Joonas Rantanen (born 27 July 1987) is a Finnish football manager, currently working as a manager of Veikkausliiga club HJK. He has obtained a UEFA Pro -coaching license.JOONAS RANTANEN ILVEKSEN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI – VALMENNUSRYHMÄSSÄ TUTTUJA KASVOJA, ilvesedustus.fi
Coaching career Rantanen was raised in Oulunkylä neighbourhood of Helsinki, and played in a local club IF Gnistan as a youth player. His first coaching position was also in a youth team of Gnistan.JOONAS RANTANEN GNISTANIN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, gnistan.fi, 22 October 2021
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.Joonas Rantanen – HJK:n liikuntakoordinaattorista liigajoukkueiden valmennukseen, hjk.fi, 29 June 2021
During 2016–2019, Rantanen worked as a head coach of HJK women's team competing in Naisten Liiga,Joonas Rantanen jatkaa HJK:n naisten päävalmentajana, kymppipaikka.fi, 25 August 2016 leading the team to win Finnish championship title in 2019, and Finnish Women's Cup in 2017 and 2019.HJK:n naisten päävalmentaja vaihtuu – Jonne Kunnas ottaa ensi kaudella vetovastuun, Yle, Hinni Hirvonen, 28 August 2019
He was named the head coach of Klubi 04, the reserve team of HJK men's team, for the 2020 season,Mestarivalmentaja HJK Klubi 04:n vetäjänä, hjk.fi, 5 December 2019 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.HJK:n valmennustiimi 2020 on selvillä, hjk.fi, 21 October 2019
Gnistan In October 2021, Rantanen returned to his former club Gnistan, and during 2022–2023 he served as the head coach of the club's first team in the second-tier Ykkönen. At the end of the 2023 season, he led the team to finish as Ykkönen runner-up and qualify for the Veikkausliiga promotion play-offs, eventually losing to IFK Mariehamn.IFK Mariehamn säilytti paikkansa Veikkausliigassa – katso, miten Gnistanin pääsarjaunelma kaatui 20 sekunnissa, Yle, 29 October 2023 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, and reuniting with former HJK sporting director Miika Takkula.Joonas Rantanen Ilveksen päävalmentajaksi – jalkapallojoukkueen nykyinen valmennustiimi jatkaa tukena, Yle, 23 October 2023 In his first season as a manager in the top tier, he coached the team in the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League qualifiers, advancing to the 3rd round by an aggregate win against Austria Wien.Ilves jatkaa Konferenssiliigan kolmannelle karsintakierrokselle – FK Austria Wien kaatui rangaistuspotkukilpailussa!, ilvesfootball.com, 1 August 2024 He was named the Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month in September 2024, after leading his team to a winning streak during the month. He led Ilves to finish as the season's runners-up, falling two points short of the champions KuPS.
On 19 April 2025, after a 5–0 away win over KTP, Rantanen led Ilves to the club's record-breaking streak of eight consecutive league victories. One week later, he extended his contract with Ilves.ILVES JA PÄÄVALMENTAJA JOONAS RANTANEN JATKOSOPIMUKSEEN, ilvesfootball.com, 26 April 2025
Return to HJK On 30 November 2025, HJK announced the signing of Rantanen as the new head coach on a three-year deal. HJK paid Ilves a fee of €250,000 for his contract.
Personal life Rantanen has graduated as a Master of Education (MEd).Joonas Rantanen Ilveksen peräsimeen - 2+1-vuotinen sopimus päävalmentajan tehtävään, Veikkausliiga, 23 October 2023
His father Jari Rantanen is a former police and football coach.Pitkän uran tehnyt Jari Rantanen sai ansaitsemansa palkinnon – Jyrki Heliskoski kunniapalkinto ojennettiin Mäntän Valon kasvatille, joka on työskennellyt noin 45 vuotta pääasiassa lasten ja nuorten jalkapallossa monissa rooleissa, kmvlehti.fi, 12 December 2023Mitäköhän tästä tulee? tuumi tähtipelaaja Joonas Rantasesta, mutta tarinalla oli upea loppu – Uusi Ilves-valmentaja käy rajuja keskusteluja Äijät ja mä -ryhmässä, Aamulehti, 21 January 2024
His brothers Tuomas and Juuso have also worked for Gnistan.
Managerial statistics Joonas Rantanen, sofascore.com TeamNatFromToRecordPWDLW%HJK women25 August 201631 December 2019Klubi 041 January 202031 December 2020Gnistan1 January 202231 December 2023Ilves1 January 202430 November 2025HJK30 November 2025presentTotal
Managerial honours HJK women Naisten Liiga: 2019 Finnish Women's Cup: 2017, 2019
Klubi 04 Kakkonen, Group B: 2020
Gnistan Ykkönen runner-up: 2023
Ilves Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024
Individual Western Finland FA Manager of the Year: 2024Joonas Rantanen palkittiin Palloliiton Läntisen alueen Vuoden valmentajana, ilvesfootball.com, 1 February 2025 Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month: September 2024
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