Kari Jalonen: decision made public

The German DEL team Kölner Haie reports on its website that the team’s head coach Kari Jalonen will not continue in the position after this season. Additionally, the team confirms that Jalonen will return to Finland after the season.

Ilta-Sanomat reported earlier this week that Jalonen is the new head coach of Tappara (read more). Tappara announced on Tuesday that Rikard Grönborg will not continue as the team’s head coach after this season and that information about the new coaching team will be provided after the season.

– We have been in close contact and confidential communication with Kari Jalonen since day one. Karin’s life plans have also been a recurring topic of discussion. He told us that after ten years spent abroad, he wants to return to Finland for a permanent position and to be with his family after the season. We respect this wish. At the same time, this creates clarity in the situation: we consciously decided to confirm this so that we can focus on seeking success for this season, Kölner Haie’s sports director Matthias Baldys commented in the club’s statement.

– I made the decision together with my family and discussed it with the club. Now we focus on this season, as we have a lot of work to do. We have ambitious goals and we want to achieve them together. Kölner Haie is a big club, and we strive for maximum success, Jalonen says.

Jalonen, 65, is now in his second season in Köln. The team is currently fourth in the standings. Last season, Jalonen led the team to a silver medal.

Previously, Jalonen coached in the Liiga during the 2010-11 season, when he led HIFK to the Finnish championship. Since then, he has also served as head coach for the Lions, the Czech national team, in the KHL, and in the NL.