The Lions are in a historic situation. Money and fear of the bar might drive away the best head coach candidates elsewhere, writes Pekka Holopainen.
Pekka Holopainen Sports journalist
Hannu Aravirta ended his long and successful period in the coaching of the A national ice hockey team in the spring of 2003, after the crushingly ended World Cup home games.
For a while, it seemed that there would be no people willing to be Aravirra’s successors among the first team of the coaching pool at the time; the responses to the media of those considered to be the main candidates were Matti Nykänen model “maybe I took it, maybe I didn’t”.
Finnish coaching greats have especially excelled in this art form Erkka Westerlundwhich has unbelievably often ended up in the most coveted spots in Suomi sport, even though there hasn’t been a drop of frost from the exits.
Tamminen positioned
In the spring of 2003, I sought perspective by calling To Juhani Tammine. He put the situation in perspective:
– Being the head coach of the Lions is such a job that when “Kale” (then chairman of the Ice Hockey Kalervo Kummola) calls, there isn’t a koutsi in Finland who doesn’t stand in front of him in a pose during the lesson. From any corner of the world.
This was really the situation 20 years ago, when Kummola finally recruited a player who had been bid farewell after one colorful season Raimo Summanen and next to this, the “reluctant” Westerlund, who in the end handled the work for five mostly excellent years.
Early summer to big Finnish sports news belonged Jukka Jalonen the decision not to extend the head coach of the A national team after the contract expires in spring 2024. Now everyone knows that even the most beloved head coach in Finnish sports history, a superman who has grown to mythical proportions, will leave the national team.
This was definitely not what was expected when Jalonen got his chance as an unwatched card in the spring of 2008.
Separation of coaches
As if by chance, after the 2024 season, another unlikely national hero, i.e. the head coach of futis-Huuhkajie, will say goodbye to his own A national team. Markku Kanervawho seems to be taking his team to the European Championships again.
The difference between the men is that Kanerva gets to truly measure his team made up of Finland’s number one players against the best players in Europe.
It is an interesting question whether Jalos would have been interested in continuing if the NHL had shown interest in the Olympic tournament in Milan.
Aravirta and Westerlund got to find their luck in the Super Olympic tournament twice, Jalonen only once. Although Vancouver won the bronze medal in 2010, the experience was difficult for both the players and the head coach.
Now the situation would have been different, because Jalose has Finland’s current stars – like Sebastian Ahoon, To Patrik Laine, Mikko Rantaseen or Roope to Hintz – a special relationship thanks to the 2016 Youth World Cup project.
A broken union
Names have been thrown around since Jalonen’s departure announcement. The Ice Hockey Federation, battered by dents in its reputation, wants an equally attractive locomotive.
Jukka Jalonen earned more than 300,000 euros in the most recent, i.e., 2021 taxation, literally the lion’s share from the Ice Hockey Federation. Despite this, the supply of top candidates is limited by money.
According to an expert interviewed by Urheilu, there are several clubs in Europe where a top Finnish player can get 150,000-200,000 euros more per season net than from the union. You won’t find a coach who doesn’t take this into account.
Another limiter is bar horror. In Norway, the saying “hoppe etter Wirkola” was known at the time.. No one wanted to be in the jumping turn of the superior golden eagle of the 1960s. Björn Wirkola after. Because of or thanks to Jalonen, the new head coach also and especially has a lot to lose.
Of course, Jalose has some kind of role in choosing his successor. History has shown the psychology of great men that they rarely want their followers on the same pedestal. That’s why the role shouldn’t be very big at least.
Pekka Holopainen
The author is a columnist based in Pori and the only sports reporter who has been selected as Journalist of the Year in Finland.
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