Jani Honkavaara

Jani Honkavaara (born 2 February 1976[2]) is a Finnish football manager and retired football player, who is the manager of KuPS.[3]

Jani Honkavaara
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-02-02) 2 February 1976
Place of birth Seinäjoki, Finland[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 -
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1994 Törnävän Pallo-55 5 (2)
1995–1999 TP-Seinäjoki 99 (8)
2000 Joensuun Pallo 18 (1)
2001 TP-Seinäjoki 14 (0)
2002 JIPPO 12 (4)
2002–2004 Viikingit 45 (7)
2005 Someron Voima 16 (1)
2006 FC Kontu 2 (1)
2006 Viikingit 10 (0)
Managerial career
2007–2009 Viikingit
2010 HIFK
2011 IF Gnistan
2012–2016 HIFK
2017–2019 KuPS
2020–2021 SJK
2023– KuPS
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Honkavaara began his football career in TP-Seinäjoki (formerly known as Törnävän Pallo-55). During his time in the club, he played 10 matches in Finnish top tier Veikkausliiga. Later in his career he was mainly known for playing for East Helsinki based club FC Viikingit of Vuosaari.

Managerial career

After retiring as a football player, Honkavaara was first appointed to the role of reserve team head coach in FC Viikingit. In 2007, he was appointed to coaching team and held position of coach in the club till 2009. In autumn 2009 he was selected as head coach of HIFK where he led the club towards promotion to Finnish first division Ykkönen after season 2010. He resigned from the role of manager of HIFK after season 2011.[4] After the successful spell at HIFK, he went to coach another Helsinki based club IF Gnistan. Despite rather successful season, he then resigned from the club after season 2012, citing to family reasons.[5] Soon after he was appointed as the new head coach of HIFK which had faced relegation back to Finnish second division, Kakkonen, after the ending season, led by Honkavaara's successor in the managerial role, Juha Moilanen.[6] Right after next and very successful season 2013, he led HIFK back to Ykkönen. After the 2014 season, HIFK was promoted to Veikkausliiga, making it to the top tier of Finnish football for the first time in over 40 years.[7]

At the end of November 2016 it was announced, that Honkavaara would be the new manager of KuPS, starting from 1 January 2017.[8] In the 2019 Veikkausliiga season, Honkavaara led KuPS to its first Finnish championship title in 43 years.[9]

In October 2019 Honkavaara was announced as the new manager of his hometown side SJK.[10]

Achievements

KuPS

SJK

  • Veikkausliiga: 3rd place 2021

References
  1. SJK aloitti kauteen valmistautumisen
  2. "Honkavaara luottaa pelaajalähtöisyyteen". Keski-Uusimaa. 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  3. "Jani Honkavaara johdatti SJK:n pronssille, mutta työt eivät jatku Veikkausliigassa: "Ulkomaille ei noin vain mennä"". Yle. 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  4. "Honkavaaran jättää HIFK:n: Koin jatkamisen vaikeaksi ja jopa mahdottomaksi".
  5. "Jani Honkavaara ei jatka Gnistanin päävalmentajana". 7 October 2012.
  6. "Jani Honkavaara HIFK:n valmentajaksi". 27 October 2009.
  7. "Pitkä korpivaellus sai päätöksensä". 14 October 2014.
  8. Jani Honkavaara ryhtyy luotsaamaan Kuopion Palloseuraa‚ kups.fi, 28 November 2016
  9. "KuPS end 43 years of waiting for Finnish title".
  10. "Jani Honkavaara on SJK:n uusi päävalmentaja". 23 October 2019.
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