Antti Muurinen
Encyclopedia
Antti Muurinen is a Finnish
football
coach
. He is currently the head coach
of HJK Helsinki
in Finland's Veikkausliiga
.
Muurinen is probably best known as the head coach of the Finnish national team
. He led Finland in qualifying campaigns for the 2002 World Cup
, Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup
, failing to reach the finals each time.
In June 2005 Finnish football fans held a protest against Muurinen, and after a 4-0 defeat against Netherlands, the Finnish FA sacked him.
In 2006, Muurinen was hired as the manager of FC Lahti
in Finland's Veikkausliiga
. Before the end of the 2007 season he returned to HJK Helsinki
where he is currently coaching.
Muurinen is also known for leading HJK Helsinki
into the UEFA Champions League
group stage in the 1998-99
season, the only time a Finnish club has managed this feat. He has also won the Finnish championship with HJK Helsinki
in 1997, 2009 and 2010 as well as with FC Kuusysi
in 1989 and 1991, the Finnish Cup with HJK Helsinki
in 1998 and 2008, and the Finnish League Cup with FC Lahti
in 2007.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He is currently the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
in Finland's Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
.
Muurinen is probably best known as the head coach of the Finnish national team
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. He led Finland in qualifying campaigns for the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, failing to reach the finals each time.
In June 2005 Finnish football fans held a protest against Muurinen, and after a 4-0 defeat against Netherlands, the Finnish FA sacked him.
In 2006, Muurinen was hired as the manager of FC Lahti
FC Lahti
FC Lahti is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division after placing last in Finnish Premier League during season 2010...
in Finland's Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
. Before the end of the 2007 season he returned to HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
where he is currently coaching.
Muurinen is also known for leading HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
into the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage in the 1998-99
UEFA Champions League 1998-99
The 1998–99 UEFA Champions League was the seventh season of the UEFA Champions League, Europe's premier club football tournament, since it was renamed from the "European Champion Clubs' Cup" or "European Cup". The competition was won by Manchester United, coming back from a goal down in the last...
season, the only time a Finnish club has managed this feat. He has also won the Finnish championship with HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
in 1997, 2009 and 2010 as well as with FC Kuusysi
FC Kuusysi
FC Kuusysi is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in third tier of Finnish football . The homeground of FC Kuusysi is Lahden kisapuisto....
in 1989 and 1991, the Finnish Cup with HJK Helsinki
HJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
in 1998 and 2008, and the Finnish League Cup with FC Lahti
FC Lahti
FC Lahti is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division after placing last in Finnish Premier League during season 2010...
in 2007.
Honours
- Finnish ChampionshipVeikkausliigaVeikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
(5) : 1989, 1991, 1997, 2009, 20102010 VeikkausliigaThe 2010 Veikkausliiga was the eightieth season of top-tier football in Finland. It began on 16 April 2010 and ended on 23 October 2010.-Teams:... - Finnish CupFinnish CupThe Finnish Cup is Finland's main national cup competition in football.This yearly competition is open for member clubs of the FA of Finland. Finnish Cup has been played since 1955.Finnish Cup winner qualifies to UEFA Europa League...
(3) : 1998, 2008, 20112011 Finnish CupThe 2011 Finnish Cup is the 57th season of the main annual football cup competition in Finland. It is organized as a single-elimination knock–out tournament. Participation in the competition is voluntary.... - Finnish League CupFinnish League CupThe Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
(3) : 1997, 1998, 2007 - Coach of the year (5) : 1989, 1997, 1998, 2009, 2011
- First ever Finnish manager to participate in the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group-stage. (1998-1999)