Jussi Leppälahti
{{short description|Finnish football manager (born 1986)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jussi Leppälahti
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|8|22}}
| birth_place = Finland
| currentclub = Gnistan (manager)
| position =
| youthyears1 = 1992–1998
| youthyears2 = 1999–2006
| youthclubs1 = EPS
| youthclubs2 = Honka
| years1 = 2005
| years2 = 2006–2008
| years3 = 2009–2010
| years4 =
| years5 =
| clubs1 = Salamat
| clubs2 = Espoo
| clubs3 = HIFK
| clubs4 =
| clubs5 =
| caps1 = 19
| goals1 = 3
| caps2 = 65
| goals2 = 9
| caps3 = 43
| goals3 = 14
| manageryears1 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs1 = EPS
| manageryears4 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs4 = Jippo
| manageryears5 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs5 = KTP
| manageryears6 = 2024– | managerclubs6 = Gnistan
| pcupdate = 12 February 2024
| ntupdate =
}}
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.[https://www.espoonpalloseura.fi/2020/03/23/jussi-leppalahti-kertoo-epsin-edustuksen-kulttuurin-muutoksesta/ 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.[https://jippo.fi/jussi-leppalahti-on-jipon-uusi-paavalmentaja/ Jussi Leppälahti on Jipon uusi päävalmentaja], jippo.fi, 25 September 2018 The club gained a promotion to Ykkönen for the 2021 season,[https://jippo.fi/jippo-lahtee-juhlavuoteen-jussi-leppalahden-johdolla/ 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.[https://fcktp.fi/uutiset/2544-jussi-leppalahti-ktp-n-paavalmentajaksi JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI KTP:N PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI], fcktp.fi, 24 March 2022 On 23 August 2023, Leppälahti was unexpectedly dismissed by KTP,[https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000009805318.html 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.[https://fcktp.fi/uutiset/7444-jussi-leppalahti-jatkaa-ktp-ssa-olemme-olleet-erittain-tyytyvaisia 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.[https://gnistan.fi/2023/11/jussi-leppalahti-gnistanin-paavalmentajaksi/ 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.[https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000009983294.html 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.[https://gnistan.fi/2024/09/if-gnistan-jatkaa-yhteistyota-paavalmentaja-jussi-leppalahden-kanssa/ IF GNISTAN JATKAA YHTEISTYÖTÄ PÄÄVALMENTAJA JUSSI LEPPÄLAHDEN KANSSA], gnistan.fi, 30 September 2024
Personal life
As a teenager, Leppälahti played also 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.[https://yle.fi/a/74-20025806 Jussi Leppälahti oli pitkään piikki jalkapallovalmentajien lihassa – entinen pomo tunnisti KTP-käskijän kyvyt: ”Tämä on fantastinen jätkä”], Yle, 14 April 2023[https://www.suomifutis.com/2019/07/jalkapalloasiantuntija-jussi-leppalahti-liittyy-suomifutis-sivuston-vahvuuteen-yritan-tehda-sita-mita-parhaiten-osaan/ Jalkapalloasiantuntija Jussi Leppälahti liittyy SuomiFutis-sivuston vahvuuteen: ”Yritän tehdä sitä mitä parhaiten osaan”], suomifutis.com, 4 July 2019
Managerial statistics
{{updated|27 October 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
| rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="8"|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | W% |
| align=left|EPS | {{flagicon|Finland}}
|align=left|1 January 2015 |align=left|31 December 2016 {{WDL|48|26|8|14|decimals=2}} | |||
| align=left|Jippo | {{flagicon|Finland}}
|align=left|1 January 2019 |align=left|31 December 2021 {{WDL|82|37|21|24|decimals=2}} | |||
| align=left|KTP | {{flagicon|Finland}}
|align=left|1 January 2022 |align=left|22 August 2023 {{WDL|64|31|12|21|decimals=2}} | |||
| align=left|Gnistan | {{flagicon|Finland}}
|align=left|1 January 2024 |align=left|present {{WDL|36|14|8|14|decimals=2}} | |||
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|230|108|49|73|decimals=2}} |
Managerial honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WorldFootball|jussi-leppaelahti}}
{{Veikkausliiga managers}}
{{Gnistan squad}}
{{IF Gnistan managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leppälahti, Jussi}}
Category:Finnish men's footballers
Category:Finnish football managers
Category:Finnish sports journalists
Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Veikkausliiga managers
Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Category:Expatriate football managers in England