When Toni Korkeakunnas watched Gnistan’s match against Kuopio Palloseura in Helsinki’s Oulunkylä on Sunday, he was, according to his words, completely unaware of what was to come. On Monday, he was appointed as the new head coach of HJK once again.
Now Korkeakunnas will face Gnistan on Wednesday as HJK’s head coach. The club where “Toke” started coaching in 1999.
Korkeakunnas is in a familiar situation, because last year he was elected in July Toni Koskelan as a substitute. After a sticky early season, he led HJK to become the champion of Finland and to the group stage of the Conference League in the Eurocourts.
Now Korkeakunna was urgently needed two months earlier than last year. This time he left the team Ferran Sibila.
Sibila was initially chosen as HJK’s head coach, but he did not have a sufficient Uefa Pro license to be the head coach of the Veikkausliiga team. Until today, Sibila was responsible for the game process as an assistant coach, when she took the title of head coach Ossi Virta after license entanglements.
Korkeakunnas admits that when he left HJK in the fall, it was not his first thought to return to the team so quickly again.
– There are some deja vu feelings here. Above all, there is a certain pride in being asked again. Last time, it didn’t go too well, Korkeakunnas expressed in an interview with Urheilu.
However, something is different from last year. Korkeakunnas will not continue in the Huuhkajie coaching team at the same time as piloting HJK.
– (The double bath) is a bit too much for one person. Screamers are also an honorable task. I was able to be in the current coaching team for seven years. It will be a big sad job, but a choice had to be made. I have to be grateful to the Football Association. It has always been taken back between coaching assignments, says Korkeakunnas.
Riihilahti raises his hand to indicate a mistake
HJK is currently fifth in the Veikkausliiga. The team has collected only three victories from eight matches, with a total of 12 points.
CEO of HJK Aki Riihilahti said in November when he chose Sibila that he was looking for the next playful step. At that time, Riihilahti described in the club’s press release how Toni Korkeakunnas would have been the number one choice among domestic coaches.
However, according to Riihilahti, HJK wanted to make the most of its resources at home, do even better on the Euro courts and produce even better quality players in accordance with its strategy.
– We made bold choices last year. We were thinking of applying for a change. It is also brave to say that things have not gone as we wanted, Riihilahti now tells Urheilu.
– We had certain kinds of challenges, what is leadership like in the booth and what are the fundamental things in the game. You just have to raise your hand as a sign of a mistake, that we didn’t get what we asked for, Riihilahti continues.
It was understood at HJK that they already found a solution to the situation, namely Korkeakunnas. According to Riihilahti, you just had to dare to make that decision.
– The results were not what we were looking for. We dared to make the decision to change to what worked before, says Riihilahti.
In addition to Sibila, the person who recruited her, who was elected HJK’s sports director last fall, was allowed to leave Vesa Mäki. According to Riihilahti, Mäe had a good vision and worked tirelessly, but they decided to look in different directions in the future. HJK is currently looking for a new sports director.
Aki Riihilahti, what is your responsibility for the wrong choices seen in HJK, as well as rowing and felting?
– I am responsible for the whole club. Always raise your hand to indicate a mistake. It has always been possible to do more to help the team, coaches and sports management. Without a doubt, we are in a challenging place, but at the same time we have to dare to make difficult decisions and look ahead.
– I work every day to ensure that HJK succeeds.
Ossi Virtra’s situation is open
The situation of Ossi Virra, who served as head coach with the title due to the license confusion at HJK, is open. He worked as an assistant coach in Korkeakunnas’ coaching team last year at HJK and became the head coach after the license problems.
Korkeakunnas has acted as Virra’s mentor in coaching courses.
– Everything has happened quickly. For now, Ossi and Oscar (Garcia Rodriguez) will continue in the team. We’ll see how things go. I have a long history with Ossi. Now let’s get to know each other again. Let’s see how things go, Korkeakunnas formulates Virtra’s situation.
Korkeakunnas says that he was not left feeling bitter when his contract was not extended after last season’s success. Of course, HJK’s original solution didn’t seem right and good, but now he wants to focus on the future.
When HJK enters the Töölö football stadium under the command of Korkeakunnas on Wednesday, the match is therefore important for the new head coach due to his personal history. Korkeakunnas is aware that, like last year, it would be good to get a good start for the new beginning.
He does not go into detail about the game changes, but prefers to talk about the importance of the mental side.
– I have seen from the body language and behavior of the boys I know that everything is not right. It has saddened me on behalf of the players that things didn’t get off to a good start. I think this is interpersonal work. I feel that the role of a coach is to enable and help these good people to return to the top level and enjoy football even more.
Aki Riihilahti says that HJK is investing heavily in the summer transfer window. A few contracts are already ready. In addition to that, other players will join the team.
What are the team’s goals for the rest of the season?
– We start from the position of a challenger and apply for change. Results come through daily doing. I believe this will turn around. Of course, it requires excellent performances and hard work from the team and the coaching staff, says Riihilahti.