Mihkel Aksalu (born 7 November 1984) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He is widely recognized for his long and successful career in both Estonian and Finnish top-flight football, as well as his numerous appearances for the Estonia national team.
Club Career Aksalu began his senior club career in Estonia, playing for local teams such as Sörve and Tulevik. His performances earned him a move to Flora Tallinn, one of Estonia's most prominent clubs, where he spent several seasons.
In 2010, Aksalu moved to England to join Championship club Reading. While at Reading, he primarily featured for the reserve team and made a limited number of first-team appearances, gaining valuable experience in a more competitive league environment.
Following his spell in England, Aksalu returned to Estonia briefly before making a significant move to Finland in 2013, signing with SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho). It was at SJK that Aksalu truly established himself as a key player, becoming a fan favorite and an integral part of the team's most successful period. During his tenure with SJK, he helped the club achieve promotion to the Veikkausliiga (Finnish top division) and subsequently win the league title in 2015, as well as the Finnish Cup in 2016. He remained with SJK for seven seasons, making over 200 appearances.
After leaving SJK in 2020, Aksalu returned to Estonia, joining Paide Linnameeskond.
International Career Aksalu has represented Estonia at various youth levels before making his senior international debut in 2007. He has since gone on to earn over 40 caps for his country, serving as a reliable presence between the posts for the national team in World Cup and European Championship qualifiers, as well as friendly matches.
Honours
Club
-
Flora Tallinn
- Meistriliiga: 2010
- Estonian Cup: 2008, 2009
- Estonian Supercup: 2009
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SJK
- Veikkausliiga: 2015
- Finnish Cup: 2016
- Finnish League Cup: 2014