Joel Pohjanpalo is a phenomenon in Italy – loved even by the opposing fans

Monza

THE DOGE i.e. Ruler. Il Bomber. Il Vichingo or the Viking.

The star striker of Palermo and Huhkajie Joel Pohjanpalo is quite a phenomenon in Italy – has been for some years already. This is also proven by those pompous nicknames.

“Pohjanpalo’s jerseys are sold in very large quantities, said an employee of the Palermo fan shop a year ago, when the Finn had moved to the Sicilian club from Venezia.”

“I don’t know the exact sales figures, but it can be concluded from everything that he was a great acquisition for our club in a commercial sense as well. We wish him all the best! said the seller. “

Good has indeed been seen. While Pohjanpalo’s goal per match average was an excellent 0.6 in 15 games at the end of the last season, now in the 2025–26 season the corresponding reading is almost 0.66 after 32 series rounds of Serie B.

A goal average of at least 0.5 is generally considered an excellent performance for a striker. Pohjanpalo has already scored 21 goals this season, which is about a third of all Palermo’s hits. He leads the scoring statistics of Serie B by far.

Even if you take into account the wild performances of the native of Helsinki – 48 goals in 96 matches – during two and a half seasons (2022-25) in Venezia, it is no wonder that he has melted the hearts of Italians even beyond the club borders.

“Poojanpaalo” pronounced like a Saapaslander has already become a concept. Pure top quality is always appreciated.

BASEBALL FIRE it says a lot about the quality and quantity of the respect he received that he was praised in Palermo immediately after his transfer to the club a year ago.

The attacker’s exploits in Venezia were well known and fresh in the memory of the awakened supporters.

“Pohjanpalo is a real athlete with a capital U. He is very determined, attacks and defends, scores goals and assists, always plays for the team and fights hard for every ball”, Palermo fan Monica boasted at the time.

“He always and constantly has his mind on scoring!”, another supporter Armando accompanied next to it.

Nowabout a year later, it is not at all an exaggeration to estimate that Pohjanpalo’s status and appreciation are skyrocketing.

When the top match of Serie B between Monza and Palermo was played in the pouring rain of Northern Italy a couple of weeks ago, it was interesting to see and hear the sincere applause of even the home team’s supporters for the Finn up close.

“Pohjanpalo really knows where the goal is”, one of them used a typical Italian football phrase.

“The shortcomings are a slight slowness and heavy feet, but he is very nasty to play against. If I were a Palermo supporter, Pohjanpalo would be my favorite player. Now I can only hope” that his incredible number of goals does not prevent Monza’s promotion to the league.

ITALIAN the largest and oldest sports magazine in the world La Gazzetta dello Sport titled his online story in February as follows: “Pohjanpalo, Italy’s goal king!

In Europe, more than him have finished only Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland…”

In addition to pure statistical data, the article discussed Pohjanpalo’s efficiency for several years and reminded that Palermo’s head coach Filippo Inzaghi as a former top striker, can offer Finns valuable advice.

“The bomber from Helsinki has learned to make himself at home by the sun and the sea. He enjoys himself, scores goals and impresses the whole of Europe”, journalist Oscar Maresca wrote.

“When you take into account the goals scored in different leagues”, Pohjanpalo is currently the fifth most prolific striker on the continent.

The passionate supporters of the Sicilian club’s football love for the Finn deepened even more when the player said in February The Palermon Republic in the interview that he is constantly learning more of the island’s local language form, which differs significantly from the so-called basic Italian.

There is a strong feeling in the city that Pohjanpalo is “one of us”.

EURO SERIES now on international break, Palermo is in fourth place in Serie B, four points away from the second place, i.e. the second place of direct promotion. At the end of the season, the teams finishing in places 3–8 play the always unpredictable promotion qualifiers.

Both the club and Pohjanpalo categorically stated before the start of the season that the unequivocal main goal is promotion to Serie A, where the Sicilians last played nine years ago.

There are still eight rounds left in the season, so it is clear that Palermo needs more and more Pohjanpalo goals during the spring, as well as the team’s Finnish goalkeeper Jesse Jorosen top saves.

“Sometimes there is a strong impression that Palermo relies too much on the vital powers of the Finnish striker”, in the football talk program of the Italian Telenova channel New stage was recently considered.

“There are players who are at their best at a certain league level, such as Pohjanpalo in Serie B. If he played in a mid-level team in Serie A, maybe there would be a three-point role available, where goals are scored only occasionally”, former top defender Enzo Gambaro said in the Telenova studio.

There may be some merit in the vision, but Palermo’s promotion goal is unlikely to come to nothing, at least if Pohjanpalo doesn’t score enough goals.

“In the light of these numbers, anything is possible,” La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Oscar Maresca concluded his article.

Screens have been given and widespread appreciation has been earned.