Mihkel Aksalu

Mihkel Aksalu

Aksalu with Estonia in 2015
Personal information
Full name Mihkel Aksalu
Date of birth (1984-11-07) 7 November 1984
Place of birth Kuressaare, Estonia
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 SJK
Number 33
Youth career
Kuressaare
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 Kuressaare 1 (0)
2000–2001 → Muhumaa (loan) 27 (0)
2002 → Sörve (loan) 12 (0)
2003 HÜJK Emmaste 0 (0)
2006 Flora II 6 (0)
2003–2009 Flora 115 (0)
2003–2005 → Tervis Pärnu (loan) 22 (1)
2009–2012 Sheffield United 0 (0)
2010 → Mansfield Town (loan) 2 (0)
2012 Flora II 1 (0)
2012 Flora 7 (0)
2013– SJK 119 (0)
National team‡
Estonia U21 13 (0)
2007– Estonia 31 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 November 2016.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 02 April 2017

Mihkel Aksalu (born 7 November 1984) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Finnish Veikkausliiga club SJK and the Estonia national football team. He serves as the captain for SJK.

Club career

Sheffield United

On 29 January 2010 it was announced that Aksalu had signed for Sheffield United on a two and a half-year deal after a successful trial with the club. Kevin Blackwell, United's manager at the time, claimed that he had the potential to be Estonia's Number one, and he was the best goalkeeper trialist he'd seen.[1] The following season, after failing to break into the first team, he signed a two-month loan deal with Mansfield Town.[2] During his time at Mansfield Town, he played two league matches and one FA Cup match. He remained sidelined through most of his spell due to an abdominal muscle problem and returned to Bramall Lane in December.[3] Remaining as a regular in the reserves he was unable to make the breakthrough into the first team in the following season. After a lengthy spell on the sidelines following back surgery he was released by the Blades in January 2012.[4]

Return to Flora

He rejoined his old club Flora in early April of the same year,[5] but left the club again in June to cure his back pain that did not allow him to play.[6]

SJK

In early April 2013, after making a full recovery, Aksalu signed with Finnish Ykkonen club SJK.[6] That season SJK won the league and got promoted to Veikkausliiga. In October 2014 SJK won the silver medal in Veikkausliiga, placing second after HJK. Aksalu was named as one of the best goalkeepers in the league and SJK's Player of the Year. Season 2015 brought Aksalu the taste of silverware when SJK won the first Finnish Championship in the club history. Aksalu captained the side. He was chosen as Veikkausliiga's Goalkeeper of the year and SJK's Player of the Year. In September 2016 Aksalu helped his team to win the 2016 Finnish Cup by saving two penalties in a penalty shoot-out against HJK. In October 2016 SJK won the bronze medal in Veikkausliiga, placing third after IFK Mariehamn and HJK.

International career

Aksalu is a member of the Estonia national football team and he made his national team debut on 17 October 2007 against Montenegro.[7] He played 13 matches for Estonian U21 national football team.

Career statistics

Club

As of 14 November 2016.[8]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kuressaare2000Meistriliiga 10 —— 10
Muhumaa (loan) 2000Esiliiga 110 —— 110
2001II liiga 160 —— 160
Total270 270
Sörve (loan)2002II liiga 120 —— 120
HÜJK Emmaste2003II liiga 00 —— 00
Flora II2006Esiliiga 60 —— 60
Flora2003Meistriliiga10 —000010
200400 —000000
200580 —000080
2006150 —0010160
2007300 —2040360
2008300 —2020340
200931030—2030390
Total11503000601001340
Tervis Pärnu (loan)2004Esiliiga151 —— 151
200570 —— 70
Total221 221
Sheffield United2009–10Championship000000—0000
2010–11000000—0000
2011–12League One000000—0000
Total000000000000
Mansfield Town (loan)2010–11Conference National201000—0030
Flora II2012Esiliiga1000——0010
Flora2012Meistriliiga7020—000090
SJK2013Ykkönen2600000—00260
2014Veikkausliiga3002060—00380
201532000302000370
201631010402000380
Total11903013040001390
Total3121901301001003541

International

As of 02 April 2017.[8]
National team Year Apps Goals
Estonia
200720
200830
200910
201030
201100
201210
201310
201430
201570
201680
201720
Total 310

Honours

Club

Flora
SJK

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Blades sign international 'keeper". Sheffield United. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  2. ↑ "Stags take a loan Blade". Sheffield United F.C. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  3. ↑ "Aksalu returns to Blades". mansfieldtown.net. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  4. ↑ "Goalkeeper leaves Blades". Sheffield United F.C. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  5. ↑ Pulst, Siim (9 April 2012). "Mihkel Aksalu taasliitus Floraga" [Mihkel Aksalu rejoined Flora] (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Aksalu testimisel Kamsi ja Goldbergi klubis" (in Estonian). Soccernet.ee. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kõik Eesti internatsionaalid" [All Estonian internationals] (in Estonian). Eesti Jalgpalli Liit. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Mihkel Aksalu". National-Football-Teams.com.
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