Juha Malinen

Juha Malinen in RoPS - Asteras Tripolis match on 17th of July 2014.

Juha Malinen (born July 16, 1958, Oulu) is a Finnish football manager with a total of 15 seasons at the highest level, who manages Rovaniemen Palloseura.

In February 2007 Malinen signed a contract with Kazakhstan's FC Shakhter of Karaganda and was also appointed as a manager of U-21 National Team of Kazakhstan. FC Shakhter and Malinen parted their ways after 7 months. Malinen was quite successful as the FC Shakhter was left at third position at the midseason. Malinen will continue as a manager of U-21 National Team of Kazakhstan, while moving back to Finland.

Before FC Shakhter Malinen managed KuPS in 2006 in Veikkausliiga (Finnish Premier League).

Biography

Malinen was coming to the end of his short career as a football player in 1978 when he decided to enroll as a student at the University of Oulu Department of Education.

He started his career as a teacher just before he would have graduated, and thus didn't complete his studies. While working as a teacher he found himself yearning for a job where he could see more concretely the impact of his work. He soon became interested in football coaching.

Manager career start

In 1986 Malinen found a job at Kastelli Sports Gymnasium (secondary education) as the school's football coach. Among his students at Kastelli were Antti Niemi and Mika Nurmela who went on to become Finnish internationals. Ville Nylund and Aarno Turpeinen, who later became core players of top team in Finland, HJK Helsinki, were also at Kastelli. Besides coaching at Kastelli, Malinen taught sports and crafts at a nearby school for hearing impaired persons.

The Kastelli football team was unexpectedly successful in 1989 when it qualified for the School World Championships 1989, held in Florence, Italy. Malinen's "brickwall" -tactic was a good match with inexperienced Finns, which didn't lose any games, but were still knocked out in second stage by France (Auxerre academy) with penalties. France became the champions and Kastelli finished in 5th place. It was this tournament, where Malinen first gained reputation and proved to himself that he could lead a successful career as a football manager.

After Kastelli, Malinen was hired as a manager of Rauman Pallo. During his time at Rauma, he became full-time football manager. Two players from Kastelli, Antti Niemi and Mika Nurmela followed Malinen to Rauman Pallo.

U15 and U16 National teams

In summer 1990 Malinen was made U15 and U16 national team manager by Finnish FA. He led his team in 1991 and 1992 European Championships. After about four years of coaching the national teams Malinen wanted to get back into more rapid life of club football.

Shows promise in Premier League

He returned to his hometown Oulu and FC Oulu, which did get promoted next year. Besides being promoted, the club was hampered by financial difficulties, so Malinen went to TPS. With surprising Finnish Cup win in 1994 and bronze medal in 1996 Malinen stepped at TPS into the limelight as one of the most promising managers in Finnish Premier League.

Long and fruitful stretch at MyPa

In 1998 Malinen moved from the former capital of Finland to the opposite side of Finland, to MyPa and small town of Anjalankoski. Backed by the strong local forest industry magnates, Malinen was given quite free hands at combining his team. This was the first time when he had some leverage - even the TPS, one of the biggest Finnish clubs, was cash-strapped. Malinen's time at MyPa was somewhat successful (4 medals but only limited UEFA Cup success). MyPa's current manager Ilkka Mäkelä came on board during those times as an assistant manager.

New challenge

After several years at MyPa, Malinen was looking for a new challenge. It was answered in form of one of the most traditional and successful clubs of all-time Finnish Football, KuPS. The team had just been relegated to First Division. Malinen brought in two veteran players from MyPa and energized the club. The youth system was completely revamped and the building of a new stadium was started. KuPS won First Division and next year landed to 10th place easily avoiding the relegation play-off.

The squad was very young, with some international prospects like Berat Sadik, Pyry Kärkkäinen, Mohamed Kamara (Medo) and Patrick Bantamoi. Year 2006 was started with the most promising way as KuPS won the Finnish League cup - the first trophy for the club in 17 years. Unfortunately KuPS's performance in the league wasn't good enough. The team was relegated and Malinen was released from the club in December 2006.

Racist controversy

On taking over as coach of RoPS in April 2014, Malinen courted controversy with his comments about foreign players, especially coloured players, in the team. Malinen had told newspaper Iltalehti: "We have the league's most Finnish team. ... Just a few years back RoPS had 13 black men. We've managed to put that completely behind us. We've recruited players with names that get pronounced correctly and the Finns know them." Weighing up the negative press Malinen later replied: "I get along with all nationalities."

Club career

• Manager, RoPS, Premier League 2014-
• Manager, FC Lahti, Premier League 2013
• Manager, FC Haka, Premier League 2012
• Manager, AC Oulu, First Division of Finland and Premier League 2008-2012
• U21 national team manager in Kazakhstan 2007
• Manager, FC Shakhter, Premier League of Kazakhstan 1/2007-7/2007.
• Manager, KuPS, First Division 2004, Veikkausliiga 2005, 2006.
• Manager, MyPa, Premier League 1997-2003.
• Manager, TPS, Premier League, 1993-1997.
• Manager, FC Oulu, First Division, 1992-1993.
• U15 and U16 national team manager, FA of Finland, 1990-1993.
• Manager, Rauman Pallo, Second Division, 1989-1990.
• Manager, Oulun Luistinseura, Second Division, 1988-1989.
• Manager, Pelimiehet (Oulu), Second Division, 1987-1988.
• Head coach, Kastelli Sports Gymnasium, 1986-1989.
• Junior coach (D, C and B-boys), Oulun Luistinseura, 1982-1988.
• Junior coach (B-girls, C-boys), ASSI IF (Karlsborg, Sweden), 1977.

Other

• TV-commentator, National broadcasting association, channels YLE1 & YLE2, 2000-

National Team Qualification games: Euro 2004 Finals, World Cup and Champions League

• Dean, Football Talent Academy, (Kouvola region), 2002-2003.

Specially designed training for 15 to 18-year-old-boys

• Instructor, FA of Finland, 1990-1993.

Instructor, A-, B- & junior (NuVK) coaching license courses

• Teacher, Kastelli Sports Gymnasium, 1986-1989

Achievements

• Most promising coach in Finland, Finnish Cup Winner, 1994.
• Manager of the year, Bronze medal 1996.
• Premier League coach of the year, Bronze medal, 1999.
• Bronze medal, 2000.
• Bronze medal, 2001.
• Silver medal, 2002.
• Finnish League Cup winner, 2006.

Career statistics

• 16 UEFA Cup-games (4-4-8)
• 333 Finnish Premier League games (150-92-123), 3th most experienced Premier League Manager in Finland.
• 48 Finnish U15/U16 games (20-11-17)

Education

Football related

• UEFA Pro-license, FA of Finland, 2003.
• Professional coaching license (JVK), FA of Finland, 1990-1991.
• International coaching license, preliminary course, FA of England, 1989.
• A-license, FA of Finland, 1988.
• B-license, FA of Finland, 1986.

Academic

• Primary school teacher, University of Oulu, Faculty of Education. 1978-1983 (nearly completed MSc. in Education).