Henri Toivomäki (born 21 February 1991) is a Finnish former professional footballer, who last played as a defender for KuPS.[1] He previously played for Sarpsborg 08, FC Lahti, Atalanta, FC Hämeenlinna, AFC Ajax and Almere City FC.[2]

Henri Toivomäki
Toivomäki in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-21) 21 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Mäntsälä, Finland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
MU
Reipas Lahti
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 FC Lahti 48 (0)
2009–2010Atalanta (loan) 0 (0)
2010FC Hämeenlinna (loan) 1 (0)
2011–2013 Ajax 0 (0)
2012–2013Almere CIty (loan) 8 (0)
2013–2015 FC Lahti 63 (1)
2016–2017 Sarpsborg 08 16 (0)
2018 KuPS 30 (0)
2019–2020 HJK 28 (0)
2021–2023 KuPS 49 (2)
International career
2009 Finland U19 8 (0)
2010–2011 Finland U21 12 (0)
2018 Finland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 October 2023

On 3 October 2023, Toivomäki announced that he is forced to end his professional career due to a head injury he suffered in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against Derry City in July 2023.[3]

Career

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FC Lahti

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A product of the FC Lahti youth system, Henri Toivomäki made 45 appearances for the Finnish club. On 2 December 2009, he was on trial with the French club Racing Club de Lens. On 31 January 2010 Toivomäki was loaned to Atalanta, playing in Serie A, with an option to buy at the end of the 2009–10 Serie A season.[4] The option was never activated and Toivomäki returned to Lahti, who were struggling against relegation in Veikkausliiga.

AFC Ajax

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On 3 January 2011, Toivomäki signed a 2+12-year contract with Dutch club AFC Ajax.[2] Upon his arrival, Toivomäki stated that the influence of FC Lahti teammate Jari Litmanen was decisive in his decision to join the Amsterdam-based side.[2] In the first instance, Toivomäki joined the selection of Jong Ajax.[2] Sidelines for the entire 2011–12 season due to a groin injury, on 27 June 2012 it was announced that Henri would play for Almere CIty on loan from Ajax until July 2013 to find his form after recovery. Making a total of 8 league appearances in the Dutch Eerste Divisie for the side form Almere, and one appearance in the KNVB Cup, not being offered a contract extension following his loan spell however, Toivomäki was released from Ajax, returning to his native Finland.[5]

Return to FC Lahti

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On 23 July 2013 it was announced that Henri Toivomäki had signed with his former club FC Lahti, following the announcement of the club manager Juha Malinen.[6]

Sarpsborg 08

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On 24 November 2015 he signed with Sarpsborg 08.[7]

HJK Helsinki

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On 31 December 2018, Toivomäki signed with HJK Helsinki.[8]

International career

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He has represented Finland at different youth levels, currently he is part of the Finland national under-21 football team. He is considered as one of the most talented junior players in Finland. He was selected to represent Finland U21 against Liechtenstein on 7 September 2010.

Toivomäki was called up to the senior Finland national football team, and made his debut in a 2–0 friendly loss to Romania on 5 June 2018.[9]

Career statistics

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As of 2 May 2017[10]
Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland League Finnish Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2008 FC Lahti Veikkausliiga 15 0 - - - - - - 15 0
2009 24 0 1 0 6 0 4 0 35 0
Italy League Coppa Italia Europe1 Other2 Total
2009–10 Atalanta (loan) Serie A 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0
Finland League Finnish Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2010 FC Hämeenlinna (loan) Ykkönen 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0
FC Lahti Veikkausliiga 9 0 - - - - - - 9 0
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2010–11 Ajax Eredivisie 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0
2011–12 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0
2012–13 Almere City (loan) Eerste Divisie 8 0 1 0 - - - - 9 0
Finland League Finnish Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2013 FC Lahti Veikkausliiga 11 0 - - - - - - 11 0
Norway League Norwegian Football Cup Europe1 Other2 Total
2016 Sarpsborg 08 FF Tippeligaen 10 0 4 0 - - - - 14 0
Total Finland 60 0 1 0 6 0 4 0 71 0
Italy 0 0 - - - - - - 0 0
Netherlands 8 0 1 0 - - - - 9 0
Norway 10 0 4 0 - - - - 14 0
Total Club 78 0 6 0 6 0 4 0 94 0

1 Includes UEFA Europa League Qualifier matches.

2 Includes Liigacup and Johan Cruijff Shield.

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Puolustaja Henri Toivomäki palaa Kuopion Palloseuraan". kups.fi. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ajax - Ajax contracteert Henri Toivomaki" (in Dutch). Ajax.nl. 3 January 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  3. ^ "KuPS-kapteeni Toivomäki joutuu lopettamaan päävammaan". Yle. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Henri Toivomäki joins Atalanta on loan" (in Finnish). Urheilulehti.fi. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Henri Toivomäki: FC Lahti on vaihtoehto" (in Finnish). Etelä-Suomen Sanomat. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Henri Toivomäki verlaat Ajax voor zijn oude club" (in Dutch). Ajax1.nl. 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Finsk spiller klar for 08!" (in Norwegian). Sarpsborg08.no. 24 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  8. ^ KLUBIN PUOLUSTUS VAHVISTUU, hjk.fi, 31 December 2018
  9. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Romania vs. Finland (2:0)". www.national-football-teams.com.
  10. ^ "Henri Toivomäki Statistics". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Perinteinen Koplajoukkue nimetty - jalkapallotoimittajien valinnat kauden parhaiksi". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). 16 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
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