Joakim Latonen (born 24 February 1998) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays for Veikkausliiga club Gnistan, as an attacking midfielder.Joakim Latonen, worldfootball
Club career Early career Latonen started to play football in a youth team of Kaarinan Pojat (KaaPo) in Kaarina.Tulospalvelu Palloliitto, J.Latonen, Finnish FA/ PalloliittoJoakim Latonen teki jatkosopimuksen TPS:n kanssa, aamuset.fi, 22 January 2020Tuskallisen hidas kasvutarina, Helsingin Sanomat, Ari Virtanen, 5 April 2024
Turun Palloseura Latonen joined the youth sector of Turun Palloseura (TPS) in the neighbouring town of Turku in 2015. He made his senior debut with TPS first team in Veikkausliiga in 2018. During the season, he occasionally represented the associate farm club Salon Palloilijat (SalPa), playing in third-tier Kakkonen.Aurinko, samettinen nurmi ja Joakim Latonen – SalPa murskasi BK-46:n, Salon Seudun Sanomat, Juha Tuuna, 10 May 2018
He spent four seasons with TPS, alternately in Veikkausliiga and second-tier Ykkönen, before his departure was announced in December 2021.TPS:n viime kauden paras maalintekijä siirtyy liigaseuraan, Turun Sanomat, 15 December 2021TPS:n kausi päättyi pahaan pettymykseen – lue arviot joukkueen jokaisesta pelaajasta, Turun Sanomat, 23 October 2021
IFK Mariehamn For the 2022 season, he signed a one-year contract with IFK Mariehamn in Veikkausliiga.
IF Gnistan On 31 January 2023, Latonen signed with IF Gnistan in the second-tier Ykkönen. He was named the Ykkönen Player of the Month in September and October 2023.Joakim Latonen valittiin jälleen Ykkösen kuukauden pelaajaksi, Finnish FA/ Palloliitto, 28 October 2023 At the end of the season, Latonen won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in Ykkönen with 19 goals, and Gnistan were promoted to Veikkausliiga via supplemental process.Helsinkiläinen lähiöseura hakee paikkaa Veikkausliigasta: "Täyttää kriteerit", Helsingin Sanomat, Jaakko Tiira, 11 November 2023 Latonen was also named the Best Player and the Best Forward in Ykkönen.Captain's Ball 2023 Kaj Natrille – Katso kaikki palkitut, Veikkausliiga, 1 December 2023
On 2 January 2024, he renewed his contract with Gnistan, signing a one-year deal for the 2024 season.JOAKIM LATONEN JATKOSOPIMUKSEEN GNISTANIN KANSSA, gnistan.fi, 2 January 2024 On 24 February, Latonen scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 Finnish League Cup win against EIF."Pelasimme hyvän ottelun" - Gnistan karkasi EIF:lta jo avausjaksolla, veikkausliiga.com, 24 February 2024 On 6 April, in the opening match of the 2024 Veikkausliiga season, Latonen scored the first-ever goal for Gnistan in Veikkausliiga, an equalizer from penalty spot against Inter Turku. Gnistan eventually won the game 2–1.Gnistan ryminällä Veikkausliigaan! 100-vuotias seura kaatoi heti yhden ennakkosuosikeista, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 6 April 2024 One week later on 13 April, Latonen scored his first hat-trick in Veikkausliiga, in a 6–4 away win against Ilves.Ilves – Gnistan, veikkausliiga.comJoakim Latonen sai kuulla, että floppaa liigassa aina – kuinka kaikki kääntyi Gnistanissa? "En ole mikään buddha", Yle, 28 April 2024 During the 2024 Veikkausliiga season, Latonen made 29 appearances and scored 11 goals, making it his highest-scoring campaign in Finnish top-tier.Joakim Latonen stats, veikkausliiga.com On 4 January 2025, Latonen signed a two-year contract extension with Gnistan.JOAKIM LATOSELLE KAHDEN VUODEN JATKOSOPIMUS, gnistan.fi, 4 January 2025
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTPS2018Veikkausliiga11030——1402019Ykkönen25341——2942020Veikkausliiga20172——2732021Ykkönen251131——2812Total811517400009819TPS U232020Kolmonen20———20SalPa (loan)2018Kakkonen86———86IFK Mariehamn2022Veikkausliiga2024031—273Gnistan2023Ykkönen29191041—34202024Veikkausliiga29112033—34142025Veikkausliiga3262152–3992026Veikkausliiga1750041–216Total9036511670012849Career total218642651980026377
Honours Turun Palloseura Ykkönen runner-up: 2019
IF Gnistan Ykkönen runner-up: 2023
Individual Ykkönen: Player of the Year 2023 Ykkönen: Forward of the Year 2023 Ykkönen Player of the Month: September 2023, October 2023
References