Akseli Puukko

Akseli Puukko (born 24 August 2006) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Veikkausliiga club Lahti and the Finland U19 national team.[1]

Akseli Puukko
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-08-24) 24 August 2006
Place of birth Lahti, Finland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Full-back
Team information
Current team
 Lahti
Number 29
Youth career
Reipas Lahti
0000–2022 Lahti
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Reipas Lahti 8 (0)
2022– Lahti 25 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Finland U16 5 (0)
2022–2023 Finland U17 15 (0)
2023– Finland U18 5 (0)
2023– Finland U19 5 (1)
Medal record
Finland U18
Baltic Cup2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2024

Club career

FC Lahti

After playing in the youth sector of his hometown club FC Lahti organisation, Puukko signed his first professional contract with the club on 30 September 2022, on a three-year deal.[2] Puukko made his Veikkausliiga debut at the age of 16, on 16 October 2022 at home against HIFK, after being named in the starting line-up.[3] He played 77 minutes in a 6–1 victory.[4]

On 16 November 2023, FC Lahti announced that Puukko had extended his contract with the club, signing a deal until the end of the 2026 season.[5]

International career

Puukko is a regular Finnish youth international, having represented Finland at under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 youth national team levels.[6]

In September 2022, Puukko was named in the Finland U17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification tournament against Greece, Italy and Kosovo, playing in all three games. Finland finished 2nd in the group and qualified to the elite round in March 2023.[7]

Puukko was part of the Finland U18 squad winning the friendly tournament Baltic Cup in June 2023.[8]

In October 2023, Puukko was part of the Finland U19 squad in the 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification tournament, scoring one goal in three games against Romania, Czech Republic and San Marino.

Career statistics
As of 19 June 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Other Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reipas Lahti 2022 Kakkonen 10———10
2023 Kakkonen 70———70
Total 8000000080
FC Lahti 2022 Veikkausliiga 100000—10
2023 Veikkausliiga 150304[lower-alpha 2]0—220
2024 Veikkausliiga 90206[lower-alpha 2]0—170
Total 2505010000400
Career total 3305010000480
  1. Includes Finnish Cup
  2. Includes Finnish League Cup

Honours

Finland U18

  • Baltic Cup: 2023[10]

References
  1. Hoikkala, Mikael (2023-09-16). "FC Lahti karisti ankeuden, ja rohkea peli tuottaa tulosta - "Tätä ilmettä yleisökin varmasti haluaa"". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. "Akseli Puukko ja FC Lahti sopimukseen". FC Lahti (in Finnish). 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  3. Lyytikäinen, Eerikki (2022-10-16). ""Ei ollut minulle ihan perussunnuntaipäivä" - 16-vuotias Akseli Puukko debytoi Veikkausliigassa, kun FC Lahti lähetti HIFK:n murskalukemin divariin". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  4. "LAHTI VS. HIFK 6 - 1". soccerway. 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  5. Akseli Puukolle jatkosopimus, fclahti.fi, 16 November 2023
  6. "Lahtelaisduo jalkapallon alle 17-vuotiaiden maajoukkueleirille". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  7. U17-pojat päättää EM-karsinnat tiistaina, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto, 10 October 2022
  8. U18-pojat nimetty kesäkuun Baltic Cupiin, Football Association of Finland, 30 May 2023
  9. Player profile, A.PUUKKO, int.soccerway.com
  10. Finnish FA
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.