FC Lahti became the next team to show their coach the door this season.
FC Lahti, coached by Mikko Mannila, won four of their 21 main league games this season. Juha Tamminen / AOP
FC Lahti, which is struggling to stay in the Veikkausliiga, announced on Thursday that it will change its head coach. Started in his job in the middle of last season Mikko Mannila leaves his position and is replaced by a 37-year-old first timer Toni Lindbergwho completed the UEFA Pro coaching qualification required for coaching in the series in the spring.
Lindberg is a familiar man to Lahti residents. He has worked in Lahti as an assistant coach since 2019.
Mannila jumped at the helm of Lahti last summer and was involved in saving the team from relegation. This summer, after 21 games, Lahti is in danger of relegation again, as it is last in the series and four points away from the jumbo IFK Mariehamn.
– Our time together was sadly short, but in particular, sorting out last season’s qualifiers and thus keeping the league position was a big and important thing for the club. We wish Miko nothing but good things in the future, FC Lahti’s board chairman Mika Halttunen thanks Mannila in the announcement.
At the top, the wind is blowing
In the Veikkausliiga, the position of the head coach has been very windy this season, as no less than 7 of the 12 teams have changed managers this season.
The chain reaction was started by the championship-fighting Kuopio Palloseura, which gave Pasi to Tuuti shoes after only three league games. Jani Honkavaara took command in the Savoia team.
HJK, which was at the top of the series, decided to dismantle Toni Koskelan contract in July. Toni Korkeakunnas took over with a contract lasting the rest of the season.
There has been the most buzz in August, when Ilves, MIFK, AC Oulu, KTP and now Lahti announced changes in the coaching ladder. Each of these five is ranked in the lower half of the league table. Only Oulu still has a chance to move up to the higher league. On Sunday, they have to beat FC Inter, who are tied on points.
The final round of the regular season will be played on Sunday.