Aulis Rytkönen
Finnish footballer (1929-2014)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taavi Aulis Rytkönen (5 January 1929 – 16 April 2014) was a Finnish footballer.[1] He became the country's first professional player when he signed for France's Toulouse FC in 1952.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 January 1929 | ||
| Place of birth | Karttula, Finland | ||
| Date of death | 16 April 2014 (aged 85) | ||
| Place of death | Helsinki, Finland | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1945 | Kuopion työväen urheilijat | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1945–1952 | KuPS | 126 | (66) |
| 1952–1960 | Toulouse | 120 | (33) |
| 1960–1966 | HJK Helsinki | 85 | (28) |
| International career | |||
| 1948–1964 | Finland | 37 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1960–1971 | HJK Helsinki | ||
| 1975–1978 | Finland | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In total Rytkönen spent eight seasons (1952–1960) in France, winning the French Cup in 1957. A forward, he started his career in Finland with KuPS Kuopio in 1945,[2] and after returning from France he worked as player-coach of HJK Helsinki 1960–1966 and as coach 1967–1971.[3]
Rytkönen earned 37 caps for the Finnish national team, scoring seven goals.[4] He played for Finland at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.[5] He also worked as national coach from 1975 to 1978. He was chosen Finland's Player of the Year in 1949, 1950, and 1952.[6]
