Coach legend Kari Jalonen is the new head coach of Tappara, Ilta-Sanomat reports.

Jalonen will take the helm of Tappara next season when the current head coach of the Tampere team, Rikard Grönberg, finishes his contract. According to Aftonbladet, Grönborg will move on to become the head coach of the Swedish national team.

The 65-year-old Jalonen has achieved success in his career in Finland, Switzerland, the KHL, and with the Lions. He led the Lions to the World Championship final in the spring of 2016.

This season, Jalonen has been the head coach of the German top league team Kölner Haien. The Haie reached the DEL finals last season.

In the Liiga, Jalonen has won the championship three times with Kärpät and once behind the bench of HIFK. The last time he was seen in the Liiga was as HIFK’s coach during the 2010-11 season, when he also led the Helsinki team to the championship.

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