Paavo Mustonen
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paavo Tariu Mustonen | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Maryborough, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tupapa Maraerenga | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2011 | Tupapa Maraerenga | ||
| 2012 | Nikao Sokattak | 12 | (22) |
| 2013 | Puaikura | 12 | (36) |
| 2014– | Tupapa Maraerenga | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007– | Cook Islands | 17 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025– | Cook Islands U16 (assistant) | ||
| 2025– | Cook Islands U15 | ||
| 2026– | Tupapa Maraerenga | ||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 May 2024 | |||
Paavo Mustonen (born 10 November 1989) is a Cook Islands international footballer and player-coach for Tupapa Maraerenga.
Mustonen was born in Maryborough, Australia, to a Cook Islands mother and a Finnish father.[1] He is of Atiuan descent.
Career
Mustonen began playing senior football at just 15 years of age and established himself as a prolific attacking player. Mustonen has spent 20 years of his club career with Tupapa Maraerenga, interrupted by spells with Nikao Sokattak and Puaikura. He won 15 league titles. His most prolific domestic season came in 2013 with Puaikura, where he scored 36 goals in 12 league matches, and also recording 1 goal in the Cook Islands Cup. He has also represented Tupapa in the OFC Champions League.
In addition to his 11-a-side career, Mustonen has competed in futsal and beach soccer, both domestically and internationally. At international level, Mustonen has represented the Cook Islands since 2007. He also has represented Atiu in the Cook Islands Games. Later in his career, Mustonen has transitioned into coaching, serving as assistant coach of the Cook Islands under-16 national team and head coach of the Cook Islands under-15 national team and Tupapa Maraerenga.[2]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 14 December 2025
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Shield | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tupapa Maraerenga | 2004 | Round Cup | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
| 2005 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2008 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2011 | Round Cup | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| 2014 | Round Cup | 12 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 30 | |
| 2015 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2016 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | - | - | 3 [a] | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2018 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2019 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2020 | Round Cup | 15 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 15 | |
| 2021 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2022 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2023 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2024 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | - | - | 3 [b] | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | Round Cup | — | — | — | — | - | - | 1 [c] | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 52 | ||
| Nikao Sokattak | 2012 | Round Cup | 12 | 22 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 26 |
| Puaikura | 2013 | Round Cup | 12 | 36 | - | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 36 |
| Career total | 51 | 110 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 114 | ||
International
| Cook Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 0 |
Statistics accurate as of matches played 14 December 2025
Honours
Nikao Sokattak
- Cook Islands Round Cup: 2006, 2008, 2009
- Cook Islands Cup: 2007, 2008
Tupapa Maraerenga
- Cook Islands Round Cup: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
- Cook Islands Cup: 2013
Notes
- ^ Appearances in OFC Men's Champions League
- ^ Appearances in OFC Men's Champions League
- ^ Appearances in OFC Men's Champions League
References
- ^ Hämäläinen, Tuomas (24 December 2023). "Paavo, 34, elää paratiisisaarilla – maajoukkueen kokenut pelaaja unelmoi ensimatkasta Suomeen: "Näkemään viikinkejä"" [Paavo, 34, lives on paradise islands – the experienced national team player dreams of his first trip to Finland: "To see Vikings"]. MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ Thomas, Gareth (11 June 2025). "Paavo Mustonen: The Heart and Soul of Cook Islands Football". Retrieved 15 December 2025.