# Joni Kauko

Joni Ensio Kauko (born 12 July 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for I-League club Inter Kashi.
Kauko made his international debut for Finland in January 2012, at the age of 21. He was a regular member of the team that won League C group 2 in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.

## Club career
### Finland
#### Inter Turku

A product of local Inter Turku's youth system, Kauko signed his professional contract on 27 November 2007 at the age of 17. He made his Veikkausliiga debut six months later on 26 June 2008 against IFK Mariehamn. During his first season with the Turku-based club, he made only eight appearances, but helped his team to win the Finnish championship. He scored his first senior goal for Inter on 3 May 2009 against MYPA.

#### Lahti

After representing Inter for five seasons, Kauko declined a contract extension after the 2012 season and he signed with FC Lahti for one season.

### Germany
#### FSV Frankfurt

Six months after signing with Lahti, it was announced that Kauko had signed a two-year contract with an option to a third, with German 2. Bundesliga side FSV Frankfurt.

#### Energie Cottbus

Upon expiry of his contract with FSV Frankfurt Kauko signed a two-year contract with German 3. Liga side FC Energie Cottbus.

### Denmark
#### Randers

In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish Superliga club Randers.

#### Esbjerg

Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season.

### India
#### Mohun Bagan

On 24 June 2021, Kauko joined Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan on a two-year deal. He was included in the twenty-two men squad by head coach Antonio Lopez Habas for the team's 2021 AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal match against Uzbek side Nasaf, but they lost 6–0 and were eliminated from the tournament, in which he made his debut for the club.
On 19 November, Kauko made his Indian Super League debut against Kerala Blasters, in a 4–2 win. He scored his first goal for the club against NorthEast United, on 12 February, in a 3–1 win. He ended the league season with three goals in twenty appearances, as Mohun Bagan finished third in the standings and were eliminated in the semi-final playoffs.
Kauko scored a brace each against Blue Star, on 12 April, and against Maziya S&RC on 24 May in AFC Cup Preliminary round and Group stage respectively. As 2022–23 season began, he appeared with the club on 20 August against Rajasthan United at the 131st edition of Durand Cup, but lost the match by 3–2. Kauko suffered a serious knee injury in the match against FC Goa on 20 November 2022 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao and was brought off the field in the 59th minute of the match as the Mohun Bagan lost the match 0–3.
After being out for nearly 16 months due to injury, Kauko rejoined Mohun Bagan, replacing Hugo Boumous in the squad for the second half of the 2023–24 season. He returned to the pitch as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win against Hyderabad FC. On 17 February 2024, Kauko provided a hat-trick of assists in a 4–2 home win over NorthEast United. On 31 March 2024, Kauko scored his first goal after the injury, in a 3–2 loss against Chennaiyin.

#### Inter Kashi

For the 2024-25 season, Kauko signed with Indian I-League club Inter Kashi. Kauko made his official debut for his new club on 22 November, as a starter in a 1–0 home victory over SC Bengaluru. He scored his first goal for Inter Kashi on 20 December, in a 3–1 home win over Sreenidi Deccan.

## International career

Kauko was a regular member for the Finland's U21 during 2009–2012, making in total of 23 appearances and scoring three goals. He has also served as a captain for the Finland U-21 team.
He made his senior debut on 22 January 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. During Finland's qualification campaign for the UEFA Euro 2016 he was a member of the team in 8 matches but remained as an unused substitute. In 2018–19 UEFA Nations League he gained four caps and was in the starting line up on 15 November 2018 in a match against Greece.
Kauko was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 20 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | Division | League | League | Cup | Cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sinimustat | 2008 | Kakkonen | 16 | 7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 16 | 7 |
| Inter Turku | 2008 | Veikkausliiga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 8 | 0 |
| Inter Turku | 2009 | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Inter Turku | 2010 | Veikkausliiga | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Inter Turku | 2011 | Veikkausliiga | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 37 | 4 |
| Inter Turku | 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 5 |
| Inter Turku | Total | Total | 98 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 133 | 13 |
| FC Lahti | 2013 | Veikkausliiga | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | – | 17 | 0 |
| FSV Frankfurt | 2013–14 | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 0 |
| FSV Frankfurt | 2014–15 | 2. Bundesliga | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 22 | 3 |
| FSV Frankfurt | Total | Total | 48 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 3 |
| Energie Cottbus | 2015–16 | 3. Liga | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 37 | 5 |
| Randers | 2016–17 | Danish Superliga | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 22 | 1 |
| Randers | 2017–18 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 30 | 2 |
| Randers | Total | Total | 51 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 3 |
| Esbjerg | 2018–19 | Danish Superliga | 35 | 8 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 37 | 9 |
| Esbjerg | 2019–20 | Danish Superliga | 30 | 6 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 34 | 7 |
| Esbjerg | 2020–21 | Danish 1st Division | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 8 |
| Esbjerg | Total | Total | 91 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 24 |
| Mohun Bagan | 2021–22 | Indian Super League | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 4 | 26 | 7 |
| Mohun Bagan | 2022–23 | Indian Super League | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| Mohun Bagan | 2023–24 | Indian Super League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Mohun Bagan | Total | Total | 40 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 49 | 10 |
| Inter Kashi | 2024–25 | I-League | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 12 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 399 | 58 | 17 | 3 | 34 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 464 | 68 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup, DFB-Pokal, Danish Cup and Durand Cup
* ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup and Brandenburg Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in AFC Cup

### International

    As of 21 June 2021
| National team | Year | Competitive | Competitive | Friendly | Friendly | Total | Total |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Finland | 2012 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 2013 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Finland | 2014 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Finland | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Finland | 2018 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Finland | 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Finland | 2020 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Finland | 2021 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 16 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 28 | 0 |

## Honours

Inter Turku
* Finnish League Cup: 2008
* Veikkausliiga: 2008
* Finnish Cup: 2009
FC Lahti
* Finnish League Cup: 2013
Mohun Bagan
* ISL Championship: 2022–23
* ISL Premiership League Shield: 2023–24
Finland
* Baltic Cup third-place: 2014
* UEFA Nations League: 2018-19 League C Winner