Antti Muurinen

Antti Muurinen
Personal information
Date of birth 4 March 1954 (1954-03-04) (age 57)
Place of birth Valkeakoski, Finland
Playing position Manager
Teams managed
Years Team
1981-1987 FC Kontu
1988-1993 FC Kuusysi
1994-1996 Jaro
1997-1999 HJK Helsinki
2000-2005 Finland
2006-2007 FC Lahti
2007- HJK Helsinki

Antti Muurinen (born March 4, 1954) is a Finnish football coach. He is currently the head coach of HJK Helsinki[1] 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.[2]

In 2006, Muurinen was hired as the manager of FC Lahti[3] 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.

Honours

References