Markus Heikkinen (born 13 October 1978), nicknamed Mako, is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a centre back or defensive midfielder. He was most recently the sporting director of Veikkausliiga side AC Oulu.
He previously played for Oulun Palloseura (OPS), Turun Palloseura (TPS), MyPa, HJK Helsinki, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Luton Town, Rapid Wien and Start, before returning to his hometown and ending his professional playing career in AC Oulu.
Playing career Heikkinen started his senior career in OPS, when the club played in Ykkönen in 1996 season. Heikkinen scored five goals, most in his team, but ultimately OPS were relegated back to Kakkonen, and Heikkinen left the club.OPS:N HISTORIA, ops.fi, Retrieved 12 January 2024 He spent three seasons in Veikkausliiga with TPS and MyPa, before joining HJK Helsinki.
In January 2003, Heikkinen joined English club Portsmouth on a three-month loan deal. Whilst at Portsmouth on loan, he contributed two appearances as they won the First Division Championship and promotion to the Premier League.
During his two years with Aberdeen, Heikkinen was popular and important player, who usually featured in central midfield, where he had a reputation as a tough tackling and dependable player. Despite repeated attempts by Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood to get the player to sign a new deal, he indicated that he was unsettled at Aberdeen and wanted to move on.
An integral part of the Luton side that finished 10th in the 2005–06 Championship season, Heikkinen collected four awards – the Player of the Year trophy, Players' Player of the Season, Internet Player of the Season and the Luton News Player of the Season.Loyal Luton Supporters Club – Luton Town FC – Player of the Year
On 29 December 2006, in a game for Luton against Birmingham City he was feared to have a compound fracture of the fibula, however it was in fact a nasty gash down his leg, after a late challenge by midfielder Fabrice Muamba.HEIKKINEN BLOW FOR HATTERS | Luton Town | News | News | News HEIKKINEN UPDATE | Luton Town | News | News | News He returned to action against Stoke City on 17 February 2007.
After his years in England Heikkinen played six seasons for Rapid Wien. He was a key player of the team, making over 170 appearances for the Austrian Bundesliga side.
On 10 August 2013, he signed for Norwegian Tippeligaen club Start.Finsk rutine skal hjelpe Start Heikkinen helped Start avoid relegation with solid performances.
After years abroad, "Mako" returned to Finland and HJK in December 2013. After two seasons with the Helsinki-based side, on 2 September 2015 it was reported that the 36-year-old Heikkinen had signed a three-year player-coach contract with his hometown team AC Oulu.Markus "Mako" Heikkinen palaa Ouluun
International career Heikkinen made his national team debut on 4 January 2002 against Bahrain. He immediately became an important defensive player to his native team. He often played as defensive midfielder. However, he returned to his old position as centre back in 2010, after Hannu Tihinen retired in professional football. He announced his retirement from international football on 26 September 2011.Heikkinen retires from international duties
Later career During the last years of his playing career, Heikkinen worked also as a sporting director of AC Oulu in second-tier Ykkönen.AC Oulun urheilutoimenjohtaja Markus Heikkinen myöntää kritiikin olevan ansaittua – "Eihän se mennyt putkeen miltään osin", Kaleva, 27 October 2024 Since the end of 2018, he has served as the club's sole sporting director, and helped AC Oulu to promote to Veikkausliiga after the 2020.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsOPS1996Ykkönen24500——245TPS1997Veikkausliiga22000—40260MyPa1998Veikkausliiga14000——1401999Veikkausliiga29100——291Total431000000431HJK2000Veikkausliiga32010—403702001Veikkausliiga33100—403712002Veikkausliiga20000—20220Total8511000100961Portsmouth (loan)2002–03First Division200000—20Aberdeen2003–04Scottish Premier League3800000—3802004–05Scottish Premier League3020000—302Total682000000682Luton2005–06Championship4021000—4122006–07Championship3710000—371Total773100000783Rapid Wien2007–08Austrian Bundesliga28100—80622008–09Austrian Bundesliga32020—203602009–10Austrian Bundesliga28121—1004022010–11Austrian Bundesliga30200—903922011–12Austrian Bundesliga29100——2912012–13Austrian Bundesliga26010—90351Total173451003802175Start2013Tippeligaen10200——102HJK2014Veikkausliiga21040201103702015Veikkausliiga190003060370Total4004050170680AC Oulu2016Ykkönen18010——1902017Ykkönen18020——2002018Ykkönen21040——250Total570700000640Career total601191815069069320
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFinland200240200370200420200570200660200770200880200990201070201140Total610
References
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