In 1952 Aulis Rytkönen became the first professional Finnish footballer, signing with France’s Toulouse FC, after having played in Finland with KuPS Kuopio from 1945-51. He was Finnish player-of-the-year in 1949, 1950, and 1952. He played for Toulouse for eight years, winning the French Cup with them in 1957. Rytkönen later returned to Finland as player-coach with HJK Helsinki from 1960-66 and then coached them from 1967-71. He was Finnish national coach from 1975-78. In his international career he earned 37 caps, scoring seven goals.