When the Huuhkajat return to action on Saturday after a three-month international break in the away match against Greece in the Nations League, attention will be focused not only on the events on the field, but also on the coaching staff.
The head coach who signed an extension in June Markku Kanerva has supplemented the coaching of the Finnish men’s national football team Jani in Honkavaara, Teemu Tainio and With Tim Sparville. The trio will replace the Huuhkajie’s former assistant coaches Toni Korkeakunnsen and Mika Nurmelan.
After the slow EC qualifiers, Huuhkajat needs the energy that is expected from the new coaches.
– They have enthusiasm. They bring new ideas that we can try in the national team, says Kanerva and assures that he will make the final decisions himself.
Tainio Yleni, who had a distinguished professional career until the end of the English Premier League, became the head coach of his club team Tallinna Kalevi at the end of the summer. Serving two masters suits Tainio, who ended his playing career in Huuhkaj ten years ago.
– This is a good package, to act as Kalevi’s head coach and as an assistant coach in the national team, confirms Tainio.
In Huuhkaj, he is responsible for the special situations of the attacking end with Sparvi, for which the national team has received criticism.
– We do teamwork, we rotate roles, Tainio describes the division of work.
Sparv breaks down the plans more graphically.
– Players’ roles (in special situations) must be clear on the field. Then there must be time to polish the patterns. We need to create two or three more goal chances, Sparta Praha assistant coach Sparv insists.