Toni Kallio

Finnish footballer and coach (born 1978)

Toni Kallio
Personal information
Full name Toni Kari Mikael Kallio[1]
Date of birth (1978-08-09) 9 August 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Tampere, Finland
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 TPV 74 (14)
1997 → FC Jazz (loan) 1 (0)
2000–2004 HJK Helsinki 123 (17)
2004–2007 Molde FK 53 (6)
2007–2008 BSC Young Boys 21 (2)
2008 → Fulham (loan) 0 (0)
2008–2010 Fulham 4 (0)
2009 → Sheffield United (loan) 2 (0)
2010 → Sheffield United (loan) 6 (0)
2010 Viking 1 (0)
2011 Muangthong United 1 (0)
2011 FC Inter Turku 16 (2)
2012–2013 Ilves 38 (6)
Total 340 (47)
International career
Finland U19 2 (0)
Finland U21 5 (1)
2000–2010 Finland 49 (2)
Managerial career
2014–2021 Ilves (assistant)
2021–2023 Ilves
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Toni Kari Mikael Kallio (born 9 August 1978) is a Finnish football coach and a former player. His preferred position as a player was left back, but he also operated as centre back and used to play as forward when he joined HJK. His nickname is "Bonecrusher", coming from his great physical presence and playing style.

Club career

He started out as a winger, but during his time at Norwegian club Molde was changed into a defender. He is known for his forward runs and good heading, given his tall frame. However, he is also known for making occasional blunders in the national team as he has been forced to play out of his preferred position.

Before joining Molde he played for FC Jazz, TPV Tampere and HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He won the Norwegian Cup in 2005. In 2007, he briefly went on trial at Lokomotiv Moscow and played 3 times. In 2007, he moved to Young Boys in Switzerland.

On 31 January 2008, Kallio joined Fulham on loan, together with Jari Litmanen.[2] He made his Fulham debut the following season against Arsenal, in which he helped secure a 1–0 victory.[3] He was immediately awarded the Man of the Match award by visitors of the BBC website. On 3 July 2008, Kallio signed a two-year deal with Fulham.[4]

Kallio joined Sheffield United on a one-month loan deal in late November 2009,[5] making his debut just over a week later at Plymouth.[6] After making two appearances, Sheffield United extended his loan deal until the end of January 2010 but just hours after Roy Hodgson recalled Kallio due to injuries in defence.[7]

On 1 February 2010, Kallio once again joined the Blades on loan until the end of the season.[8]

On 1 July 2010, Fulham announced that Kallio had been released from his contract with Fulham.[9]

After being released by Fulham, Kallio joined Norway's Tippeligaen side Viking for the rest of the 2010 season.[10] But after making only one appearance as a substitute for the club, the 32-year-old defender was released from his contract on 16 November 2010.[11]

Kallio signed a contract at the beginning of year 2011 with Thai Premier League side Muangthong United F.C. which won the Premier League title on season 2010.[12]

On 19 May 2011 Muangthong United F.C. has been terminated contract. Kallio joined Finnish Premier League side FC Inter Turku on 8 June 2011.[13]

On 18 January 2012 it was announced that he would join Ilves in Finnish second division.[14]

Kallio announced his retirement on 3 October 2013.[15]

Coaching career

He was promoted to the position of the head coach of Ilves after serving as an assistant for several years.[when?] Late in 2021, his contract was extended for the 2022 and 2023 season, with an option for 2024.[16]

Career statistics

International

As of 18 August 2011[17]
Finland national team
Year Apps Goals
2000 5 1
2001 0 0
2002 3 0
2003 0 0
2004 4 0
2005 6 0
2006 9 0
2007 8 0
2008 8 1
2009 5 0
2010 1 0
2011 0 0
Total 49 2

International goals

Finland's score given first. As of 18 August 2011.[18]

Toni Kallio international goals
# Date Location Opponent Result Competition
1. 27 February 2000 Bangkok, Thailand  Thailand 1–5 31st King's Cup
2. 2 June 2008 Turku, Finland  Belarus 1–1 Friendly

References

  1. ^ "Kallio: Toni Kari Mikael Kallio: Player". BDFutbol. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Litmanen Joins Fulham". Fulham FC. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Match: Fulham vs Arsenal". ESPNsoccernet. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Kallio Signs". Fulham FC. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Sheff Utd sign Ikeme and Kallio". BBC Sport. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  6. ^ "Bonecrusher on debut win". Sheffield United F.C. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Kallio deal falls through". Sky Sports. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  8. ^ "Kallio in Return". Sheffield United F.C. 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Player Contract Round-Up". Fulham FC. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Kallio joins Viking" (in Norwegian). Viking FK. 27 August 2010. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  11. ^ Kallio released from Viking (in Finnish)
  12. ^ Toni Kallio signs for Muangthong United FC
  13. ^ Kallio palaa Veikkausliigaan Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  14. ^ Toni Kallio siirtyy Ilvekseen Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  15. ^ Toni Kallio lopettaa huikea pelaajauransa Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  16. ^ "ILVES JA TONI KALLIO SOLMIVAT PÄÄVALMENTAJASOPIMUKSEN TULEVILLE KAUSILLE – MYÖS JONI LEHTONEN JATKAA VALMENNUSTIIMISSÄ" (in Finnish). Ilves. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  17. ^ Toni Kallio at National-Football-Teams.com
  18. ^ "Kallio Toni" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto (Football Association of Finland). Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.

External links

  • Toni Kallio – UEFA competition record (archive)
  • Profile at fcinter.fi at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 March 2012)
  • Profile at FA of Finland's official website at archive.today (archived 29 April 2013) (in Finnish)
  • Toni Kallio at Soccerbase Edit this at Wikidata
  • Toni Kallio at ESPN FC