Marko Saloranta, who will continue as head coach of Helmariten until 2026, is proud of the phenomenon surrounding football.
Head coach of the women’s national football team Marko Saloranta will continue in his position until at least 2026. Saloranta, 52, who is currently piloting the Helmarei in the European Championship qualifiers, signed an extension contract with the Finnish Football Federation, which also includes an option for the 2027 prestigious championships.
Saloranta has been piloting Helmarei since summer 2022 Anna Signeulin after the end of the contract. At that time, Saloranta took temporary responsibility for the national team. He was officially named Finland’s head coach in January 2023.
Saloranta admits that one and a half years as the head coach of the national team is a short time.
Saloranta is grateful for the peace of mind it has received. According to him, the national team’s players and playing have already changed a lot.
In the new contract period, Saloranta will lead Helmarit to the next World Cup qualifiers in addition to the ongoing EC qualifiers. The next time the world championship will be played is in 2027.
– Now we have pretty much come to the point that even though there are underdogs in these roughs, we will not submit to playing underdog football. Not a single match will certainly be such that you dominate the game for 90 minutes, says Saloranta.
– The goal is that we are aggressive in defending and with the ball we dare to take initiatives and play bravely and tenaciously. In addition, it is important to be able to suffer in those moments when it is difficult.
Until now, under Saloranta, Helmarit has won the division in the Nations League. With the victory at the end of last year, the team rose from the B-League to the A-League and among the top 16 European countries in the qualification system.
From these settings, the national team started its European Championship qualification. Finland lost the opening match against Norway away from home, but four days later the team defeated Italy in front of the home crowd.
– Victory gives us faith. The Italy game showed the level we need to reach in order to continue beating big countries. Now we know, among other things, the number of runs required from the players.
In Tuesday’s home win, Saloranta was most surprised by the people’s reception. The team’s performances against a world-class team have awakened the nation.
– We have started talking about the game. I have a stronger belief and feeling again that we will become a better football country, because strangers are interested and the number of viewers of the match was also good on TV.
The EC qualifiers continue in May-June. Finland will first face away from home and immediately after in a home game in Tampere against last year’s World Cup quarter-final team Holland. The 2017 European champion is predicted to be the most difficult in advance.
Among other things, Saloranta considers extensive play to be the team’s strength, which he plans to stick to in the future as well.
– We have a tough challenge, but I have strong faith in what we are doing. The players are in good clubs and are constantly developing.