Before the opening match of the Helmareite European Championship, Anna Signeuli’s leadership style and the accusations leveled at her have attracted attention.
Samu Saatsi
Riku Salminen
Roope Visuri
Jussi Vainikka
There have been many changes in the Helmareit coaching group Anna Signeulin in the head coaching season. One of those who left the group is Maiju Rootsalainenwho started coaching the national team in 2017, but did not renew his contract in 2019.
The Swede, working as Urheilu’s expert at the European Championships, said on Tuesday on ‘s TV broadcast that he experienced behavior against his own values when he was in the national team.
– The most personal reason was how the person in charge reacted and how disappointed they were with the decision that a couple of years ago I was allowed to become a mother, Ruotsalainen said and elaborated a moment later.
– It has been said that I will not become the kind of coach that I could have become without children. I agree with this. I became much better.
The Swede later explained the course of events to Urheilu in more detail.
– When I have announced that I am pregnant, I have wondered why I don’t schedule these things better when I am in a relationship with a woman. Secondly, why have I made such a decision, and why haven’t I told you before I started this job, Ruotsalainen says.
– The message came out very strongly that the solution is really bad. Especially if I want more children, I have to tell you here and now. And I want more children. Even now I’m pregnant. That is one of the reasons why I could not be involved in the activities of the Football Association.
The Swede says that she has been able to continue her work as a coach as normal even as a mother.
According to Ruotslainen, the management of the Finnish Football Association has been aware of the events and Signeuli’s management style. The Swede is disappointed that there has been no reaction to the issues. According to the Swede, the management of the Football Association has told him that “if you can handle this, you can handle anything”.
– The last time I made these things clear was when I did not accept the extension contract.
Overall, the Swede feels that it’s not just about Signeuli’s management style, but the problem is higher up in Palloliito. She also expresses her concerns about how to get more women involved in the union’s activities if motherhood is perceived as a problem.
– This motherhood thing is my personal experience and just one among others. Why doesn’t the Football Association want to react to it? I feel that the problem is higher than in one person. In people who have not reacted to these things.
Head coach Signeul commented briefly on the matter at a press conference on the eve of the opening match of the European Championships in Spain.
– General Secretary of the Football Association Marco Casagrande previously commented on the matter to the media, so I think all questions should be asked to him in the future as well. In the future, we also want to focus on the games at hand, Signeul began.
– The European Championship is a great place for players, supporters and the Finnish Football Federation to grow women’s football in Finland. These players have dreamed of this for a long time, so I think we should make this a fantastic moment, Signeul concluded his answer.
Anna Signeuli’s contract as head coach of Helmarei is valid until the end of this year.
Urheilu reached Marco Casagrande on Thursday evening to comment on the matter.
Helmareite’s former assistant coach Maiju Ruotsalainen has made heavy claims about head coach Anna Signeuli. According to the Swede, Signeul was very disappointed when he heard that the Swede was having a child. When and how has the matter been handled in the Football Association?
– Maiju’s pregnancy as such has not been discussed in the leadership of the union in any way. The management of the sports side has become aware at some point when Maiju has told Signeul and the director of sports about this. In the management, we have heard about this for the first time, when Maiju brought these experiences to the fore at the turn of the year 2019–2020.
In the end, how much negative feedback has there been about Signeuli’s activities?
– There have been some discussions about management style.
Do you want to be more specific?
– Anna is a passionate and demanding coach. It has become clear. What is normal in a top sports environment, Anna of course expects a lot from the coaches and background members around her.
How many people have received negative feedback about Signeuli’s operations?
– There have been some discussions.
However, we are talking about more than one feedback?
– Yes. However, not by a large amount.
– I’m not going to open confidential discussions in more detail in public.
Why has the Finnish Football Federation allowed Anna Signeul to continue as head coach of the women’s national team?
– Anna has a valid contract until the end of this year. He currently has the trust of the management and the board. In my opinion, there is currently a good atmosphere and trust in the team.
– The union’s line is very clear. Of course we support parenting. Combining is possible, but it is clear that it requires planning and flexibility on the part of all parties, just like in the football environment, just like in the rest of working life. It is also clear that we all have good and bad sides. We certainly approach things in different ways each of us. In any case, we must constantly evaluate people, professionalism and performance holistically, not just through individual things.
According to the Swede, the management of the Football Association has told him that “if you can handle this, you can handle anything”. How do you answer this?
– I have never said that. And I don’t think the chairman was in touch at any point. In any case, it sounds like a pep talk. It depends on the context in which this is said.
In February 2020, Palloliitto announced its new coaching team. Maiju Ruotsalainen your ear Lars Mosander. who left as AIK’s director of sports Anne Mäkinen replaced him as a physical trainer Lasse Lagerblom. Video analyst Jussi Laitinen moved to work elsewhere.
In May 2021, the Finnish Football Federation announced that Lars Mosander will move to the position of observer in the background team of Helmarei. They joined the coaching team Rosa Lappi-Seppälä and Ann-Hélene Grahm. It was said to be the new physical trainer Kristoffer Weckström. Jussi Laitisen was also reported to have returned as a video analyst.
Finland will open the European Championships on Friday against Spain. The advance broadcast starts on TV2, Areena and ‘s digital services at 18:15. Puhe’s live broadcast starts at 6:30 p.m.
Updated at 23:49. Changed the title to “motherhood became a hindrance to work”. Originally, the headline read “motherhood became an obstacle to work”.