Katariina Kosola

Katariina Kosola
Kosola with BK Häcken in 2023
Personal information
Full name Saara Katariina Kosola
Date of birth (2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Hämeenlinna, Finland[1]
Height 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Wing-back
Team information
Current team
 BK Häcken
Number 30
Youth career
–2018 HJS
2018 Ilves
2018 Hämeenlinnan Härmä
2019 HFA-Märsky
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Hämeenlinnan Härmä 6 (9)
2020–2021 HJK 41 (9)
2022 Umeå IK 24 (2)
2023 KIF Örebro 17 (0)
2023– BK Häcken 13 (1)
International career‡
2018 Finland U17 1 (0)
2019 Finland U18 2 (0)
2019 Finland U19 1 (0)
2021–2022 Finland U23 4 (0)
2023– Finland 13 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 February 2024

Saara Katariina Kosola (born 24 February 2001) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a wing-back for Damallsvenskan club BK Häcken and the Finland national team.[2][3] She is seen as one of the rising stars of the Finland national team.[4]

Career

HJK

On 21 August 2020, it was announced that Kosola would continue with the club.[5] During her time at HJK, she scored 9 goals in 41 games, and became one of the best wingers in the league.[6]

Umeå IK

In 2022, Kosola was announced by Damallsvenskan club Umeå IK.[7]

KIF Örebro

In 2023, Kosola was announced at KIF Örebro, signing for the 2023 season.[8]

BK Häcken

On 29 August 2023, Kosola was announced at BK Häcken, signing a three year deal with the club for an undisclosed fee.[9] On 23 November 2023, Kosola scored the 2nd goal in a 2–1 win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Women's Champions League, scoring in the 76th minute.[10] In April 2024, she suffered a serious ankle injury that kept her out for months.[11]

International career

Kosola is a former Finnish youth international.

Whilst playing for Umeå IK, Kosola got her first call up to the Finland national team, joining teammate Vilma Koivisto.[12]

Kosola scored two goals against Slovakia in the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League B.[13]

Kosola was part of the Finland squad that won the 2023 Cyprus Women's Cup for the first time.[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 December 2024.[15][16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hämeenlinnan Härmä 2018 Naisten Kakkonen 6 9 – – – 6 9
HJK 2020 Kansallinen Liiga 18 3 2 1 1[b] 0 – 21 4
2021 Kansallinen Liiga 23 6 4 3 – – 27 9
Total 41 9 6 4 1 0 0 0 48 13
Umeå IK 2022 Damallsvenskan 24 2 4 3 – – 28 5
KIF Örebro 2023 Damallsvenskan 17 0 3 0 – – 20 0
BK Häcken 2023 Damallsvenskan 9 1 5 1 10[b] 2 – 24 4
2024 Damallsvenskan 4 0 0 0 0 0 – 4 0
Total 13 1 5 1 10 2 0 0 28 4
Career total 101 21 18 8 11 2 0 0 130 31
  1. ^ Includes Finnish Women's Cup and Svenska Cupen (women)
  2. ^ a b Includes UEFA Women's Champions League

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 7 April 2023 NTC Senec, Senec, Slovakia  Slovakia 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 22 September 2023 Veritas Stadium, Turku, Finland  Slovakia 3–0 4–0 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League B
3. 4–0

References

  1. ^ Kauhala, Topias (26 November 2023). "Katariina Kosola Hämeenlinnasta upotti Real Madridin ja pelaa seuraavaksi Chelsean Stamford Bridgellä – "Onhan se ihan unelmien täyttymys"". Hämeen Sanomat.
  2. ^ "Jalkapallo | Katariina Kosola haluaa maailman huippuliigaan: "Ei ainuttakaan tappiota Helmareissa"". Helsingin Sanomat(subscription required). 16 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Entinen Ilves-juniori palaa Tampereelle maajoukkuepaidassa – Katariina Kosola tavoittelee arvokisapaikkaa Helmareissa". Aamulehti(subscription required). 17 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Tässä on Helmareiden uusi tähti – Katariina Kosola, 22, sai Ruotsissa huippusiirron ja harvinaisen sopimuksen". Yle Urheilu. 26 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Katariina Kosola jatkaa Klubissa". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish). 21 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Katariina Kosola siirtyy Ruotsiin". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish). 8 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Katariina Kosola, ännu ett nyförvärv med sisu till UIK". www.umeaik.se (in Swedish).
  8. ^ "Finska landslagsspelaren Katariina Kosola till KIF Örebro". www.laget.se (in Finnish).
  9. ^ "BK Häcken värvar från KIF Örebro". bkhacken.se (in Swedish). 29 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Jalkapallo | Katariina Kosola upotti upealla laukauksella Real Madridin Mestarien liigassa". Helsingin Sanomat. 23 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Mystinen nilkkavamma on pitänyt Katariina Kosolan pelikentiltä poissa kuukausia – toivoo apua leikkauksesta". yle.fi (in Finnish). 10 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Även Katariina Kosola uttagen till finska landslaget". www.umeaik.se (in Swedish).
  13. ^ "Helmareiden tuntematon tähti elää unelmaansa – Yle tapasi Katariina Kosolan Göteborgissa: "Saan tehdä, mitä rakastan"". yle.fi (in Finnish). 20 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Rumänien utklassat av fotbollsdamerna – Cyprus Cup blev en framgångssaga för Finland". svenska.yle.fi. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Katariina Kosola". tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi. Football Association of Finland.
  16. ^ Katariina Kosola, Swedish Football Association