Jussi Tapola, who coached Tapparaa for six seasons, is moving abroad to coach.
Tappara gets new coaches. Coached Tapparaa as head coach for six years Jussi Tapola moves abroad to coach. Tapola’s new job is ElmoTV (you switch to another service)as the head coach of the big German club Adler Mannheim.
The new head coach of Tappara, who took the SM league championship again, had long been planted with a name from Sweden Rikard Grönborgia.
This information was confirmed on Thursday at Tappara’s press conference. The news came with an emotional video, which revealed the Swedish coach’s beard and eyes first.
– Everyone sings Live is life, Grönborg’s voice says in the video regarding Tappara’s rallying cry.
– Moro, Grönborg said at the press conference first.
Thank you will also be translated into Finnish later.
A new vision
According to Grönborg, everything has been professional in Tappara. As a Swede, he knew about Tappara’s popularity in advance, but he is impressed by what he saw.
Grönborg believes that he will bring a new vision to Tapparaa. At Thursday’s press conference, he said the team is very ambitious. He plans to bring new ideas and learn from Tappara’s success in Finland and Europe. Tappara won both the Finnish and CHL championships.
Grönborg is not going to change the team’s playing style completely, but will bring some new things to it.
The new hometown receives praise
Tampere will be the city of the Grönborg family. The family has already moved to Tampere, and his girls are starting school in the city.
Grönborg said at the press conference that he had time to buy fresh fish. He thought the Tampere arena was incredible.
He likes two big lakes and downtown.
– The atmosphere of a small town in a bigger city, he praises.
Grönborg visited Tampere for the first time 25 years ago.
– I’ve always been here in summer, and winter is definitely different. In the winter, however, hockey is played, so it doesn’t matter that much.
According to Grönborg, the NHL has also been interested in him. He said that in the future he could also coach in North America. Grönborg does not reveal whether the three-year contract with Tappara allows it.
Chairman of Tamhockey’s board Mikko Leinonen says that the change will update Tappara. In his opinion, a non-Finnish coach motivates the players.
A star from Sweden
54-year-old Grönborg is a world champion coach. He coached the Swedish national team to gold in 2017 and 2018. He also won the world championship as Tre Kronor’s assistant coach. In addition, Grönborg has coached Sweden’s U-20 age group.
Since 2019, Grönborg has been in Switzerland coaching the ZCS Lions team in Zurich. He was fired from there in December.
Grönborg is a citizen of Sweden and the United States. He himself has played hockey as a defender.
Other designations
An experienced coach joins Tappara’s coaching team Juha Juujärvi. He coached Koovee in Mestis last season and has been JYP’s assistant coach. He has several years of experience as the head coach of Tappara’s 20-year-old team.
Konsta Karjalainen continue as a physical trainer. Tommi Pärmäkoski leaves and is replaced by physical training Marko Haverinen. Also Pasi Park continue on the coaching staff, as well Aki Näykki continues as a goalkeeper coach.
Tappara also hires a full-time team manager Janne Lahten. This is apparently new in the SM league. Lahti has also worked as a player agent before.
Sports Manager Antti Tuomenoksa according to Tappara, there are still some player contracts to be concluded.