Joonas Rantanen

Finnish football manager (born 1987)
Joonas Rantanen
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-07-27) 27 July 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Finland
Team information
Current team
 Ilves (manager)
Managerial career
Years Team
2016–2019 HJK (women)
2020 Klubi 04
2021 HJK (assistant)
2022–2023 Gnistan
2024– Ilves

Joonas Rantanen (born 27 July 1987) is a Finnish football manager, currently working as a manager of Veikkausliiga club Ilves. Rantanen has a UEFA Pro -coaching license.[1]

Coaching career

HJK organisation

Rantanen started as a sports coordinator for youth teams in HJK Helsinki organisation in 2009. He worked for HJK in various positions until 2015, when he had a brief study leave.[2]

During 2016–2019, Rantanen worked as a head coach of HJK women's team competing in Naisten Liiga,[3] leading the team to win Finnish championship title in 2019, and Finnish Women's Cup in 2017 and 2019.[4]

He was named the head coach of Klubi 04, the reserve team of HJK, for the 2020 season,[5] winning the Kakkonen Group B and gaining a promotion to Ykkönen. Rantanen worked as an assistant coach in Toni Koskela's coaching staff in HJK first team for the 2021 Veikkausliiga season.[6]

Gnistan

During 2022–2023, Rantanen worked as a head coach of IF Gnistan in the second-tier Ykkönen, leading the team to finish as Ykkönen runner-up and qualify for the Veikkausliiga promotion play-offs at the end of the 2023 season, eventually losing to IFK Mariehamn.[7] However, Gnistan were later granted the Veikkausliiga license and promoted via supplemental process, after FC Honka was declared for bankruptcy.

Ilves

On 23 October 2023, Rantanen was appointed as the manager of Veikkausliiga club Ilves on a two-year deal, starting in 2024.[8] In his first season as a manager in the top tier, he coached the team in the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League qualifiers, advancing by an aggregate win against Austria Wien, eventually falling short to Djurgården in the 3rd round.[9]

Personal life

Rantanen has graduated as a Master of Education (MEd).[10]

Managerial statistics

As of 28 August 2024[11]
Team Nat From To Record
P W D L GF GA GD W%
Klubi 04 Finland 1 January 2020 31 December 2020 20 17 2 1 61 16 +45 085.00
Gnistan Finland 1 January 2022 31 December 2023 71 34 20 17 132 101 +31 047.89
Ilves Finland 1 January 2024 present 32 15 8 9 67 48 +19 046.88
Total 123 66 30 27 260 165 +95 053.66

Managerial honours

HJK women

Klubi 04

IF Gnistan

References

  1. ^ JOONAS RANTANEN ILVEKSEN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI – VALMENNUSRYHMÄSSÄ TUTTUJA KASVOJA, ilvesedustus.fi
  2. ^ Joonas Rantanen – HJK:n liikuntakoordinaattorista liigajoukkueiden valmennukseen, hjk.fi, 29 June 2021
  3. ^ Joonas Rantanen jatkaa HJK:n naisten päävalmentajana, kymppipaikka.fi, 25 August 2016
  4. ^ HJK:n naisten päävalmentaja vaihtuu – Jonne Kunnas ottaa ensi kaudella vetovastuun, Yle, Hinni Hirvonen, 28 August 2019
  5. ^ Mestarivalmentaja HJK Klubi 04:n vetäjänä, hjk.fi, 5 December 2019
  6. ^ HJK:n valmennustiimi 2020 on selvillä, hjk.fi, 21 October 2019
  7. ^ IFK Mariehamn säilytti paikkansa Veikkausliigassa – katso, miten Gnistanin pääsarjaunelma kaatui 20 sekunnissa, Yle, 29 October 2023
  8. ^ Joonas Rantanen Ilveksen päävalmentajaksi – jalkapallojoukkueen nykyinen valmennustiimi jatkaa tukena, Yle, 23 October 2023
  9. ^ Ilves jatkaa Konferenssiliigan kolmannelle karsintakierrokselle – FK Austria Wien kaatui rangaistuspotkukilpailussa!, ilvesfootball.com, 1 August 2024
  10. ^ Joonas Rantanen Ilveksen peräsimeen - 2+1-vuotinen sopimus päävalmentajan tehtävään, Veikkausliiga, 23 October 2023
  11. ^ Joonas Rantanen, sofascore.com
  • Joonas Rantanen at WorldFootball.net
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Ilves – current squad
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