Teemu Pukki facts for kids
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Pukki with Norwich City in 2022
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Teemu Eino Antero Pukki | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 29 March 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kotka, Finland | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||
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Current team
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HJK | ||||||||||||
| Number | 20 | ||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | KoNa | ||||||||||||
| 2000–2005 | KTP | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | KTP | 29 | (3) | ||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Sevilla | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | → Sevilla Atlético | 33 | (3) | ||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | HJK | 25 | (13) | ||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Schalke 04 | 37 | (8) | ||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Celtic | 26 | (7) | ||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | → Brøndby (loan) | 27 | (9) | ||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Brøndby | 103 | (46) | ||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Norwich City | 198 | (87) | ||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Minnesota United | 43 | (14) | ||||||||||
| 2025– | HJK | 13 | (6) | ||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||
| 2005 | Finland U15 | 4 | (4) | ||||||||||
| 2006 | Finland U16 | 13 | (7) | ||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Finland U17 | 12 | (5) | ||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Finland U18 | 18 | (5) | ||||||||||
| 2009 | Finland U19 | 3 | (2) | ||||||||||
| 2007–2011 | Finland U21 | 23 | (6) | ||||||||||
| 2009– | Finland | 130 | (42) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2025 |
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Teemu Eino Antero Pukki (born March 29, 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer. He plays as a striker for the Veikkausliiga club HJK and the Finland national team.
Pukki started his career with KTP in Finland. He made his first team debut at just 15 years old. Later, he moved to Sevilla in Spain, but soon returned to Finland to play for HJK. With HJK, he helped them win the Finnish championship and the Finnish Cup.
He then played in top leagues in Germany for Schalke 04, Scotland for Celtic, and Denmark for Brøndby. In 2018, he joined Norwich City in England. There, he became a star, winning the Player of the Season award in the 2018–19 EFL Championship.
Pukki first played for the Finland national team in 2009. He has played over 120 games and scored 42 goals, making him Finland's all-time top male goalscorer. He scored ten goals in Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 qualification, helping them reach their first major international tournament ever.
Club Career
Early Years in Finland
Teemu Pukki began playing football as a child in his hometown of Kotka, Finland. He joined his local club, KTP, and played for their youth teams. He was so good that he made his debut for the senior team at 16. During his two seasons with KTP, Pukki played 29 games in the Finnish Premier League and scored three goals.
Moving to Spain
In 2008, Pukki moved to Sevilla in Spain. He was even called up for a match against Real Madrid. He made his first appearance in Spain's top league, La Liga, in January 2009. However, he mostly played for Sevilla's reserve team, Sevilla Atlético. Because he didn't get much playing time with the main team, he decided to return to Finland.
Success with HJK
On August 28, 2010, Pukki signed with HJK, a top club in Finland. He quickly scored his first goal for HJK. In 2010, HJK and Pukki won the Finnish Veikkausliiga championship.
In 2011, he scored 11 goals and made 8 assists in 18 league games. He was chosen for the 2011 Veikkausliiga All-Stars team. Pukki also played a big part in HJK's European games. He scored two goals against Bangor City and both goals in a 2–0 win against FC Schalke 04.
Time in Germany and Scotland
On August 31, 2011, Pukki joined Schalke 04 in Germany. He made his debut in September. In November, he scored two goals in his first start for Schalke. This made him one of only three Finnish players to score two goals in a German Bundesliga game.
In August 2013, Pukki moved to Celtic in Scotland. He scored in his first game for Celtic. However, his first season was a bit tough as he found the Scottish game very fast and physical. He later said that Scottish football was not easy at all. In July 2014, he scored his first hat-trick for Celtic in a friendly match. He also scored twice in a UEFA Champions League qualifying game.
Danish Adventures with Brøndby
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In September 2014, Pukki joined Brøndby IF in Denmark on a loan. He scored his first goal for them two weeks later. He quickly scored four more goals in his next four games. He was named the Superliga Player of the Month for October and finished the season as Brøndby's top scorer with nine goals. In June 2015, he signed a permanent contract with Brøndby.
In August 2016, Pukki scored three goals to help Brøndby beat Hertha BSC in a European qualifier. On May 10, 2018, he played as Brøndby won the 2017–18 Danish Cup final. He left Brøndby at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Becoming a Legend at Norwich City
On June 30, 2018, Pukki joined Norwich City in England for free. He quickly became a fan favorite. In January and February 2019, Pukki scored eight goals in six games. This included two goals against Ipswich Town in a big local derby. He broke the record for most goals by a Finn in a Championship season.
In April 2019, Pukki was named the EFL Championship Player of the Season. He also won the Golden Boot for being the top scorer. Norwich City fans voted him their Player of the Season. He was also named the PFA Fans' Player of the Year.
In July 2019, Pukki signed a new contract with Norwich as they moved up to the Premier League. He scored his first Premier League goal in August. Eight days later, he scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United. This was Norwich's first Premier League hat-trick since 1993. He was named the Premier League Player of the Month for August. Pukki scored eleven Premier League goals, but Norwich was relegated back to the Championship.
He stayed with Norwich and continued to score many goals. In February 2021, he was named Championship Player of the Month. In April 2021, he scored his first Championship hat-trick. He was nominated for the EFL Championship Player of the Season.
Pukki scored 11 goals in the 2021–22 Premier League season, making him Norwich's top scorer for the fourth year in a row. He was also voted Norwich City's Player of the Season again. Norwich was relegated once more.
In the 2022–23 season, Pukki continued to score important goals for Norwich. He scored two goals in a win against Bristol City and another two against Preston North End. In April 2023, he announced he would leave the club. During his five seasons, Pukki scored 88 goals in 210 games. This made him the fourth-best goalscorer in Norwich City's history. He is seen as a club legend there.
Moving to the USA
On June 27, 2023, Teemu Pukki joined Major League Soccer team Minnesota United in the United States. In October, Pukki scored four goals in one game against LA Galaxy. He was the first Minnesota United player to score four goals in a single match.
Return to HJK Helsinki
On January 24, 2025, after more than 13 years playing abroad, Pukki returned to his old club HJK Helsinki. He signed a two-year contract. In February, he scored two goals in a Finnish League Cup match against his former club KTP.
International Career
Youth and Senior Debut
Pukki started playing international football for Finland's youth teams. He scored two goals in his first game for Finland U15 in 2005. He made his debut for the Finland U21 team in 2009.
Pukki played his first game for the Finland national team on February 4, 2009. This was in a friendly match against Japan. In March 2013, he scored an important goal against Spain in a World Cup qualifying game, helping Finland get a 1–1 draw.
Leading Goalscorer and Euro 2020
In the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, Pukki scored the only goal in Finland's first three matches. This helped Finland get promoted in the league. In June 2019, he was named the Finnish Footballer of the Year.
Pukki scored ten goals in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers. His goals were key in helping Finland qualify for their first major international tournament, UEFA Euro 2020. He played in all three of Finland's games at Euro 2020. Finland was knocked out after the group stage.
On October 12, 2021, Pukki scored two goals against Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier. These goals meant he passed Jari Litmanen to become the Finnish national team's all-time top goalscorer. In 2023, Pukki played 10 games in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign, scoring twice and providing 5 assists.
Personal Life
Teemu Pukki is married and has two children. In September 2023, his wife was expecting their third child. In January 2024, Pukki invested in a restaurant business in Helsinki with fellow footballers Lukas Hradecky and Matej Hradecky. His childhood friend, Teemu Turunen, is his agent. In October 2024, Pukki also invested in his former club, Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat, becoming a part-owner.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | Division | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| KTP | 2006 | Veikkausliiga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 3 | |||
| Total | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 | ||||
| Sevilla | 2008–09 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Sevilla Atlético | 2008–09 | Segunda División | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 3 | |||
| 2009–10 | Segunda División B | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | ||
| HJK | 2010 | Veikkausliiga | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Veikkausliiga | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 30 | 17 | ||
| Total | 25 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 38 | 19 | |||
| Schalke 04 | 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 19 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 5 | ||
| 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 24 | 3 | |||
| 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 37 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 47 | 8 | ||||
| Celtic | 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 25 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 32 | 7 | |
| 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | ||
| Total | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | — | 37 | 9 | |||
| Brøndby (loan) | 2014–15 | Danish Superliga | 27 | 9 | 3 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 11 | ||
| Brøndby | 2015–16 | Danish Superliga | 33 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | — | 44 | 13 | ||
| 2016–17 | Danish Superliga | 34 | 20 | 4 | 3 | — | 8 | 6 | — | 46 | 29 | |||
| 2017–18 | Danish Superliga | 36 | 17 | 5 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 44 | 19 | |||
| Total | 130 | 55 | 15 | 7 | — | 19 | 10 | — | 164 | 72 | ||||
| Norwich City | 2018–19 | Championship | 43 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 46 | 30 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 36 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 11 | |||
| 2020–21 | Championship | 41 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 26 | |||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 37 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 11 | |||
| 2022–23 | Championship | 41 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 10 | |||
| Total | 198 | 87 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 210 | 88 | ||||
| Minnesota United | 2023 | MLS | 14 | 10 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 19 | 10 | |||
| 2024 | MLS | 21 | 4 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 24 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 35 | 14 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | 43 | 14 | |||||
| HJK | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 | 11 | |
| Career total | 526 | 195 | 29 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 40 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 619 | 226 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Competitive | Friendly | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Finland | 2009 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 92 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 130 | 42 | |
Honours
Sevilla Youth
- Copa del Rey Juvenil de Fútbol: 2008
HJK
- Veikkausliiga: 2010, 2011
- Finnish Cup: 2011
- Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2025
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership: 2013–14
Brøndby IF
- Danish Cup: 2017–18
Norwich City
- EFL Championship: 2018–19, 2020–21
Individual
- Veikkausliiga All Stars: 2011
- Danish Superliga Player of the Month: November 2014, August 2016
- EFL Championship Player of the Season: 2018–19
- EFL Championship Golden Boot: 2018–19
- EFL Team of the Season: 2018–19
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2018–19 Championship
- PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19 Championship, 2020–21 Championship
- Premier League Player of the Month: August 2019
- Finnish Sports Personality of the Year: 2019
- Finnish Footballer of the Year: 2019, 2020
- Norwich City Player of the Season: 2019, 2022
- EFL Championship Player of the Month: February 2021
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21
See also
In Spanish: Teemu Pukki para niños
- List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
