Katariina Kosola
 Kosola with BK Häcken in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Saara Katariina Kosola | ||
| Date of birth | 24 February 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Hämeenlinna, Finland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Wing-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Malmö FF | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2018 | 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) |
| 2023–2024 | BK Häcken | 13 | (1) |
| 2025– | Malmö FF | 11 | (0) |
| 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 | 23 | (4) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 3 July 2025 | |||
Saara Katariina Kosola (born 24 February 2001) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a wing-back for Damallsvenskan club Malmö FF and the Finland national team.[2][3] She is seen as one of the rising stars of the Finland national team.[4]
Early career
Born in Hämeenlinna, Kosola started football with local club Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseura. She also played briefly for youth teams of Ilves, Hämeenlinnan Härmä, and Helsinki-based HFA Märsky. She made her senior debut with Härmä in 2018, playing in third-tier Naisten Kakkonen and scoring nine goals in six appearances.
Career
HJK
For the 2020 Kansallinen Liiga season, Kosola joined reigning champions HJK Helsinki. 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]
Malmö FF
On 7 January 2025, Kosola signed with Malmö FF on a three-year deal.[12]
International career
Kosola represented Finland U17 at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.
Whilst playing for Umeå IK, Kosola got her first call up to the Finland national team, joining teammate Vilma Koivisto.[13]
Kosola scored two goals against Slovakia in the 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League B.[14]
Kosola was part of the Finland squad that won the 2023 Cyprus Women's Cup for the first time.[15]
On 19 June 2025, Kosola was called up to the Finland squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.[16] On 2 July, in the first match of the tournament, Kosola scored the match winner for Finland in a 1–0 win against Iceland,[17] winning also the Player of the Match award.[18]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National 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 | ||
| Malmö FF | 2025 | Damallsvenskan | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 112 | 21 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 31 | ||
- ^ Includes Finnish Women's Cup and Svenska Cupen (women)
- ^ a b Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
International
- As of 3 July 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 23 | 4 | |
International goals
- Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kosola goal.
| 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 |
| 3. | 4–0 | |||||
| 4. | 2 July 2025 | Arena Thun, Thun, Switzerland |  Iceland |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Women's Euro 2025 |
References
- ^ Kauhala, Topias (26 November 2023). "Katariina Kosola Hämeenlinnasta upotti Real Madridin ja pelaa seuraavaksi Chelsean Stamford Bridgellä – "Onhan se ihan unelmien täyttymys"". Hämeen Sanomat.
- ^ "Jalkapallo | Katariina Kosola haluaa maailman huippuliigaan: "Ei ainuttakaan tappiota Helmareissa"". Helsingin Sanomat(subscription required). 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Entinen Ilves-juniori palaa Tampereelle maajoukkuepaidassa – Katariina Kosola tavoittelee arvokisapaikkaa Helmareissa". Aamulehti(subscription required). 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Tässä on Helmareiden uusi tähti – Katariina Kosola, 22, sai Ruotsissa huippusiirron ja harvinaisen sopimuksen". Yle Urheilu. 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Katariina Kosola jatkaa Klubissa". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish). 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Katariina Kosola siirtyy Ruotsiin". www.hjk.fi (in Finnish). 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Katariina Kosola, ännu ett nyförvärv med sisu till UIK". www.umeaik.se (in Swedish).
- ^ "Finska landslagsspelaren Katariina Kosola till KIF Örebro". www.laget.se (in Finnish).
- ^ "BK Häcken värvar från KIF Örebro". bkhacken.se (in Swedish). 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Jalkapallo | Katariina Kosola upotti upealla laukauksella Real Madridin Mestarien liigassa". Helsingin Sanomat. 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Mystinen nilkkavamma on pitänyt Katariina Kosolan pelikentiltä poissa kuukausia – toivoo apua leikkauksesta". yle.fi (in Finnish). 10 September 2024.
- ^ Katariina Kosola siirtyy Malmön riveihin, Yle, 7 January 2025
- ^ "Även Katariina Kosola uttagen till finska landslaget". www.umeaik.se (in Swedish).
- ^ "Helmareiden tuntematon tähti elää unelmaansa – Yle tapasi Katariina Kosolan Göteborgissa: "Saan tehdä, mitä rakastan"". yle.fi (in Finnish). 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Rumänien utklassat av fotbollsdamerna – Cyprus Cup blev en framgångssaga för Finland". svenska.yle.fi. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Helmarit nimetty EM-lopputurnaukseen" [Helmarit named for the European Championship finals] (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Katariina Kosola kertoi, mitä kulisseissa tapahtui Suomen voitonjuhlissa, Ilta-Sanomat, 2 July 2025
- ^ Player of the Match: Katariina Kosola, UEFA, 2 July 2025
- ^ "Katariina Kosola". tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi. Football Association of Finland.
- ^ Katariina Kosola, Swedish Football Association
External links
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