Kai Meriluoto Explained

Kai Meriluoto
Birth Date:2 January 2003
Birth Place:Siuntio, Finland
Height:1.83 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:HJK
Youthclubs1:KyIF[1]
Youthclubs2:HJK
Years1:2019–
Clubs1:Klubi 04
Caps1:52
Goals1:29
Years2:2020–
Caps2:19
Goals2:3
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Ilves (loan)
Caps3:25
Goals3:10
Years4:2023–2024
Clubs4:Stal Mielec (loan)
Caps4:23
Goals4:2
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:Finland U16
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2019–2020
Nationalteam2:Finland U17
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:5
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:Finland U19
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2021
Nationalteam4:Finland U20
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2022–
Nationalteam5:Finland U21
Nationalcaps5:15
Nationalgoals5:2
Nationalyears6:2023–
Nationalteam6:Finland
Nationalcaps6:2
Nationalgoals6:0
Club-Update:12 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:9 June 2024

Kai Meriluoto (born 2 January 2003) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Veikkausliiga club HJK.[2]

Early life

Meriluoto was born in Siuntio, Finland,[3] to a Japanese mother and Finnish father. When he was a one-year-old, he moved to Vienne, Isère, France, with his family and lived there for five years before returning to Finland. Meriluoto lived in China from when he was ten years old until he was twelve years old. He has dual citizenship of Finland and Japan, and he speaks Finnish, Japanese, French and English fluently. Meriluoto has an older brother, Aki, who is also a footballer and plays for US Lesquin at the semi-pro level in France.[4]

Club career

Ilves (loan)

On 15 February 2022, Meriluoto joined Veikkausliiga club Ilves on loan for the 2022 season.[5] He finished his first full season in the league scoring ten goals for the team. After the season, he returned to HJK.

Return to HJK

In April 2023, he extended his contract with HJK until the end of 2025.[6]

Stal Mielec (loan)

On 14 July 2023, Meriluoto joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Stal Mielec on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent.[2] [7] He scored his first Ekstraklasa goal on 18 September 2023, a header in a 4–2 home win against Zagłębie Lubin.[8] On 9 December 2023, in a match against Cracovia, Meriluoto made a crucial impact after coming in from the bench, when his team was in a 2–0 losing position. He first scored the 2–1 goal on the 86th minute, and one minute later provided an assist to the equalizer. The game eventually ended in a 2–2 draw.[9] During his loan stint, Meriluoto was mainly used as a late substitute, starting only two of his 23 Ekstraklasa appearances.[10] After the season, he returned to HJK.

Career statistics

Club

[11]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Klubi 042019Kakkonen12712139
2020Kakkonen1514101614
2021Ykkönen24731278
2024Ykkönen1111
Total52295300005732
HJK2020Veikkausliiga310031
2021Veikkausliiga00000000
2022Veikkausliiga0000000000
2023Veikkausliiga142115200205
2024Veikkausliiga2000001030
Total193115210266
Ilves (loan)2022Veikkausliiga251010322912
Stal Mielec (loan)2023–24Ekstraklasa23231263
Career total11944105841013851

International

Notes and References

  1. https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/pikkuhuuhkajat-nimetty-marraskuun-otteluihin Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty marraskuun otteluihin
  2. Web site: Kai Meriluoto lainalle Puolan pääsarjaan. 14 July 2023 . hjk.fi . fi.
  3. Web site: Sjundeåkillen Kai Meriluotos klara mål för fotbollskarriären: "Först en plats i HJK, sedan spel i någon av de europeiska toppligorna" . Asplund . Bubi . 23 April 2021 . . . sv . 18 January 2023.
  4. Web site: Pikkuhuuhkajien maailmankansalainen aloitti jalkapallon Ranskassa – nyt hän haluaa viedä Suomen EM-kisoihin, mutta ovi on auki vielä toisellekin maalle: "Katsotaan, jos Japani kiinnostuisi" . Kuparinen . Heikki . 7 June 2022 . SuomiFutis . fi . 18 January 2023.
  5. Ilves. KAI MERILUOTO LAINASOPIMUKSELLA ILVEKSEEN – "KOIN, ETTÄ TÄMÄ OLI ITSELLENI PARAS STEPPI TULLA ILVEKSEEN". 15 February 2022. 16 February 2022. fi.
  6. Web site: Mäntylä . Pekka . 4 April 2023 . HJK ja Kai Meriluoto jatkosopimukseen . 6 April 2023 . HJK Helsinki . fi.
  7. https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/kai-meriluoto-tuntuu-etta-puolalainen-futis-sopii-minulle-hyvin Kai Meriluoto: ”Tuntuu, että puolalainen futis sopii minulle hyvin”
  8. Soccerway. STAL MIELEC VS. ZAGŁĘBIE LUBIN 4 - 2. 26 September 2023. en.
  9. https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/12/09/poland/ekstraklasa/ks-cracovia-krakow/ks-fks-stal-mielec/4082594/ CRACOVIA VS. STAL MIELEC 2 - 2
  10. https://www.suomifutis.com/2024/03/kai-meriluoto-kertoi-veikkausliigan-ja-ekstraklasan-eroista-ei-ole-ollut-yhteyksissa-hjkn-kanssa-kaikki-on-auki/ Kai Meriluoto kertoi Veikkausliigan ja Ekstraklasan eroista – ei ole ollut yhteyksissä HJK:n kanssa: ”Kaikki on auki”
  11. Web site: Tulospalvelu .