Joonas Kolkka


Joonas Einari Kolkka is a retired Finnish footballer who played as a left winger most of his career, but could also play on the right wing. Having started his career in his native Finland, he went on to play for several clubs in the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, England, and the USA.

Club career

Born in Lahti, Kolkka started his career with Reipas Lahti and MyPa in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 1995 before joining Netherlands' Willem II the same year. In 1998 Kolkka joined Dutch club PSV Eindhoven where he won two league championships and got to play in the UEFA Champions League. Kolkka then moved to Greek side Panathinaikos in 2001, and he spent two seasons there. After leaving Greece, Kolkka played a season each for Borussia Mönchengladbach of the German Bundesliga and Crystal Palace of the English Premiership. He scored at both Anfield and Old Trafford during his stay at the club, and also scored in the thrilling 3–3 draw with Norwich. He was released by Palace, and returned to the Netherlands in 2005, signing a one-year deal with ADO Den Haag. After an impressive season with ADO, he was signed by Dutch side Feyenoord in the summer of 2006, and played until summer 2011 for NAC Breda. In 2011, he was signed by his former club, Willem II, being employed as a player and a sales manager of the club.
On 4 May 2012, it was announced that Kolkka had signed a three-month-contract with Texas Dutch Lions, in the third level of American football. After his contract with the Dutch Lions expired, Kolkka returned to the Netherlands, working as a youth coach for his former club PSV.

International career

Kolkka made his debut for the Finnish national team on 26 October 1994 against Estonia, and was a regular in the Finland lineup until 2010.

Career statistics

International goals

Finland's score first. As of 20 August 2011''.
#DateLocationOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.26 October 1994Tallinn7–0WinFriendly
2.16 February 1995Trinidad2–2DrawFriendly
3.6 October 1996Helsinki2–3Lose1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.5 September 1998Helsinki3–2WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
5.9 October 1999Helsinki4–1WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
6.9 October 1999Helsinki4–1WinUEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
7.15 August 2001Helsinki4–1WinFriendly
8.5 September 2001Helsinki5–1Win2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.27 March 2002Porto4–1WinFriendly
10.7 June 2003Helsinki3–0WinUEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
11.11 October 2003Tampere3–2WinFriendly

International

Honours