Essi Sainio

{{short description|Finnish footballer (born 1986)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Essi Sainio

| image = EssiSainio.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Sainio with Turbine Potsdam in 2009

| fullname = Essi Katriina Sainio{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/woco/2009/E/E_304284_pk.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127165729/http://www.uefa.com/printoutfiles/competitions/woco/2009/E/E_304284_pk.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2012|title=2009 UEFA European Women's Championship Match Press Kit|publisher=UEFA|accessdate=13 September 2014|page=5|date=24 August 2009}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1986|9|9}}

| birth_place = Helsinki, Finland

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| height = 1.68 m{{cite web|title=Finland – Squad List|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20womensworldcup/russia2006/teams/team=1888593/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023173730/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20womensworldcup/russia2006/teams/team=1888593/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2013|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=13 September 2014}}

| position = Winger, full back

| youthyears1=

| youthyears2 =

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs1 = Kasiysi

| youthclubs2 = Espoo

| youthclubs3 = Honka

| years1 = 2002-2003

| years2 = 2004

| years3 = 2004-2005

| years4 = 2005–2006

| years5 = 2006–2009

| years6 = 2009–2010

| years7 = 2010–2012

| years8 = 2015–2022

| clubs1 = Espoo

| clubs2 = MPS

| clubs3 = Honka

| clubs4 = HJK

| clubs5 = Turbine Potsdam

| clubs6 = AIK

| clubs7 = Freiburg

| clubs8 = HJK

| caps1 = 28

| goals1 = 1

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| caps3 = 32

| goals3 = 11

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 2

| caps5 = 42

| goals5 = 3

| caps6 = 7

| goals6 = 1

| caps7 = 34

| goals7 = 11

| caps8 = 152

| goals8 = 34

| nationalyears1= 2006–2022

| nationalteam1= Finland{{cite web|last1=Pietarinen|first1=Heikki|title=Finland – Women International Player Records|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fin-wom-recintlp.html|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|accessdate=13 September 2014|date=24 April 2014}}

| nationalcaps1= 48

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| ntupdate = 2020-10-27

| pcupdate = 20:10, 8 November 2020 (UTC)

}}

Essi Katriina Sainio (born 9 September 1986) is a Finnish former professional footballer, who last played for HJK in Finland as a winger. She played for SC Freiburg of Germany's Frauen-Bundesliga, before having a few years break due personal reasons. She previously played for Turbine Potsdam, winning the German Bundesliga title in 2009,[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/essi-sainiosta-saksan-futismestari/4011182#gs.giqzkh Essi Sainiosta Saksan futismestari], mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 7 June 2009 and for AIK of the Swedish Damallsvenskan. Sainio began her senior career with Naisten Liiga clubs FC Honka and HJK in her home country. Since making her debut in 2006, Sainio has won 45 caps and scored three goals for the Finland women's national football team. A winger who can also play as a full-back,{{cite web|title=Essi Sainio|url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/woco/players/Player=94372/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140913163907/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/woco/players/Player=94372/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2014|website=UEFA|access-date=13 September 2014|date=10 September 2009}} she was part of the Finnish team which hosted UEFA Women's Euro 2009 and reached the quarter-finals.