Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho (born 12 March 1993) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis and the Finland national team. Beyond football, Alho is known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting various causes related to children and young people in Finland.[1]
 Nikolai Alho with HJK in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikolai Aleksanteri Alho | ||
| Date of birth | 12 March 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Helsinki, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Asteras Tripolis | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999 | Honka | ||
| HJK | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010−2012 | Klubi 04 | 44 | (13) |
| 2012–2016 | HJK | 80 | (13) |
| 2012 | → Lahti (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2017 | Halmstad | 21 | (1) |
| 2018–2020 | HJK Helsinki | 70 | (5) |
| 2021–2022 | MTK Budapest | 17 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Volos | 75 | (2) |
| 2024– | Asteras Tripolis | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007−2008 | Finland U15 | 6 | (1) |
| 2008−2009 | Finland U16 | 15 | (2) |
| 2009−2010 | Finland U17 | 12 | (2) |
| 2010−2011 | Finland U18 | 12 | (1) |
| 2011 | Finland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2012 | Finland U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2012 | Finland U21 | 11 | (0) |
| 2014− | Finland | 37 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 28 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024 | |||
Club career
editHJK
editA product of his local side HJK, Alho came through its reserves, Klubi 04, before signing a professional contract on 2011, keeping him with the Helsinki-based side until 2014.
On 13 June 2013, he played his first league game for HJK and went on scoring twice in a 6−0 home win over FC Inter. On 17 September 2013, he signed a contract that was effective until the end of 2015.[2]
In 2014 HJK qualified for the Europa League group stage. Alho scored the decisive goal against Rapid Wien in the qualifying play-off round match.[3]
Loan to Lahti
editOn 22 August 2012, Alho was announced at Lahti on loan for the rest of the season.[4]
Halmstad
editAlho moved to Allsvenskan side Halmstads BK in January 2017.[5] He left after one season.[6] After a difficult season the team was relegated back to Superettan.
Return to HJK
editAlho moved back to HJK for the 2018 season.[7] After a successful season HJK won the Veikkausliiga. This was Alho's 4th domestic championship.
During the 2018 season Alho was also played as a right back by former HJK manager Mika Lehkosuo. Alho, known for his speed, aggressiveness and crossing ability, he was a perfect fit for a modern-day right back. Alho made the switch and had a successful season as right back during the 2019 season.[8]
MTK Budapest
editHe signed for Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I (NB I) side MTK Budapest at the beginning of the 2021 winter transfer window.[9]
Volos
editHe signed for Super League Greece club Volos F.C. at the beginning of the 2022 winter transfer window, for an undisclosed fee.[10] On 19 December 2022, his contract was extended until the end of the 2023–24 season.[11] During the 2022–23 season, his first full season with the club‚ he played more minutes than any other player in his team, in all competitions combined.[12] After the 2023–24 season, he announced he would depart from the club.[13]
Asteras Tripolis
editOn 17 June 2024, Alho signed a two-year deal with a fellow Super League Greece club Asteras Tripolis on a free transfer.[14][15][16]
International career
editHe made his senior debut for the Finland national football team on 24 January 2014 at Nizwa Sports Complex in Nizwa, Oman, in a friendly match against Oman.[17]
Alho was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.[18]
Personal life
editAlho's biological father is Ghanaian and his mother is Finnish.[19] He was adopted soon after by his English mother and Finnish father and was raised in Espoo with his younger sister, also adopted. He is a native speaker of both English and Finnish.
Alho attended the International School of Helsinki for the majority of his childhood, before transferring to Sports High School, Mäkelänrinteen Lukio.
Outside football
editAlho is also well known for making music. His debut single "Standing Right Here" went viral on YouTube and also hit radio stations in Finland in 2013. Alho was noticed by JVG the same year and signed a deal with their label, PME Records and WMG in December 2013. His contract with PME Records and WMG ended in November 2014. Alho has stated that he will continue to make music as a hobby but not sign again with a major label until after his football career is over. Football is and always has been his first priority.[20]
Alho is also the owner of an independent record label, 325 Media. Other owners include Jesse Joronen and Valtteri Moren.[21][22][23]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Klubi 04 | 2010 | Ykkönen | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| 2011 | Kakkonen | 15 | 9 | — | — | — | 15 | 9 | ||||
| 2012 | Kakkonen | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 44 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 13 | ||
| HJK Helsinki | 2011 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2013 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2[c] | 1 | 31 | 6 | |
| 2014 | Veikkausliiga | 22 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 9[d] | 1 | 37 | 10 | |
| 2015 | Veikkausliiga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6[e] | 0 | 37 | 3 | |
| Total | 80 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 126 | 20 | ||
| Lahti (loan) | 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | |||
| Halmstad | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 21 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| HJK Helsinki | 2018 | Veikkausliiga | 27 | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | 4[d] | 0 | 38 | 6 | |
| 2019 | Veikkausliiga | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[d] | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | Veikkausliiga | 21 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||
| Total | 70 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 95 | 6 | ||
| MTK Budapest | 2020–21 | NB I | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | NB I | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Volos | 2021–22 | Super League Greece | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Super League Greece | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | |||
| Total | 75 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 2 | ||
| Asteras Tripolis | 2024–25 | Super League Greece | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 316 | 35 | 33 | 4 | 22 | 3 | 28 | 2 | 400 | 44 | ||
- ^ Includes Suomen Cup, Svenska Cupen, Magyar Kupa and Kypello Elladas
- ^ Appearances in Finnish League Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
edit- As of match played 4 June 2024
| Finland | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2020 | 6 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||
| Total | 37 | 0 | ||||||||
Honours
edit- HJK
- Veikkausliiga: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020[27]
- Finnish Cup: 2014, 2020
- Finnish League Cup: 2015
Individual
- Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2020[28]
References
edit- ^ ali, Uh (2 February 2024). "Nikolai Alho Age, Height, Net Worth, Wife, Stats, Religion, Family Bio & More". Unfold Everyone. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Nikolai Alho jatkosopimukseen HJK:n kanssa". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish).
- ^ HJK eteni Eurooppa-liigaan!, Iltalehti, 28 August 2014
- ^ "Nikolai Alho lainalle FC Lahteen". www.veikkausliiga.hs.prewise.com (in Finnish).
- ^ "Halmstad värvar finsk anfallare". www.fotbollskanalen.se (in Finnish).
- ^ "Suomalaislaituri saa lähteä kesken sopimuksen Ruotsin jumboseurasta - "Odotimme hänen pelaavan paremmin"". yle.fi (in Finnish).
- ^ "Nikolai Alho palaa Klubiin". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish).
- ^ HJK:n jättänyt laituri on uuden joukkueensa vanhimpia pelaajia vain 23-vuotiaana: "Ehkä vähän outoa", Yle, 20 February 2017
- ^ "MTK: finn válogatott jobbhátvéddel erősítettek". Nemzeti Sport. 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Ο Βόλος ανακοίνωσε τον Φινλανδό μπακ Άλχο". www.sport24.gr. 9 January 2022.
- ^ Στον Βόλο μέχρι το 2024 ο Αλχο, volosfc.com, 19 December 2022
- ^ N.Alho, int.soccerway.com
- ^ Nikolai Alhon tapahtumarikas kausi sai onnellisen päätöksen, Football Association of Finland, 8 May 2024
- ^ Ο Nikolai Alho στον ΑΣΤΕΡΑ ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗΣ!, asterastripolis.gr
- ^ Huuhkajien luottopelaaja sai huippusiirron, Iltalehti, 18 June 2024
- ^ Virallista! Tässä on Nikolai Alhon uusi seura, suomifutis.com, 18 June 2024
- ^ "Huuhkajat tasapeliin Omanissa". Football Association of Finland. 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Näillä pelaajilla Huuhkajat lähtevät kohti EM-kisoja – kaksi nimeä kiinnostivat yli muiden" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Virtanen, Ari (26 May 2019). "Pukukopin "Veli" Alho". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 August 2019.
Biologinen äitini on suomalainen ja biologinen isäni on ghanalainen.
- ^ "HJK:n tähtipelaaja hylkäsi levytyssopimukset ja päätti panostaa jalkapalloon: "Ilmoitin, että ei kiitos" - Veikkausliiga - Ilta-Sanomat". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
- ^ Nouseva jalkapallotähti tekee räppiä - levy tulossa!, Iltalehti, 23 May 2014
- ^ Ensinäyttö: Laulava jalkapalloilija Nikolai Alho, Yle, 18 December 2014
- ^ 325 media laajentaa rosteriaan, klangi, 1 November 2018
- ^ "Nikolai Alho". flashscore.
- ^ Nikolai Alho, National-Football-Teams
- ^ Nikolai Alho, Finnish FA
- ^ Nikolai Alho lupailee vielä joskus paluuta HJK-paitaan – "Pelkkää rakkautta seuraa kohtaan", veikkausliiga.com, 17 January 2021
- ^ "Pallo-Koplan Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue on valittu". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 January 2023.
External links
edit
Media related to Nikolai Alho at Wikimedia Commons