Miko Aarne Virtanen (born 29 January 1999) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Alloa Athletic. He has previously played for Aberdeen, Arbroath, Hamilton Academical and Cove Rangers.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Miko Aarne Virtanen[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Tampere, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Alloa Athletic | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2011 | TPV | ||
| 2011–2017 | Everton | ||
| 2017–2019 | Aberdeen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Aberdeen | 2 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Arbroath (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Arbroath (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Hamilton Academical | 20 | (0) |
| 2023 | Cove Rangers | 11 | (0) |
| 2023– | Alloa Athletic | 13 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Finland U19 | 6 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Finland U21 | 6 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 18 February 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editYouth career
editVirtanen started playing football in Tampere, Finland for local team TPV.[2] He and his family moved to England when he was 13 years old after impressing Everton during an international youth tournament.[3]
Aberdeen
editOn 2 November 2017, it was announced that Virtanen had joined Aberdeen until the end of the season after a successful trial with the club. He said upon signing that he hoped joining Aberdeen would help him secure his place in the Finland squad at the following year's Euro Under-19 finals.[3]
Arbroath loans
editOn 29 August 2019, Virtanen moved to Arbroath on a season long loan.[4] He made his debut on 28 September 2019, in a 2–1 away defeat against Dundee United in the Scottish Championship.[5] He was again loaned to Arbroath in September 2020,[6] until recalled by Aberdeen in January.[7]
Hamilton Academical
editIn August 2021 he signed for Hamilton Academical.[8] After making 24 appearances and scoring 1 goal over two seasons, Virtanen left Accies by mutual consent on 9 January 2023.[9]
Cove Rangers
editFollowing his release from Hamilton, Virtanen returned to the north-east of Scotland to sign for Scottish Championship side Cove Rangers on a deal until the end of the season.[10] Virtanen was released in May 2023 with Cove Rangers relegated from the Scottish Championship.
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aberdeen U21 | 2018–19 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2019–20 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Aberdeen | 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Arbroath (loan) | 2019–20 | Scottish Championship | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Hamilton Academical | 2021–22 | Scottish Championship | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Cove Rangers | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 52 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 64 | 1 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup
References
edit- ^ "Updated Premier League squads for 2016/17 released". Premier League. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Tietotoimisto, Suomen. "12-vuotias suomalaislahjakkuus pääsee toteuttamaan unelmansa". Ilta-Sanomat. Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Aberdeen: Miko Virtanen eyes Euro finals place after Everton exit". 2 November 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Miko Virtanen Heads To Arbroath On Loan". Inverness Reds. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Dundee United 2-1 Arbroath: Late Lawrence Shankland double keeps hosts top". 21 September 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ Cryle, Ryan (4 September 2020). "Aberdeen's Miko Virtanen joins Arbroath for a second loan spell". eveningexpress.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ Wallace, Sean (4 January 2021). "Aberdeen recall Anderson and Virtanen from loan deals". eveningexpress.co.uk.
- ^ "Miko Virtanen signs for Accies". August 5, 2021.
- ^ Academy (2023-01-09). "Virtanen Departs". Hamilton Academical Website. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ^ "Miko Virtanen Joins The Journey". Cove Rangers Website. 2023-01-23.
- ^ Miko Virtanen at Soccerway
- ^ Miko Virtanen at Soccerbase
External links
edit- Profile at the Arbroath F.C. website
- Miko Virtanen at WorldFootball.net
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