Mika Lehkosuo
Encyclopedia
Mika "Bana" Lehkosuo is a Finnish
football manager and former midfielder, currently managing FC Honka
in Finnish Veikkausliiga
.
. He was not a very prominent youth player and made his top division debut in 1993 after spending three years in lower division club Vantaan Pallo. He did not make his breakthrough into the HJK senior squad until 1995, when he made 24 league appearances and scored one goal. In previous season he had even played one league match in FF Jaro
.
In following seasons Lehkosuo received more and more responsibility and became one of the best midfielders in Veikkausliiga. In the end of 1990s he formed the successful midfield trio with Aki Riihilahti
and Jarkko Wiss
with whom he won the league title in 1997 and worked their way to the group stage of UEFA Champions League
in the next season.
In the winter of 1998 Lehkosuo was signed on loan by Italian Serie A
side Perugia
. He only played eleven games in Italy and returned to HJK for next Veikkausliiga season. In 1999 and 2000 Lehkosuo was made the captain of the HJK squad and he played in more attacking role. However, in August 2000 Lehkosuo injured his knee ligament. The knee didn't fully recover and Lehkosuo was forced to end his playing career in 2002, after playing 190 matches in Veikkausliiga, of which 189 he played in HJK.
and scored one goal.
in Ykkönen
(the second tier) side FC Honka. After Lyytikäinen was sacked, he became the head coach. He guided the team to the top place of Ykkönen. In the first season in Veikkausliiga Lehkosuo guided his team to the 4th place. In 2007 Honka was again fourth. In 2008 Lehkosuo guided Honka to second place and to the UEFA Cup qualifications for the next season. In 2009 Honka was again second in the league table.
in 2003.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
football manager and former midfielder, currently managing FC Honka
FC Honka
FC Honka is a Finnish football club, based in Tapiola, Espoo. It was promoted into the Finnish premier division , for the first time in its history, at the end of the 2005 season. The club's manager is Mika Lehkosuo, and it plays its home matches at Tapiolan urheilupuisto...
in Finnish Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
.
Playing career
Lehkosuo played most of his career in HJK HelsinkiHJK Helsinki
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi , internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki...
. He was not a very prominent youth player and made his top division debut in 1993 after spending three years in lower division club Vantaan Pallo. He did not make his breakthrough into the HJK senior squad until 1995, when he made 24 league appearances and scored one goal. In previous season he had even played one league match in FF Jaro
FF Jaro
FF Jaro is a Finnish football club, based in the bilingual town of Jakobstad. It currently plays in the Finnish Premier League Veikkausliiga...
.
In following seasons Lehkosuo received more and more responsibility and became one of the best midfielders in Veikkausliiga. In the end of 1990s he formed the successful midfield trio with Aki Riihilahti
Aki Riihilahti
Aki Pasinpoika Riihilahti is a Finnish footballer currently playing for HJK Helsinki in the Finnish Veikkausliiga. He is known as a hard working, defensive midfielder.- Club career :...
and Jarkko Wiss
Jarkko Wiss
Jarkko Wiss is a former Finnish footballer and the current manager of Tampere United.-Player career:As a player he played in the position of defensive midfielder for TPV Tampere, FF Jaro, HJK and Tampere United in Finland, Molde, Lillestrøm and Moss in Norway, Stockport County in England as well...
with whom he won the league title in 1997 and worked their way to the group stage of UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in the next season.
In the winter of 1998 Lehkosuo was signed on loan by Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
side Perugia
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
. He only played eleven games in Italy and returned to HJK for next Veikkausliiga season. In 1999 and 2000 Lehkosuo was made the captain of the HJK squad and he played in more attacking role. However, in August 2000 Lehkosuo injured his knee ligament. The knee didn't fully recover and Lehkosuo was forced to end his playing career in 2002, after playing 190 matches in Veikkausliiga, of which 189 he played in HJK.
International career
Lehkosuo played 17 matches in Finnish national teamFinland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
and scored one goal.
Managerial career
Lehkosuo started his managerial career in HJK youth teams quickly after retiring as a player. In 2005 he was appointed to the assistand manager of Ville LyytikäinenVille Lyytikäinen
Ville Lyytikäinen is a Finnish football coach. He is currently the head coach of Atlantis FC in Finland's second highest tier, Ykkönen.In the past Lyytikäinen has coached FC Jokerit, FC Hämeenlinna and FC Honka...
in Ykkönen
Ykkönen
Ykkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:...
(the second tier) side FC Honka. After Lyytikäinen was sacked, he became the head coach. He guided the team to the top place of Ykkönen. In the first season in Veikkausliiga Lehkosuo guided his team to the 4th place. In 2007 Honka was again fourth. In 2008 Lehkosuo guided Honka to second place and to the UEFA Cup qualifications for the next season. In 2009 Honka was again second in the league table.
Personal life
Lehkosuo graduated Master of Science in Technology in Helsinki University of TechnologyHelsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
in 2003.