HIFK confirmed the big news – new head coach revealed!
Helsinki IFK has confirmed the long-awaited coaching news. It announced on Wednesday that Tommi Niemelä, 43, will become the head coach of the Helsinki club starting next season.
HIFK has signed a two-year contract with Niemelä, covering the Liiga seasons 2027–2028 and 2028–2029.
Niemelä is currently coaching his third season with Tampereen Ilves. The Tampere club has named Raimo Helmisen as his successor, who will move to Ilves from SaiPa.
The current head coach of HIFK, Tommi Miettinen, 50, will continue in his role as planned until the end of the current season. Miettinen took over the Helsinki club in October on a contract for the remainder of the season.
HIFK’s sports director Janne Laukkanen states that the club is satisfied with both coaching decisions.
– The nature of Miettinen’s contract with HIFK has been openly discussed well in advance, and “Toma” has put all his efforts into this season. He has done good work in a short time. Niemelä has proven his abilities as a head coach in the Liiga over several seasons with Ilves and previously with Pelicans, Laukkanen commented in HIFK’s press release.
Niemelä coached Lahden Pelicans before his stint with Ilves, leading them to SM silver twice.
HIFK wanted to strengthen their future head coach at this stage so that the team and coaching staff can focus calmly on the ongoing season.
– We wanted to inform about the future at this point once things were confirmed, so that all parties would have the peace to focus on the current season. The time for thanks will come later, and it has been agreed among the parties that we will not comment on this matter further until the end of the season, Laukkanen states.
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