Jarkko Jokiranta (born 17 May 1984) is a Finnish sports coach and a former player, currently working as a sporting director of IF Gnistan in Veikkausliiga.
Playing career Jokiranta has played in the youth sector of MyPa. As a senior player, he played for Elimäen Villisiat, City Stars and JPS in lower divisions.
Career While studying in Pajulahti, Jokiranta also worked as a youth coach for JyPK girls' teams in Jyväskylä.
He started as a youth director of JJK Jyväskylä in 2011.Jarkko Jokirannasta JJK:n nuorisopäällikkö, Keskisuomalainen, 8 January 2012 He has also worked as a youth talent coach for the club,Talenttivalmentaja Jokiranta ammentaa oppia ulkomailta, Keskisuomalainen, 12 October 2016 before he joined HJK Helsinki as a talent coach in August 2017.TALENTTIVALMENTAJA JOKIRANTA SIIRTYY KAUDEN PÄÄTTEEKSI HJK:HON, jjk.fi, 24 August 2017 On 17 September 2021, he started to work for Finnish FA as a director of club development in the Southern Finland.JARKKO JOKIRANNASTA PALLOLIITON ETELÄISEN ALUEEN SEURAKEHITYSPÄÄLLIKKÖ, Finnish FA, 17 September 2021
On 4 October 2023, a newly promoted Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan announced the appointment of Jokiranta as their new sporting director, starting in the position for the 2024 season.Gnistan palkkasi urheilutoimenjohtajan Palloliitosta – ”Askel kohti huippua”, Helsingin Sanomat, 4 October 2024JARKKO JOKIRANTA JOHTAMAAN GNISTANIN URHEILUTOIMINTAA, gnistan.fi, 5 October 2023Palloliiton eteläisen alueen seurakehityspäällikkö Jarkko Jokiranta siirtyy IF Gnistanin urheilutoimenjohtajaksi, Finnish FA, 4 October 2023“Emme tule sarjaan rimpuilemaan” urheilutoimenjohtaja Jarkko Jokiranta, IF Gnistan, pallotv.fi He is also responsible of developing the club's youth sector. His contract includes an unusual option for transforming the head coach in 2027.IF Gnistanin erikoinen tilanne hämmentää – urheilutoimenjohtajasta tulossa päävalmentaja?, Apu Aitio, 14 May 2025
Personal life Jokiranta has studied in the Pajulahti Sports Institute. In 2012, he graduated from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.
References
External links Jarkko Jokiranta at Finnish FA