Jussi Leppälahti (born 22 August 1986) is a Finnish football manager and a former player, currently working as a manager of IF Gnistan in Veikkausliiga.
Playing career Leppälahti played in the youth sectors of Espoon Palloseura (EPS) and FC Honka. Later he played for FCK Salamat, FC Espoo and HIFK, where he met Gert Remmel.
Coaching career Leppälahti started as a youth coach for FC Espoo, HIFK and FC Honka, and in 2015 was named the head coach of his former youth club Espoon Palloseura (EPS), competing in the fifth-tier Nelonen. At the end of the season, the club gained a promotion to Kolmonen.Jussi Leppälahti kertoo EPSin edustuksen kulttuurin muutoksesta – ”Marraskuun ensimmäisissä treeneissä oli kaksi pelaajaa”, espoonpalloseura.fi, 23 March 2020 In 2017 he was a youth coach for Käpylän Pallo (KäPa).
Jippo After coaching in the Northampton Town academy between 2017 and 2018, Leppälahti returned to Finland and on 25 September 2018 he was named the head coach of Jippo in the third-tier Kakkonen.Jussi Leppälahti on Jipon uusi päävalmentaja, jippo.fi, 25 September 2018 The club gained a promotion to Ykkönen for the 2021 season,JIPPO lähtee juhlavuoteen Jussi Leppälahden johdolla, jippo.fi, 13 November 2020 but was relegated back one year later.
KTP Leppälahti was named the head coach of newly relegated Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat (KTP) for the 2022 Ykkönen season, and led the team win the Ykkönen title and earn a promotion back to top-tier Veikkausliiga for the 2023.JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI KTP:N PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, fcktp.fi, 24 March 2022 On 23 August 2023, Leppälahti was unexpectedly dismissed by KTP,Veikkausliigassa yllättävät valmentajapotkut – seura tiedotti klo 22.10, Ilta-Sanomat, 23 August 2024 after the club had first exercised their option and extended his contract earlier in the summer.JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI JATKAA KTP:SSÄ! "OLEMME OLLEET ERITTÄIN TYYTYVÄISIÄ", fcktp.fi, 28 July 2023 Prior to his departure, KTP were 10th in the league standings and had gained 20 points in 20 matches, with five wins and five draws.
Gnistan On 10 November 2023, IF Gnistan from Oulunkylä, Northern Helsinki, appointed Leppälahti as their new manager.JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI GNISTANIN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, gnistan.fi, 10 November 2023 Later it was announced that Gnistan were granted the league license for 2024 Veikkausliiga season via supplemental process.Gnistan julkisti uuden päävalmentajansa – seura hakee myös liigalisenssiä, Helsingin Sanomat, 10 November 2023 Leppälahti was named the Veikkausliiga Coach of the Month in August 2024, after leading his team to a four-game unbeaten run in the league during the month, and a five-game winning streak in total. On 30 September, his contract was extended for the 2025.IF GNISTAN JATKAA YHTEISTYÖTÄ PÄÄVALMENTAJA JUSSI LEPPÄLAHDEN KANSSA, gnistan.fi, 30 September 2024
Personal life As a teenager, Leppälahti also played basketball for Espoon Honka.
Leppälahti has also worked as a sports journalist in 2010s for Jalkapallolehti, Urheilulehti and Elmo, gaining popularity as a critical writer with controversial and provocative style.Jussi Leppälahti oli pitkään piikki jalkapallovalmentajien lihassa – entinen pomo tunnisti KTP-käskijän kyvyt: ”Tämä on fantastinen jätkä”, Yle, 14 April 2023Jalkapalloasiantuntija Jussi Leppälahti liittyy SuomiFutis-sivuston vahvuuteen: ”Yritän tehdä sitä mitä parhaiten osaan”, suomifutis.com, 4 July 2019
Managerial statistics
TeamNatFromToRecordPWDLW%EPS1 January 201531 December 2016Jippo1 January 201931 December 2021KTP1 January 202222 August 2023Gnistan1 January 2024presentTotal
Managerial honours EPS Nelonen, Uusimaa Group 1, runner-up: 2015 Jippo Kakkonen, Group C: 2020 KTP Ykkönen: 2022 Individual Veikkausliiga Coach of the Month: August 2024Gnistanin Tim Väyrynen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja elokuussa, veikkaus.fi, 30 August 2024
References
External links