The tug of war between Finland and Sweden is eternal. Head coach Rikard Grönborg and assistant coach Juha Juujärvi of the new coaching team of Tappara’s champion team proved this in Urheilu’s playful survey.
Anu Karttunen,
Jussi Saarinen
Tappara’s new coaching duo, head coach Rikard Grönborg and the second coach Juha Juujärvi, is a familiar sight at the World Hockey Championships and in the Tampere arena. Both will be seen and heard during the games also on television, as Grönborg works as an expert for C More and Juujärvi Yleisradio.
Grönborg has previously coached Sweden’s men to the World Cup gold in 2017 and 2018. After that, the Swede coached the Lions in the Swiss league until he was fired in December 2022. Next, he will take over the champion Tappara.
There has always been and will continue to be competition between Finland and Sweden as to who is better. And when the Finnish and Swedish coaches are asked if they would choose Teemu Selänten or by Peter Forsberg, the choices are clear. Or were they?
– Teemu Selänne, Juha Juujärvi said without thinking for a second, but continued in the same breath:
– I really like Peter Forsberg as a player, but Teemu Selänne as a goalscorer.
Grönborg took a little longer to respond.
– Boys! Both incredible hockey players. A goalscorer or an almost complete package like Peter Forsberg? he pondered.
– I choose Peter Forsberg.
How about when we move on to skis, that is Iivo Niskanen or Calle Halfvarsson? Juujärvi did not think in vain here either.
– Iivo Niskanen. You don’t even have to talk. Ivo is of the same caliber as Gunde Svan.
Grönborg, on the other hand, will flag again for his compatriot, i.e. he chose Calle Halfvarsson, because he likes the Swedish skier’s personality and the way he presents himself honestly in front of the media.
Instead Juha Miedon and by Thomas Wassberg between the choices, Juujärvi surprised:
– Well, the clock doesn’t lie. Let’s say Thomas Wassberg.
Grönborg remembered the classic race between Miedo and Wassberg, where the Swede won by hundredths of a second.
– Wassberg was my youth idol, so I have to stick with the Swede.
Also, when moving to the food side, the duo kept to their own side just as strictly. Juujärvi liked the Finnish black sausage, while Grönborg definitely voted for the meatballs.
The question of kingdom or republic also divided the duo as expected.
– Republic, Juujärvi said.
– I will stay in the Swedish team with the monarchy. I grew up with it and the king, queen and royal family have done good things. They have promoted Sweden well, Grönborg stated.
But Finland also has one crowned head, at least if Juha Juujärvi is to be believed when he had to choose Jari Litmanen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic between.
– We have one king: Jari Litmanen, Juujärvi assured.
Grönborg said he loved Litma, but still chose Ibrahimovic.
– Jari is an incredible footballer when he dominated the game, but Zlatan has been on top of the world for many years, he reasoned.
When choosing between Stockholm and Tampere, Juujärvi from Oulu chose Tampere, but for Grönborg from the municipality of Huddingen in Stockholm county, Stockholm’s summer nights were still too much of a temptation.
– I love that Tampere is surrounded by water and I like this area. I might change my mind after living here for a few years, he said.
The coaches of the reigning Finnish champion agreed on one question, without the slightest doubt: Tappara or HIFK? Brave, said Juujärvi immediately.
– That was the easiest question. Brave until the end, Grönborg said with a smile.