HJK’s former head coach Toni Koskela signed a contract with AEL Limassol, who play in the main league of Cyprus.
Micke Suopuro,
Riku Salminen
– It has been a clear goal to get to a higher league. The cradle of football is in Europe. Now when you go there, you have to do well there.
Toni Koskela speaks decisively. He has finally realized his long-term goal. Koskela will coach abroad in the future.
By the standards of Finnish coaches, he became a rarity at the same time, among other things Martti Kuuselan, Mixu Paatelainen, Sami Hyypien, Simo Valakarin and Mika Lehkosuo among.
– The industry is terribly competitive, and a Finnish coach is not an export product. There are big opportunities here, Koskela reflects.
– There are a lot of coaches in the futis countries and that’s why mainly the domestic leagues have mostly domestic coaches. When Finnish coaches have not been terribly successful, it is even more difficult to get abroad, he continues.
AEL Limassol is currently a raging long-term success
Koskela’s new hometown, Limassol, is located on the southern coast of Cyprus. New employer AEL Limassol is a six-time champion of the Cyprus League, but the previous title is from the 2011-12 season. The team has also played in the group stage of the Europa League in the 2012–13 season.
Currently, Limassol is tenth in the 14-team league. The team has not won a game in the last five matches.
Koskela held his first training sessions on Wednesdayand on Saturday there is the first home match against Othellos Athineou.
– I’ve watched a few games, so there isn’t a huge database yet (about the series). There are a lot of big clubs, a lot of foreign players and quality players. There are also plenty of passionate fans, explains Koskela.
Koskela, 40, worked in the Veikkausliiga as the head coach of Helsinki Football Club for four years. He was fired in July and replaced by the current head coach Toni Korkeakunnas.
Koskela coached HJK to three Finnish championships and one Finnish Cup victory. He also led the club twice to the group stage of European games, once to the Europa League and once to the Conference League.