It is known that Jukka Jalose would have takers in the puck world, but the man is caught up in a TV entertainment program.
Jukka Jalonen coached the Italian national team for two seasons. He has promised to work on TV in Finland in the fall. EPA / AOP
The Zurich Lions is one of the most sought-after jobs in the Puck World outside of the NHL – if not the most sought-after. The team pays their employees a top-level salary, Zurich is a pleasant place to live and the Swiss league is currently the elite league in Europe.
ZSC Lions is currently looking for a new head coach for next season after being fired by Marco Bayer to the yard in March.
– I can say that we have at least one Finnish coach on our list, the club’s sports director Sven Leuenberger told Iltalehte last week.
According to Iltalehti’s information from several sources, the coach in question is Jukka Jalonen.
Iltalehti could not reach the champion coach to comment on the matter on Tuesday.
– One interesting thing came up here, but we’ll see what happens with it. I’ve already committed to Diili, so I can’t say that I won’t come, Jalonen said Ilta-Sanom.
Can’t leave
Lions’ sporting director Sven Leuenberger stated to Iltalehte that there is, among other things, a Finn in the running for the club’s next head coach. Jenni Gästgivar
The situation is downright rough for Jalose. The Olympic champion and multiple world champion cannot be part of the Lions’ or any other team’s coaching competition, and he would not be able to accept the job even if it was offered to him.
The reason is simple: Jalonen has promised to host the Diili entertainment program to be filmed in the fall. So Jalonen will probably have to say “no thanks” to Europe’s most sought-after coaching job because of the entertainment program.
Lions will pay their head coach a salary of at least 300,000 euros per season net.
The Lions’ list has always had coaches other than Jalonen, but most obviously the Finn would have been one of the candidates to become the next head coach of the öky team.
Work over
Jalonen would be available because his work in the Italian Hockey Federation ended with this World Cup. It is hard to imagine that the Lions would consider other Finns as their head coach at this point.
Last spring, the 62-year-old from Riihmäki took his boots to the A-series. In February, Italy played on its home ice in the Olympic tournament, and in the World Cup in Switzerland, the country was relegated to the B series.
Jalonen’s last game at the helm of Italy was on Monday night against Slovenia. Italy lost the game 1–5.
– It’s a shame that we couldn’t get everything out of the team. But in the big picture, Italy’s place is at the second level, Jalonen stated to Iltalehte on Monday evening.
Continuation open
Jukka Jalonen and the Italian national team were disappointed at the World Cup tournament in Switzerland. The country was relegated to the B series. PDO
The continuation of Jalonen’s coaching career is open.
– I am not actively looking for coaching jobs. I won’t be able to coach anywhere until the start of next season. If there is something interesting from abroad in the future, I can go if the place is interesting.
– I have been coaching for so long that I no longer have to. It may be that I will coach my last games in these World Championships, Jalonen stated to Iltalehte on May 12.
Jalonen also works in the HPK organization as a senior advisor for sports activities.
