Gallery

"Sacrificial lamb" - One of the memorable moments from Kazakhstan was, when a lamb was brought to rehearsals before the season opener. The lamb was sacrificed at the center of the field from where our team captain proceeded to spread some blessed blood to both goals.

"FC Shahter 2007" - Official team photo from the first game.

"U21-camp" - First meeting with the Kazakhstan U21-team in Almaty is over. They say that you must not allow first impressions to blind you, but there might be more potential than 5th draw group would indicate.

"At Kuopio Marketplace" - The marketplace has some excellent coffee stands and friendly people – these I will surely miss.

"Moving again" - Local newspaper Viikkosavo noted two sides about my transfer to Kazakhstan. A long way from home and the feelings of relief of KuPS board of directors.

"I'm loving it" - Transfer to Kuopio in Fall 2003 was a surprise to everyone. Kouvolan Sanomat (newspaper from Southeastern Finland) reacted with a caricature of me sitting on top of a Kalakukko, a national delicacy, which originates from Kuopio.

"Ronaldinho" - In August 2005 Savon Sanomat informed the public in form of a caricature where our problems were.

"U-21 draw in Stockholm (2/2007)" - First steps as a Kazakhstan U-21 national team manager. In Picture starting from left: representatives from Spain, Poland, Kazakhstan, Russia (2), Georgia (2), Spain. Picture by Anastasia Nazarova.

"FC Shahter in Belek, Turkey (2/2007)." - Team had just won Russian 1st division Alania 1-0.
From top right: Assistant coaches Alexandr Nesterov and Vladimir Cheburin. Mihals Mihalops, Rinat Berkov, gk Alexandr Grigorenko, Igor Soloshenko, Tamas Gruborovics (was on trial from KuPS) and yours truly.
First row from right: Maxim Samchenko, Marlan Muzhikov, Andrei Finonchenko, Daniel Brizny, Vyacheslav Rusnac, Oleg Korniyenko. Picture by Ruslan Bezrukov (team doctor).

"Farewell, Kuopio" - Job as a manager of FC Shahter Karaganda is waiting. Picture by Jukka Gröndahl.

"Taking a nap" - Goalkeeper Istvan Mitring's candid camera covers every place. Coaching duo's teamplay worked like a charm. One might wonder whether they also shared dreams?

"Penmen" - FC Kynä, famous football team of finnish penmen invited me to wear the number 10 shirt. For this picture, our winning team was strengthened with the losing team's power forward, Atik Ismail (who also arranged the match).

"Demonstration" - The foundations: supporting leg placed beside the ball, good balance, eyes on the ball and a relaxed, pendulum motion kick to hit the lower half of the ball. That's the way to make a good throughpass.

"Duck hunter" - One expression of teamspirit is shared cheering. Ablade's "downed duck of Kupittaa" (Kupittaa is the name of the stadium in Turku) got its sequel in Kotka, when the players presented their version to celebrate the 0-2 goal. Picture: Lauri Sorvoja, Juha Metso and Pekka Vainio /Verkkopoiju

"Mr. Scream & Shout?" - It's time to scrap the public image "screaming & shouting man from Oulu". Picture is a living proof that game can also be controlled without words. Picture: Lauri Sorvoja, Juha Metso and Pekka Vainio /Verkkopoiju

"New home" - New facilities at Keskuskenttä are top class. New offices, locker rooms, restaurant, sauna, VIP-booths, gym...

"Man and the voice, Part X" - This is the picture I am related to in the media. Shouting is one option in my arsenal, but in reality it covers only a tiny fraction of my daily work.

"Getting older, getting better" - All-time fifth ranked manager in Finland leading all-time fourth ranked league team.

"It's Candy Time" - Eating good old vanilla ice cream just before a match meeting. Sami (Hyypiä) chose liquorice instead of ice cream.

"At the season opening ceremony" - I rarely wear a tie, but official meetings call for style. Previously the media gatherings were organized at the Baltic Sea, but recent move to Aulanko has been an improvement.

"Coffee grinder" - A local newspaper article about "your favourite object". Kaisa-coffee grinder is a legacy item from my mother Eeva. The year of manufacture is a mystery, but it is surely from pre-50's.

"Return to the Premiership grounds" - Inspecting the green at Väinölänniemi with midfielder Miikka Turunen. The grass roots are there, but the improvement in changing to artificial turf at Keskuskenttä is evident.

"The view from Puijo" - The landmark of Kuopio opens a view to the Savo-region and lake Kallavesi. Take a look and you'll understand why the people feel at home in Kuopio.

"Pondus Cup" - Young OLS' C-juniors in Denmark. Excellent team, some exceptional talent... I strongly recommend that every coach should aquire experience managing youth teams. This way the valuable experience is transferred to the young talents and the junior team is a good first example of how your methods work in real life.

"KuPS" - 1st division team 2004.

"Promotion party" - We let all loose, but broke nothing. Picture says it all.

"Mexico" - For a finnish football coach, fall is the time to stay with family. Fall vacation of schools might arrive too early, but our family has repeatedly visited Mexico or Canary Islands every november.

"Banzai" - I like to stay in touch with different kinds of interest groups, including fans. At it's best - fan support is the 12th player, so it pays off to nourish fans with some "inside information".

"Training camp coffee break" - Training camp to Hungary in 2003 was no exception. I have a healthy interest towards local bagels. An enthusiast in such area has always friends willing to join in.

"Bathrobe" - Extreme unction at the club house. A red-white Marimekko design for farewell present.

"4th bronze" - While you can never get too many medals, facial expressions reveal bigger expectations. Handshaking the biggest names of Anjalankoski: the Mayor Eero Mattila and the head of city government.

"At Cyprus" - Giving solid feedback at Cyprus.

"Niinistö" - A surprise name at the training camp in Hungary. A puppet of the Finlands' Secretary of the Treasury Sauli Niinistö, made by our team captain.
Currently, Sauli Niinistö is the director of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

"Odense" - Beating Odense in Denmark was a big achievement. Advancing to the next round of UEFA-cup was almost at our grasp.

"Beach Boys" - Last training, at the sunny beach of Cyprus. The feeling of relaxation achieved at that training was a key factor in beating Örebro of Sweden.

"Tepi" - Tero Taipale, ready to face Sochaux, UEFA 03.

"At Turku" - It's been a while since I was at TPS.

"Young Boys" - Manager also has to initiate different interest groups and the members of the media to the game at hand. At the time when this picture was taken, we were about to face Young Boys Bern at UEFA-cup.

"The Cup" - Moment of Joy at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in 1994. Helsingin jalkapalloklubi (HJK) was defeated - it's our time for champagne and a trip to first European competition...

"Litti" - 1997 at the Ajax Shop in Amsterdam. Searching for souvenirs to my first-born daughter Jessica. Jari's professional attitude in helping his fellow countryman is an example to all others.

"Sami Hyypiä" - In 1999 Sami was helping me to shop a souvenir to my daughter, Monica.

"Gulf of Mexico" - MyPa -training camps to Florida were effective and adventurous. Between the training sessions I enjoyed the Gulf of Mexico.

"Pele" - U16 Nordic Championship took us to Iceland. We produced quite good results, but the premium price of the journey was a meeting with the legendary Pele. His last words are still on my mind...'God bless You!'

"Eerikkilä" - First national team filled with future stars. Many players, many interesting stories in the group of Summer 1990.

"In Italy" - School World Championship, representing Finland in Florence. A fine result with a brick-tactic - no defeats during 90 minutes, but two frustratingly in penalties.

"In Italy 2." - Triumph over Ireland. Can you spot familiar faces? Oulu-born faces of HJK, national team duo and a premier league referee. Also a physio at MyPa and a ex-goalie of Haka.

"FIFA" - Return trip to Switzerland from the European Championships at Cyprus. Our fifth place was solemnized at the FIFA headquarters.

"Kastelli" - Finnish School Championship win for the third time. Not really a surprise, when you look at the squad.

"Para - experience" - Mysterious birthday-gift to a 40-year old from his wife. Plane to 3000 meters, feet out, 1-2-...and 3, a tandem-jump down. A terrific experience.

"Clones" - They say that the manager molds his team to reflect himself. Maybe in this case the border of sanity has been crossed!

"Shout" - An image of this kind was left behind in Turku (I wonder why?). A part of the farewell present from the team.

"Meltzig" - The change of manager was done professionally in public as I presented the club jacket to Meltzig in a press conference.

"Cup 1994" - 1994 HJK was defeated 2-1 in the cup final. Party atmosphere in the black and white -bus. My wife, Eira alongside for support and travel company.

"Arska" - Behind every successful football team is a team full of experts. Beside me in the picture is MyPa physio Ari Virta. His road to national elite has gone through HyPS, Kastelli High School, JiiPee and TPS juniors.

"Golf" - In the summer of 2002 I got my Green Card. Golf is a good sport for meeting interesting new people. With me are Kimmo Sankala from MyPa and Canal+ "motormouth" (football commentator) Mikko Innanen.

"Bradenton" - Pictures from the training camp in USA prove that coaching is empathy, guidance and even sport.

"Bradenton 2" - It may sometimes look as if the coaches live in their own worlds. But in which worlds?

"Jessica" - Little-Jessica on fathers lap during an interview. The camera still appears to be quite a scary thing.

"Carousel" - This family has become acquainted with Finland. Parents from Oulu, daughters from Turku, 6 years of shared jorney in Kouvola (picture from an nearby amusement park, Tykkimäki) - and now living in Kuopio.

"Liverpool" - The most sacred spot in Anfield, the Liverpool FC dressing room. Sami Hyypiä talking, Pete Pusa from Nike and me all ears.

"Millenium" - Surprise bronze medal in pocket and a change of the millenium with even better team.

"At MyPa-house" - Coaching has taught me to perform. I've held several dozens, maybe even hundreds of initiations and presentations in the VIP-room of the MyPa-house.

"First bronze" - 1996 In Turku. First congratulator, danish Richard Möller-Nielsen (at that time he was the manager of Finnish National Team).

"Panu Toivonen with a bronze medal" - Panu Toivonen, a trusted player during the years 1994-1997 in Turku. He had followed me from FC Oulu to the shores of the river Aura.

"Boxing Day charity matches" - Bottom shed of Football in Oulu has been a constant topic of agony, but at least in one matter we are ahead of others. Boxing Day charity matches have gathered the former residents of Oulu very well. Antti Niemi, me and Mika Nurmela celebrating the highlight of the year in the sauna premises.