Robin Lod

Robin Lod
Lod with Finland in 2021
Personal information
Full name Robin Lod
Date of birth (1993-04-17) 17 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Minnesota United
Number 17
Youth career
1998–2006 Suurmetsän Urheilijat
2006–2011 HJK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Klubi 04 34 (16)
2011–2015 HJK 75 (15)
2012 → VPS (loan) 11 (2)
2015–2018 Panathinaikos 75 (12)
2018–2019 Sporting Gijón 23 (4)
2019– Minnesota United 125 (29)
International career‡
2011 Finland U18 16 (4)
2012–2014 Finland U21 14 (1)
2013– Finland 74 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024

Robin Lod (Swedish pronunciation: [lu:d]; born 17 April 1993) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer franchise Minnesota United and the Finland national team. Lod was born in Helsinki, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for Klubi 04, before making his league debut for HJK at age 18 in 2011. After winning his first trophy, the Veikkausliiga, during his second season on league level, he helped HJK win three successive Veikkausliiga titles, Cup and League Cup.

Lod made his international debut for Finland in October 2013, at the age of 20 and has since had over 60 caps, including appearing in 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications.

Club career

HJK

Lod scored his first goal on his senior debut for HJK on 22 October 2011 in a 4−1 home win against MYPA.[2]

During the 2012 season he played for VPS on loan from HJK. Having initially been loaned out on 9 August 2012 until 3 September 2012, the loan was extended subsequently until the end of the season.[3]

After the 2014 season Lod was selected as Player of the Year for Veikkausliiga. Additionally, he was selected as both the best midfield player and the best player of the U21 National Team for the season.[4] Lod featured in 120 games for HJK and netted 21 goals, while also contributing 17 assists.

Panathinaikos

On 6 May 2015, Lod agreed to terms with Panathinaikos to move to the club in the summer transfer window,[5] signing a three-year contract for a €350,000 transfer fee.[6][7] On 3 October 2015, he made his Superleague Greece debut against Xanthi. On 28 May 2017, he scored in a 1–0 win against Panionios at Leoforos Stadium. Three days later, another goal by Lod helped his club to secure a 3–2 away win against rivals PAOK on the last matchday of the 2016–17 Playoffs depriving PAOK of the possibility to participate in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.[8][9] After the first half of the 2017–18 season, Lod didn't seem to want to sign a new deal in Greece, and Panathinaikos have financial troubles and could be forced to sell in January transfer window. On 19 February 2018, Panathinaikos finally won away from home in the SuperLeague, defeating AEL 1–0 thanks to a goal from the Finland international midfielder. Lod's goal ended an 11-match run without a victory away from their home stadium.[10] On 10 March 2018, Lod struck a superb late equaliser to salvage a vital point for Panathinaikos against an impressive Asteras Tripolis at the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.[11]

Following Lod's contract expiry with Panathinaikos on 30 June 2018, and despite attempts to reach a renewal agreement, the player left the club on a free transfer considering the debt-related limitations imposed on Panathinaikos regarding the transfer and re-signing of players over the age of 23.[12]

Sporting de Gijón

On 23 July 2018 Lod signed with Segunda División team Sporting de Gijon.[13] He made his debut appearance and also scored his first goal for Gijon on 26 August 2018 in a match against Gimnàstic de Tarragona.[14]

Minnesota United FC

On 16 July 2019 Lod signed with MLS franchise Minnesota United for a transfer fee of around $680,000.[15][16][17] On 22 May 2022, with a goal in the 20th minute against Dallas FC, Lod scored his 22nd goal for Minnesota United in MLS league play and thus becoming Minnesota United's all-time leading scorer during its history in Major League Soccer.[18]

On 29 July 2022, Lod extended his contract with Minnesota United, signing a new three-year deal with a franchise option for a further year.[19] Lod played in 10 MLS games in the 2023 season, before he suffered a knee injury in May 2023 and was ruled out for the rest of the year.[20]

After recovering from the injury, Lod returned to the starting line-up for the 2024 season, and started hot scoring two goals in his first three league matches of the season.[21] On 19 May 2024, in a 2–1 league win against Portland Timbers, Lod scored his 30th goal for Minnesota, making him the franchise's all-time record goalscorer.[22][23] In July 2024, Lod was named in the 2024 MLS All-Star Game for the first time in his career.[24] In late-October, Lod received a nomination to win one of the most prestigious award in the industry, the MLS Comeback Player of the Year.[25]

International career

He made his debut for the Finnish national team on 30 October 2013 in a friendly match in Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego against Mexico.[26] On 7 October 2016, Lod scored his first international goal in a 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary game by giving the lead to Finland before they lost 3–2 in the very last minute against Iceland.[27]

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 July 2024[28][29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Klubi 04 2011 Kakkonen 27 14 0 0 — — 27 14
2012 Kakkonen 7 2 0 0 — — 7 2
Total 34 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 16
HJK Helsinki 2011 Veikkausliiga 2 1 3 0 0 0 — 5 1
2012 Veikkausliiga 7 0 9 0 1[a] 0 — 17 0
2013 Veikkausliiga 28 7 5 0 0 0 — 33 7
2014 Veikkausliiga 28 6 9 1 12[b][c] 2 — 49 9
2015 Veikkausliiga 10 1 7 3 0 0 — 17 4
Total 75 15 34 4 13 2 0 0 121 21
VPS (loan) 2012 Veikkausliiga 11 2 0 0 0 0 — 11 2
Panathinaikos 2015–16 Super League Greece 16 2 4 0 3[b][c] 0 — 23 2
2016–17 Super League Greece 29 5 7 0 9[c] 0 — 45 5
2017–18 Super League Greece 30 5 3 0 4[c] 2 — 37 7
Total 75 12 14 0 16 2 0 0 105 14
Sporting Gijón 2018–19 Segunda División 23 4 2 0 — — 25 4
Minnesota United 2019 MLS 10 0 2 1 — 1[d] 0 13 1
2020 MLS 20 7 6[e] 2 — 3[d] 1 26 10
2021 MLS 23 9 0 0 — 1[d] 0 24 9
2022 MLS 30 6 1 0 — 1[d] 0 32 6
2023 MLS 10 0 1 0 — 0 0 11 0
2024 MLS 32 7 0 0 — 1[f] 1 33 8
Total 125 29 10 3 0 0 7 2 139 34
Career total 340 77 60 7 29 4 7 2 433 91
  1. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ a b c d Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c d Appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs
  5. ^ Includes MLS is Back Tournament
  6. ^ Includes Leagues Cup

International

As of match played on 17 November 2024''[30]
National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland 2013 0 0 1 0 1 0
2014 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015 1 0 3 0 4 0
2016 4 1 4 0 8 1
2017 5 0 2 2 7 2
2018 6 0 4 0 10 0
2019 10 0 0 0 10 0
2020 2 1 0 0 2 1
2021 9 1 2 0 11 1
2022 4 0 4 0 8 0
2023 4 1 0 0 4 1
2024 7 0 3 0 10 0
Total 51 4 23 2 74 6

International goals

As of match played on 13 November 2021. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Lod goal.[31]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 October 2016 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland
11
  Iceland
2–1
2–3
 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 9 November 2017 Telia 5G -areena, Helsinki, Finland 20  Estonia
2–0
 3–0 Friendly
3
3–0
4 16 November 2020 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria
42
  Bulgaria
2–0
2–1
 2020–21 UEFA Nations League
5 13 November 2021 Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina 51  Bosnia and Herzegovina
2–0
3–1
 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 17 November 2023 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland
63
  Northern Ireland
4–0
4–0
 UEFA Euro 2024 qualification

Honours

Klubi 04

HJK Helsinki

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Robin Lod". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Robin Lod maalasi liigadebyytissään" (in Finnish). HJK. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Saksela ja Lod lainalle" (in Finnish). HJK. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Markku Peltoniemelle Captain´s Ball" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Παίκτης του Παναθηναϊκού ο Ρόμπιν Λοντ!" (in Greek). gazzetta.gr. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Ανακοινώθηκε ο Λοντ" (in Greek). contra.gr. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Panathinaikos seurasi Robin Lodia pitkään". Helsingin Sanomat. 14 May 2015.
  8. ^ ΠΑΟΚ-Παναθηναϊκός 2-3: Έδειξε πόσο βαριά φανέλα έχει!
  9. ^ Παναθηναϊκός με ψυχή, 3-2 τον ΠΑΟΚ στην Τούμπα
  10. ^ ΑΕΛ - Παναθηναϊκός 0-1
  11. ^ ""Χ"αμένοι και οι δυο, 1-1 ο Παναθηναϊκός με τον Αστέρα". www.sport24.gr. 10 March 2018.
  12. ^ team, Onsports (4 July 2018). "Τέλος ο Λουντ για τον Παναθηναϊκό". Onsports.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Robin Lod ya está en Gijon para fichar por el Sporting". La Voz de Asturias (in European Spanish). 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Robin Lod maalasi sarjadebyytissään Espanjassa, kahdesti osunut Petteri Forsell upotti mahtavan kaukolaukauksen maaliin Puolan liigassa" [Robin Lod scored in his debut match in Spain, Petteri Forsell scored twice in the Polish league] (in Finnish). Yle. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  15. ^ "MNUFC Signs Robin Lod | Minnesota United FC".
  16. ^ "Minnesota United nets Finland midfielder Robin Lod after 'long chase'". 17 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Robin Lod salary profile".
  18. ^ "Recap | FC Dallas - 1, Minnesota United - 2 | Minnesota United FC".
  19. ^ "Minnesota United sign Robin Lod to contract extension".
  20. ^ "Midfielder Robin Lod Suffers Torn Meniscus". 19 May 2023.
  21. ^ Robin Lod osui ja tuuletti maaliaan vapautuneesti – suomalaisen pelipäivänä soi JVG ja Huuhkajatoveri Nikolai Alho, Yle, 17 March 2024
  22. ^ Robin Lod Breaks Loons Scoring Record, mnufc.com
  23. ^ mnu – portland, 19 May 2024
  24. ^ Robin Lodille suuri kunnianosoitus: valittiin MLS:n tähdistöpeliin, Yle, 1 July 2024
  25. ^ Midfielder Robin Lod Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, mnufc.com, 24 October 2024
  26. ^ "Mexico beats Finns, but not convincingly". The San Diego Union-Tribune. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Iceland vs Finland 3-2". www.uefa.com. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Lod, Robin". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. ^ "R. Lod". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Robin Lod". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Robin Lod". Football Association of Finland (in Finnish). Retrieved 21 June 2021.