Niko Markkula

Niko Markkula (born 27 June 1990) is a Finnish football player who currently plays for Gilla FC.[1][2]

Niko Markkula
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-06-27) 27 June 1990
Place of birth Jyväskylä, Finland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Full back, Midfielder, Centre Back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 JJK 80 (4)
2013 Eskilstuna City 9 (0)
2013 JJK 4 (0)
2014 FC Haka 19 (1)
2015–2017 JJK 48 (8)
2017–2019 Inter Turku 45 (1)
2020–2022 SJK 36 (2)
2023– Gilla FC 9 (3)
International career
2012 Finland U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Club

Markkula came up through the youth system at JJK. In November 2012, Markkula entered talks with Swedish club Eskilstuna City.[3] In January 2013, Markkula completed his move to the club. He made his competitive debut for Eskilstuna City on 14 April 2013 in a 7–0 away defeat to IK Sirius, playing all ninety minutes of the match.[4] After seven months in Sweden, Markkula moved back to JJK.

In January 2014, Markkula moved to Ykkönen side FC Haka, joining on a one-year contract with an option for a second.[5] He made his competitive debut for the club on 17 April 2014 in a 4–1 away victory over Atlantis FC in the Finnish Cup.[6] He scored his first competitive goal for his new club in this match, converting in the 15th minute to open the scoring. After a year at the club, he returned once again to JJK.

In January 2017, Markkula signed for FC Inter Turku. He made his league debut for the club on 12 April 2017 in a 6–2 home victory over RoPS, playing 74 minutes before being replaced by Kevin Mombilo.[7] He scored his first competitive goal for the club on 8 July 2017 in a 4–0 home victory over his former team, JJK.[8] His goal, scored in the 91st minute, made the score 4–0 to Inter Turku. In July 2017, Markkula suffered a serious heel injury, which sidelined him for over a year and had doctors questioning if he would ever play again.[9] He made his first appearance back from his injury on 26 September 2018, coming on as a 64th minute substitute for Tatu Varmanen in a 2–0 home victory over FC Lahti.[10]

On 20 December 2019, Markkula joined Finnish club SJK on a deal until the end of 2021.[11]

International

Markkula made his first competitive appearance for Finland U21s on 10 October 2011 in a 1–0 defeat to Sweden U21s at the 2011 U21 Euros, coming on as an 83rd minute substitute for Juho Lähde.[12]

Markkula was called up to the men's national team in September 2019.[13] He was an unused substitute in a home match against Greece.[1]

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Finland – N. Markkula – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  2. "SJK vahvistaa puolustustaan". sjk.fi. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  3. "Eskilstuna City vill värva Niko Markkula från finska ligan". fotbolltransfers.com (in Swedish). 10 November 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  4. "Sirius vs. Eskilstuna City – 14 April 2013 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. "Markkula: "Olen moderni laitapakki"". fchaka.fi (in Finnish). 5 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  6. "Atlantis vs. Haka – 17 April 2014 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  7. "Inter Turku vs. RoPS – 12 April 2017 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  8. "Inter Turku vs. JJK – 8 July 2017 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  9. "Niko Markkula selättänyt viimein vaikeudet: "Nyt odotan kutsua kentälle"". veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). 26 July 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  10. "Inter Turku vs. Lahti – 26 September 2018 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  11. SJK vahvistaa puolustustaan, sjk.fi, 20 December 2019
  12. "Finland U21 vs. Sweden U21 – 10 October 2011 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  13. "Niko Markkula mukaan Huuhkajiin". fcinter.fi. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
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