Mikko Isokangas
{{short description|Finnish football manager (born 1980)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mikko Isokangas
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| height =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|5|20}}
| birth_place = Haukipudas, Finland
| currentclub = AC Oulu (manager)
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = HauPa
| years1 =
| clubs1 = HauPa
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 =
| clubs2 = TP-47
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| manageryears1 = 2016–2018 | managerclubs1 = HauPa
| manageryears2 = 2018 | managerclubs2 = Hercules (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2018 | managerclubs3 = AC Oulu (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2019–2021 | managerclubs4 = Hercules
| manageryears5 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs5 = OLS
| manageryears6 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs6 = AC Oulu (assistant)
| manageryears7 = 2024– | managerclubs7 = AC Oulu
| pcupdate = 16 September 2024
| ntupdate =
}}
Mikko Isokangas (born 20 May 1980) is a Finnish football coach and a former player, who played as a midfielder. He is currently a manager of Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu.
Playing career
Isokangas has played mainly in the lower divisions in the Finnish football league system. He has made 16 appearances in the second-tier Ykkönen for TP-47. He played his last competitive match to this day in the fourth-tier Kolmonen with HauPa in October 2022. Isokangas has also won the Golden Boot in the sixth-tier Vitonen in 2016.[https://www.kaleva.fi/millainen-mies-on-44-vuotias-haukiputaalainen-mikk/11328567 Millainen mies on 44-vuotias haukiputaalainen Mikko Isokangas, joka nousi yllättäen AC Oulun päävalmentajaksi?], Kaleva, 13 September 2024
Coaching career
In 2008, while still playing, Isokangas started working as the youth director of his hometown club Haukiputaan Pallo (HauPa). Later he also worked as a youth coach for the club. During 2013–2015, Isokangas coached in the youth sectors of FC Espoo and Kasiysi.[https://www.fckasiysiespoo.fi/?x118281=323207 MIKKO ISOKANGAS SIIRTYY HAUPAAN], fckasiysiespoo.fi, 11 August 2015
For the 2016 season, he returned to Haukipudas and was named a head coach of HauPa. Since 2018, he worked for Tervarit and was the head coach of the club's first team Hercules.[https://www.tervaritjuniorit.fi/uutiset/122770/esittelyssa-mikko-isokangas Esittelyssä Mikko Isokangas], tervaritjuniorit.fi, 12 May 2021 Simultaneously he worked as an assistant of the AC Oulu first team in the second-tier Ykkönen in 2018, with head coach Mika Lähderinne.[https://jshercules.com/2018/10/08/mikko-isokangas-herculesin-paavalmentajaksi-suuntaviivat-piirtyvat-tulevalle-kaudelle/ Mikko Isokangas Herculeksen päävalmentajaksi], jshercules.com, 8 October 2018 He left Tervarit and Hercules after the 2021 season.
In September 2022, Isokangas was named the head coach of Oulun Luistinseura (OLS), the reserve team of AC Oulu, starting in the 2023 season.[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2022/09/23/ac-oulun-valmennus-vahvistuu-mikko-isokangas-reservijoukkueen-paavalmentajaksi AC Oulun valmennus vahvistuu - Mikko Isokangas reservijoukkueen päävalmentajaksi], veikkausliiga.com, 23 September 2022 One year later, his contract was extended for the 2024 season, after he had helped the team to qualify for the 2024 Ykkönen.[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/09/10/ac-oulun-valmennustiimi-kaudelle-2024-rakentuu-mikko-isokangas-jatkaa-reservijoukkueen-luotsina AC Oulun valmennustiimi kaudelle 2024 rakentuu - Mikko Isokangas jatkaa reservijoukkueen luotsina], veikkausliiga.com, 10 September 2023
In June 2024, after AC Oulu had fired its whole first team coaching staff,[https://yle.fi/a/74-20093870 AC Oulu antaa kenkää koko valmennustiimille – syynä heikot tulokset], Yle, 13 June 2024 Isokangas was named an interim manager with Rafinha. They helped the club to advance to the round of 16 of the 2024 Finnish Cup,[https://www.kaleva.fi/valiaikainen-paavalmentaja-mikko-isokangas-luotsas/11018452 Väliaikainen päävalmentaja Mikko Isokangas luotsasi AC Oulun jatkoon Suomen cupissa], Kaleva, 15 June 2024 and get an away draw against Vaasan Palloseura (VPS) in the league. In September 2024, after AC Oulu had fired their new coach Kostas Bratsos due to three consecutive red cards, Isokangas was named the caretaker manager of the first team for the remainder of the 2024 season.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvkRNwbfYhw ”Tavoite päästä puhtaalta pöydältä ensi kauteen”, päävalmentaja Mikko Isokangas, AC Oulu], youtube.com/AC Oulu, 13 September 2024 Rafinha joined him as an assistant coach again. He managed AC Oulu to finish 9th in the league and to defend its spot in Veikkausliiga. In November 2024, Isokangas was selected for the UEFA Pro coaching class by Football Association of Finland.[https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/osallistujat-uudistettuun-uefa-pro-koulutukseen-2025-valittu Osallistujat uudistettuun UEFA Pro -koulutukseen 2025 valittu], Football Association of Finland, 12 November 2024 Simultaneously he was named the manager of AC Oulu on a two-year deal with a two-year option.[https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/ac-oulun-valmennustiimi-on-valittu-mikko-isokangas-paavalmentajaksi AC OULUN VALMENNUSTIIMI ON VALITTU – MIKKO ISOKANGAS PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI], acoulu.fi, 10 November 2024
Honours
- Northern Finland Football Association: Manager of the Year 2024[https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/pohjoisen-alueen-jalkapallokauden-2024-ansioituneita-palkittiin-seurojen-aani-sem Pohjoisen alueen jalkapallokauden 2024 ansioituneita palkittiin Seurojen Ääni -seminaarin yhteydessä], Football Association of Finland, 17 February 2025
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/64425/player/seasons Mikko Isokangas] stats at Football Association of Finland
{{Veikkausliiga managers}}
{{AC Oulu squad}}
{{AC Oulu managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isokangas, Mikko}}
Category:Finnish football managers
Category:Finnish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Finnish football coaches
Category:Haukiputaan Pallo players
Category:Veikkausliiga managers