted on, but it was not enough to prevent Leverkusen from losing 2–1. Pohjanpalo came off the bench in Leverkusen's second game of the season and scored a hat-trick, helping his side achieve a 3–1 win over Hamburger SV. After these two appearances, Pohjanpalo had scored four goals in just thirty minutes of play during the first two matches of the season.

His time with Leverkusen was plagued by multiple severe injuries, which caused him to miss around 70 league games, and almost ended his career prematurely.[15]

2020: Hamburger SV (loan)

On 24 January 2020, Pohjanpalo joined Hamburger SV on loan for the rest of the 2019–20 season.[16] In a half season, Pohjanpalo scored nine goals in 14 matches for the club in 2. Bundesliga.

2020–21: Union Berlin (loan)

On 30 September 2020, Pohjanpalo joined Bundesliga side Union Berlin on loan for the 2020–21 season.[17] On 24 April 2021, Pohjanpalo scored a hat-trick in 17 minutes, in a 3–1 win against Werder Bremen.[18]

2021–22: Caykur Rizespor (loan)

Pohjanpalo was loaned out to Süper Lig side Caykur Rizespor for the 2021–22 season. On 18 March 2022, Pohjanpalo made a hat-trick after coming in from the bench as a 55th minute substitute, in a 3–2 win against Trabzonspor,[19] scoring all three goals from penalties. During his season in Turkey, he recorded 33 appearances and scored 16 goals for the club.

Venezia

2022–23 season

On 19 August 2022, Pohjanpalo left Leverkusen and signed a three-year contract with Venezia in Italy, with an option to extend for two more years.[20] The transfer fee was reported to be €3.2 million including add-ons.[21] In February, Pohjanpalo attracted wide international attention, as he celebrated his team's victory by having a beer with the fans after the game.[22] On 1 May, Pohjanpalo scored four goals as Venezia defeated Modena 5–0 at home, and repeated his beer with the fans-performance after the game.[23] During his first season in Venezia, Pohjanpalo scored 19 goals and provided seven assists, making him the second best goalscorer of the 2022–23 Serie B season, behind Gianluca Lapadula.[24] He was also named the Serie B Player of the Month twice, consecutively in April and in May 2023.[25]

2023–24 season

Despite the speculations and transfer rumours,[26] on 13 September 2023 on his 29th birthday, Pohjanpalo renewed his contract with Venezia, signing a new deal until 30 June 2027.[27] He was named one of the team captains. On 3 December 2023, while being out of the line-up due to foot injury, Pohjanpalo and the club owner Duncan L. Niederauer were seen observing the match in the home stand with the ultra supporters, as Venezia defeated Ascoli at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.[28] On 14 January 2024, Pohjanpalo scored a hat-trick in a 5–3 home win against Sampdoria.[29] Pohjanpalo was named the Serie B Player of the Month also in February and March 2024.[30][31] In the 2023–24 season, Pohjanpalo scored 22 goals and became the top goalscorer of the Serie B.[32] On 2 June, coached by Paolo Vanoli, Pohjanpalo captained Venezia to win a promotion back to Serie A via promotion play-offs,[33] by defeating Palermo and Cremonese.

2024–25 season

Pohjanpalo missed the first two matches of the 2024–25 Serie A season due to a minor injury, but eventually made his debut in the Italian top-tier on 30 August 2024, as a starter in a home match against Torino.[34] On 21 September, he scored his first goal in Serie A, in a 2–0 home win against Genoa, becoming the second Finnish player after Përparim Hetemaj to score in the Italian top league.[35] He scored his second goal of the season in the next round on 29 September against AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.[36] On 30 October, Pohjanpalo had a man-of-the-match-performance by scoring a brace from the penalty spot, including a winning goal, in a 3–2 home win against Udinese, after Venezia had already been trailing 2–0 in the first half.[37]

International career

Pohjanpalo with Finland U21 in 2015

Youth

Pohjanpalo made his debut for the Finland U21 side at the age of 17 on 5 June 2012 against Slovenia.[38]

Senior

Pohjanpalo made his senior national team debut on 14 November 2012 in a 3−0 victory against Cyprus when he replaced Teemu Pukki as a substitute on the 70th minute.[39] He was close to scoring in a friendly against Slovenia when his shot hit the post and was then finished by Hämäläinen. In the next friendly game against Hungary he finished his first international goal entering the field as a substitute and equalising the game. He made his UEFA European Championship qualification match debut on 7 September 2014 in a match against Faroe Islands when he entered as an 89th-minute substitute for Teemu Pukki.[40] He scored his first goal in a competitive match on 4 September 2015 in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match in Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus against Greece.[41]

On 12 June 2021, Pohjanpalo scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Denmark in the UEFA Euro 2020, to grant his country their first goal and win in a major competition.[42] He abstained from celebrating the goal out of respect for Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen, who had suffered a life-threatening cardiac arrest earlier during the match.[43]

Personal life

Pohjanpalo and his German girlfriend Catharina Gericke were married in the midsummer 2022. The wedding ceremony was held in Southern France.[44] They have a daughter, born in 2024.[45][46] As of 2024, they have homes in Helsinki, Finland, Düsseldorf, Germany and Venezia, Italy.[45] Pohjanpalo is a co-owner of a physical therapy and physical coaching company Helsinki Athletic Lab, along with his national team and Venezia teammate Jesse Joronen.[47]

Since the age of 17, Pohjanpalo has been a sponsor for Valio Akatemia, supporting children's sport hobbies and wellbeing by stipends.[48]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 December 2024[49]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Klubi-04 2010 Ykkönen 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
2011 Kakkonen 25 33 0 0 — — 25 33
Total 26 33 0 0 — — 26 33
HJK Helsinki 2011 Veikkausliiga 1 0 0 0 0 0 0[b] 0 1 0
2012 Veikkausliiga 28 11 2 1 4[c] 3 8[b] 4 42 19
2013 Veikkausliiga 21 5 1 0 2[d] 0 3[b] 0 27 5
Total 50 16 3 1 6 3 11 4 70 24
Aalen (loan) 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 22 5 0 0 — — 22 5
Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 29 11 1 0 — — 30 11
2015–16 2. Bundesliga 26 2 2 0 — — 28 2
Total 55 13 3 0 — — 58 13
Fortuna Düsseldorf II (loan) 2015–16 Regionalliga West 1 0 — — — 1 0
Bayer Leverkusen 2016–17 Bundesliga 11 6 0 0 2[d] 0 — 13 6
2017–18 Bundesliga 7 1 1 1 — — 8 2
2018–19 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2019–20 Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2020–21 Bundesliga 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2021–22 Bundesliga 2 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 0
2022–23 Bundesliga 1 0 1 0 0 0 — 2 0
Total 23 7 3 1 2 0 — 28 8
Hamburger SV (loan) 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 14 9 — — — 14 9
Union Berlin (loan) 2020–21 Bundesliga 19 6 0 0 — — 19 6
Çaykur Rizespor (loan) 2021–22 Süper Lig 33 16 0 0 — — 33 16
Venezia 2022–23 Serie B 37 19 0 0 — 1[e] 0 38 19
2023–24 Serie B 33 22 1 1 — 4[e] 0 38 23
2024–25 Serie A 13 5 0 0 — — 13 5
Total 83 46 1 1 — 5 0 89 47
Career total 326 151 10 3 8 3 16 4 360 162
  1. ^ Includes Finnish Cup, DFB-Pokal, Turkish Cup, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ a b c Includes Finnish League Cup
  3. ^ Three appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, one appearance and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ a b Appearance in Serie A promotion play-offs

International

As of match played 17 November 2024[50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Finland 2012 1 0
2013 1 0
2014 9 1
2015 7 3
2016 4 0
2017 7 2
2018 1 0
2019 2 1
2020 6 0
2021 13 4
2022 8 2
2023 10 2
2024 8 1
Total 77 16
As of match played 10 October 2024
Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pohjanpalo goal.
List of international goals scored by Joel Pohjanpalo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 March 2014 ETO Park, Győr, Hungary  Hungary 1–1 2–1 Friendly
2 4 September 2015 Karaiskaki Stadium, Athens, Greece  Greece 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
3 7 September 2015 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Faroe Islands 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
4 8 October 2015 Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania  Romania 1–0 1–1 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
5 11 June 2017 Tampere Stadium, Tampere, Finland  Ukraine 1–1 1–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 9 October 2017 Veritas Stadion, Turku, Finland  Turkey 2–2 2–2
7 12 October 2019 Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–4 1–4 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
8 31 March 2021 Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland   Switzerland 1–1 2–3 Friendly
9 2–1
10 12 June 2021 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2020
11 4 September 2021 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Kazakhstan 1–0 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
12 7 June 2022  Montenegro 1–0 2–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B
13 2–0
14 16 June 2023  Slovenia 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
15 17 November 2023  Northern Ireland 1–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
16 10 October 2024  Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–2 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B

Honours

Venezia

HJK

Klubi-04

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Joel Pohjanpalo" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. ^ "HJK:n huippulupaukselle pitkä sopimus" [A long contract for HJK's top talent] (in Finnish). MTV3. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  3. ^ Venetsian päällikkö, Ilta-Sanomat, 17 November 2023
  4. ^ Jalkapalloilija Joel Pohjanpalo avoimena tähteydestä ja ammattinsa karusta kääntöpuolesta – ”Ura voi päättyä yhdessä illassa”, seura.fi, 5 September 2023
  5. ^ Kausi kuin elokuvasta, Helsingin Sanomat, Ari Virtanen, 19 June 2023
  6. ^ Joel Pohjanpalon tempaus herättää huomiota Italiassa, Helsingin Sanomat, Juha Kanerva, 3 December 2023
  7. ^ "Pohjanpalo awarded as "Player of the Year"". Archived from the original on 9 November 2011.
  8. ^ "HJK vs. Mariehamn". Soccerway. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Pohjanpalo signs until 2015". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Palkitut" [Award winners] (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Joel Pohjanpalo siirtyy Saksaan | Suomen Palloliitto". Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Jalkapallo: Joel Pohjanpalo vaihtaa seuraa Saksassa - Jalkapallo - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  13. ^ Huuhkaja-tähti biletti pikkutunneille ja rikkoi yökerhon porttikieltoa: Hyllytys ja sakot, Iltalehti, 7 March 2016
  14. ^ @Bayer04fussball (21 March 2016). "Bayer 04 Leverkusen sign Pohjanpalo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Analyysi: Joel Pohjanpalo uhrasi liki vuosikymmenen urastaan, kun häntä riepoteltiin ympäriinsä - siirto Italiaan palkitsee ensin kentän ulkopuolella". Yle. 24 August 2022.
  16. ^ "HSV leiht Joel Pohjanpalo aus" (in German). Hamburger SV. 24 January 2020.
  17. ^ "JOEL POHJANPALO SIGNS ON LOAN FROM LEVERKUSEN". 1. FC Union Berlin. 30 September 2020.
  18. ^ Joel Pohjanpalolta häikäisevä suoritus Bundesliigassa! Hattutemppu 17 minuutin sisään, Iltalehti, 24 April 2021
  19. ^ Hetkinen! Joel Pohjanpalo onnistui todella erikoisessa tempussa, Iltalehti, 18 March 2022
  20. ^ "JOEL POHJANPALO JOINS VENEZIA FC". Venezia. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. ^ "So viel kann Bayer mit Pohjanpalo verdienen". Bild. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  22. ^ Video: Joel Pohjanpalo rennoissa tunnelmissa kentän laidalla – joi olutta ja poseerasi selfieissä, puoliaika.com, 12 February 2023
  23. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo villitsi jälleen fanit olut kourassa! Juoman ojentaneen mysteerikatsojan henkilöllisyys selvisi – ”Kyllä se oli vaimo”, Yle, 2 May 2023
  24. ^ "Serie B - Players". Soccerway.
  25. ^ "Calciatore del mese AIC Aprile '23 SERIE B" (in Italian). assocalciatori.it. 8 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Joel Pohjanpalolta iso uutinen: Huippusopimus tulossa! "Tiedän hyvin arvoni"". Iltalehti. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  27. ^ "JOEL POHJANPALO SIGNS CONTRACT RENEWAL". Venezia. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  28. ^ Kuva Joel Pohjanpalosta villitsee – ”Älä koskaan muutu”, Ilta-Sanomat, 3 December 2023
  29. ^ Jolle Pohjanpalo hurjana: Hattutemppu Sampdorian verkkoon, Iltalehti, 14 January 2024
  30. ^ a b POHJANPALO MVP DI FEBBRAIO DELLA SERIE BKT, veneziafc.it, 8 March 2024
  31. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo Serie B:n kuukauden pelaaja, Yle, 10 April 2024
  32. ^ Suomalaisille harvinaista herkkua! Joel Pohjanpalo voitti Serie B:n maalikuninkuuden, Yle, 11 May 2024
  33. ^ a b Suomalaisilta jymypaukku Venetsiassa, Ilta-Sanomat, 2 June 2024
  34. ^ Pohjanpalo debytoi vihdoin Serie A:ssa – mukana Venezian avauskokoonpanossa, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 30 August 2024
  35. ^ Joel Pohjanpalon karjaisu kertoi erityisestä suomalaismaalista – asiantuntijalta huima vertaus: ”Kuninkaasta seuraava”, Yle, 21 September 2024
  36. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo teki taas maalin – nyt heilahti suurseuran verkko, Ilta-Sanomat, 29 September 2024
  37. ^ Pohjanpalo tuplasi kauden maalimääränsä Serie A:ssa – Venezia yllätti Udinesen, Yle, 30 October 2024
  38. ^ "Joel Pohjanpalo alle 21-vuotiaiden maajoukkueeseen" (in Finnish). YLE Urheilu. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  39. ^ "Huuhkajat selkeään voittoon" (in Finnish). Palloliitto. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  40. ^ "Suomi otti helpottavan voiton!" [A comforting win for Finland!] (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  41. ^ "Suomalaisen jalkapallon komea ilta huipentui Kreikassa – Pohjanpalo nousi sankariksi!" [The excellent evening of Finnish football culminated in Greece - Pohjanpalo became a hero!] (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  42. ^ "Denmark 0–1 Finland". BBC Sport. 12 June 2021.
  43. ^ Kuva Suomen maalintekijästä Joel Pohjanpalosta leviää maailmalla – ”Hieno ele”, Ilta-Sanomat, 13 June 2021
  44. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo, 27, meni naimisiin – nämä tähdet nähtiin hulppeissa juhannushäissä, Ilta-Sanomat, 27 June 2022
  45. ^ a b Siikarla, Siiri (7 April 2024). "Jymy-yllätys – Joel Pohjanpalolle tulossa perheenlisäystä". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  46. ^ Pakkanen, Mitri (7 May 2024). "Maalitykki Joel Pohjanpalon tärkein titteli on nyt isä: "Prioriteetit menivät uusiksi"". Apu (in Finnish). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  47. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo avasi paksun lompakkonsa – Sijoitti jättisumman, Iltalehti, 16 June 2023
  48. ^ Jalkapallotähti Joel Pohjanpalo: ”Jokaisella lapsella tulisi olla mahdollisuus harrastaa ja unelmoida”, Ilta-Sanomat, 24 April 2024
  49. ^ "J. Pohjanpalo". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  50. ^ "Joel Pohjanpalo" (in Finnish). palloliitto.fi. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  51. ^ Joel Pohjanpalo voitti Italiassa maalikuninkuuden, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 11 May 2024
  52. ^ "Calciatore del mese AIC Aprile '23 SERIE B" (in Italian). assocalciatori.it. 8 May 2023.
  53. ^ "Pohjanpalo è l'MVP di maggio" (in Italian). legab.it. 25 May 2023.
  54. ^ "Palkitut" [Award winners] (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  55. ^ "Kakkonen" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. 22 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
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