magazine

BRIAN DEANE “An educational evangelist” HOW TO COMBINE BUSINESS AND SPORTS EFFECTIVELY? FRIENDSHIP CITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT Introduction to the northernmost football clubs in the world STARS IN MAKING Who are the future stars of the Nordic countries?

BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL AND BUSINESS FootCoop2012 1 2 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 3 ContentsContents

TOP STORIES

SEMINAR page 12 4 Welcome words by Topspot CEO Mikko Perälä ‘Reject’ Brian Deane is now 5 FootCoop 2012 seminar an education evangelist program 6 Speaker biographies & panel discussion intro- ductions 10 Tournament schedule & data sheet

BUSINESS page 17 16 Business - Supporting Haparanda-Tornio - innovative entrepreneurship 21 OWI - building a community affi liation across the border 24 Networking with Navico

FOOTBALL 15 Thomas Drage - wonderkid from Tromsö IL 20 RoPS - back on track 22 The next generation - page 14 AC Oulu and Matias Ojala 19 Alta IF’s young talent Tromsö IL - the Christian Reginiussen northernmost top-level 25 JS Hercules - still academic and athletic football club in the world

page 18 Alta IF - small club with a big heart

EDITOR Egan Richardson EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Vesa Rautio JS Hercules ry. Kirkkokatu 8 A 9 ASSISTANT EDITORS 90100 Oulu Pekka Haaranen, Jarkko Kortelainen, Jani [email protected] Kytöaho, Juuso Madetoja, Mikko Polvi, Mikko http://www.jshercules.com Perälä, Timo Perälä, Antti Railo, nuori Timo Rautio, Juho Syrjä FOOTCOOP 2012 SEMINAR PRINTING PRESS Erweko Oy http://www.footcoop.info

2 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 3 NEWNEW SIGNS SIGNS OF OF FRIENDSHIPFRIENDSHIP

Every one who has ever lived in that since that eventful experience discussions, and match days unite Oulu knows the famous Tuira in 1992 I had not been involved in us. For businesses sponsoring a bridges and the islands in the mouth any friendship city activity. And as team can be an important way of of the Oulu river. One particular is- jogging for me is an activity that creating new customer relation- land is a famous landmark, as it is occasionally brings up good ideas ships and nourishing the old ones, home to the Oulu castle. Well, at (many times very bad ones too!), I fi nding new connections, and get- least what is left of it. decided to do something about it. ting visibility and media exposure. The FootCoop 2012 seminar and Besides the ruins of the castle, the My company TopSpot Ltd works the Friendship City Tournament island also has quite peculiar look- in the world of football, so sport makes our normal home ground a ing signs scattered here and there, seemed a natural way to start doing bit more international. My with text and numbers written on something concrete within biggest wish is that we start to see them: Alta 1948, Boden 1948, Oulu’s friendship city network. the whole of North Scandinavia as Odessa, 1957, Leverkusen 1968... our home fi eld and the FootCoop “Sport brings seminar as our annual home match The casual observer might not even people together where teams, sponsors and other know the purpose of these sign in our communi- organizations gather every year to posts. I myself was unsure of the ties” meet friends and partners. And to meaning until the summer of 1992 I traveled to meet people from watch football, of course. when I joined a happy gang of 20 the football clubs in Alta, Boden, pupils to take part in a trip organ- Tromsö and Rovaniemi in order to On behalf of the people involved ized by the city of Oulu. That was present my idea to them: let’s have in organizing the seminar and the my fi rst ever trip outside a ”Friendship City Football Tour- tournament I want to welcome you without my parents; a trip to Ou- nament” in Oulu next February. all to Oulu, the capital of Northern lu’s friendship city Leverkusen, But let’s not just bring the players, Scandinavia. Germany. let’s bring the sponsors too! Unless we start creating chances, Last summer while jogging on Sport brings people together in our no goals will be scored! my usual route through the island, communities. The teams are an im- looking at the signs I was thinking portant part of daily With regards,

Mikko Perälä CEO and founder of TOPSPOT LTD.

Right: Mikko Perälä, back when he still was fl exible.

4 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 5 SEMINARSEMINAR SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

FootCoop 2012 brings together people from the world of football and business in Oulu, Finland on February 17th 2012.

This ground-breaking networking event is organized by TopSpot Ltd together with fi ve cities in Cap of the North and the football clubs from their cities. Participants arrive from Finland, , Norway, Denmark, Russia, Germany, England and even from further away! FootCoop 2012 is an excellent opportunity to get linked with some key peo- ple in the sports and business. And at the same time enjoy the panel discussions around very interesting topics.

PROGRAM FRIDAY 17th 14:15 - 15:15 Networking cafe

8:00 Registration opens at the lobby of Work shop 3: European Law & Sport Attorneys (www.elsalex.it) Radisson Blu, Oulu + Morning coffee! Lawyer Pekka Aho gives an insight from the legal perspective 9:30 – 10:15 Panel discussion to international player transfers and remunerations received from them. Aho works as a lawyer in a sports law company in Doing business and sports in Cap of the Italy whose clients are top clubs and players around . North: What’s stopping us? Let’s get connected across the borders! Work shop 4: Prozone Sports Ltd (www.prozonesports.com) Sales Director for Scandinavia and Russia Boris Genusov tells Miguel Huhta (Chairman of Haparanda-Tornio Bandy) about the benefi ts of post-match analysis in team sports. Petri Hyyppä (Chairman of Proceed-IT Consulting Ltd) Sari Päivärinta (Founder of Mobile Brainbank, Business 15:15 – 16:00 Panel discussion Oulu, ex-Nokia) Culture and adaptation in teams and work 10:15 – 11:15 Networking cafe places.

Work shop 1: Kuru Digital (www.kurudigital.com) Martti Kuusela (ex-national team head coach of Finland Director AP Tauriainen presents new innovative and the most successful Finnish football coach of coaching tools for team sports. all times) Tom Saintfi et (ex-national team coach of Namibia, Work shop 2: MobileSpot (www.hokkari.fi ) Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Also coached RoPS in Finland) CEO Lassi Anttonen talks about mobile marketing Cecilie Ystenes (Performance-coach, Vålerenga IF, tools in sports. Norway)

11:15 – 12:00 Panel discussion 17:00 - 19:00 Socializing Friday! (www.socfri.com) Organized in cooperation with the City Success stories on and off the fi eld: How of Oulu. Reception will be held in can we use sports to improve business the magnifi cent town hall in downtown! and business to improve sports? 19:30 - 21:15 Friendship City Football Tournament Morten Kraemer (Sport Director, Tromsö IL) opening match in Heinäpää Arina Arena: Harri Aho (Sport Director, Oulun Kärpät) AC Oulu vs. Alta IF Juuso Nissilä (Valkee Oy, ex-Polar Electro) 21:30 -> Evening party at 12:00 – 13:30 Networking lunch at Radisson Blu Vanha Paloasema (http://www.vanhapaloasema.fi /) 13:30 – 14:15 Panel discussion

From a leader on the pitch into a leader in PROGRAM SATURDAY 18th and SUNDAY 19th working life. Friendship City Football Tournament continues: Brian Deane (ex-player, now coach & study counselor) Bodens BK, RoPS, Alta IF, AC Oulu, JS Hercules, OPS A-youth, Jarmo Kekäläinen (ex-NHL-player, GM ofJokerit of OPS-j and OTP. ) Aki Riihilahti (ex-professional football player and CEO of Sonera Arena in Helsinki) Please enjoy your stay and don’t forget to network!

4 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 5 SPEAKERSPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES BIOGRAPHIES 1. ”Doing Business in Cap of the North - Let’s get connected across borders!” There are so many opportunities for business, cooperation and partnerships in the North. Perhaps we should learn how to utilize them a little better? People here in the northernmost parts of the inhabited world have a lot in common and many times even the distances to settlements in neighbouring countries are shorter than those to southern metropolitan areas. Should we do more “side to side movement” within the region instead of going from the top of the world to the bottom? Can we use sports or existing networks as a tool to bring us together? What’s stopping us? Let’s get connected across the borders!

business strategies for high-tech Bandy is a great example of true industry. As a founder of Proceed-IT cross-border activity and amazingly, it Tom Laine, CEO Multi Solution Consulting Oy, Hyyppä is using his is possible even in such a passionate experience and expertise to support issue as the professional level team Tom Laine is the CEO of high tech fi rms in their business sports. MultiSolution, a company that development. Proceed-IT Consulting provides consulting services is a company with focus of supporting in international ICT business and consulting of Oulu technology development. As a serial entrepreneur ecosystem by offering expertise and Tom has experience in various fi elds special competences for companies. such as the music business, industrial Hyyppä’s experience of running subcontracting, IT fi eld and social R&D and developing business Sari Päivärinta, Founder of Mobile media related business. In fact, the organizations as well as the board Brain Bank, ex-Nokia multitasking and network-oriented member experience on both public entrepreneur is the most connected and private sectors gives good basis Sari Päivärinta is the founder of person on LinkedIn in Finland. Tom for facilitating the growth of high tech Mobile Brain Bank, and is at the has a strong presence in social media- business in Oulu area. centre of business development in related businesses—lecturing, writing, the Oulu area. Her strong Nokia planning strategies and evaluating background and experience as revenue models. His sklillset is the communications offi cer at perhaps best summarised as doing BusinessOulu gives her knowhow business, innovating and inspiring in both in the telecom business and in the Cap of North. business development. The non- profi t organization Mobile Brain Miguel Huhta, Chairman of Bank is supporting and promoting Haparanda-Tornio Bandy entrepreneurship for laid-off former Miguel Huhta has made history as Nokia and Symbian staff. Through chairman of the region’s fi rst cross- the global network the Mobile Brain border sports club. Haparanda-Tornio- Bank is operating worldwide to Petri Hyyppä, Founder of Proceed- Bandy plays in the Swedish league support the development of the new IT Consulting Ltd and uses the fl ags of Sweden and agile enterprises which will bring Finland in its jersey because the club new thinking into the global mobile Petri Hyyppä has years of experience is a merger of Swedish and Finnish industry. on creating product and service bandy clubs. Haparanda-Tornio- 6 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 7 SPEAKERSPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES BIOGRAPHIES

2. “Success stories in the North - On and off the field.” We have lots of great examples of how to do business and other kinds of cooperation successfully in the region. We can be proud of the achievements of our athletes and teams as well as of our companies, big and small, who have conquered foreign markets and distant countries. What do they have in common? Is there something that companies could teach sports teams and vice versa? How can we be even better? By openly sharing ideas and best practices? By learning from each other? By engaging ourselves tand crossing borders not just between countries but between the conventional and the unconventional way of doing things?

for him. His roots in Lapland and history at Oulun Kärpät, along with experience from national and international junior level ice-hockey gives a strong basis for his position in the Finnish hockey league’s Tom Markham, PhD Football Morten Kraemer, Sports Director northernmost club. According to Aho, Finance, Football Finance in Tromsø Idrettslag the long-term strategy for success in Columnist, Tutor in Practical ice-hockey lies in his northern roots Trading Methods in University of Tromsø is the home of many football and the strong junior level work of Reading. clubs, and therefore provides Oulun Kärpät. a competitive and ambitious Tom Markham had already forged atmosphere for developing a top a successful career within financial level team. Morten Kraemer’s career services, but Tom’s number one as a professional football player objective was always to get into and history as a player in Tromsø’s football. He graduated from the football clubs provides a good University of Liverpool’s prestigious background for the sporting director MBA in Football Industries and of the northernmost Juuso Nissilä, CEO and Founder of won the Premier League Best football team in the world. Tromsø IL Valkee Oy, ex-Polar Electro Dissertation award. Tom became the is a solid part of the world’s football Feel the effect of the sun in 6- first UK candidate ever to embark family, and the active international 12 minutes! Juuso Nissilä is the on a doctorate in the research area football club does not see its Arctic innovator of the bright light headset of football finance on acceptance of location as a limitation. which substitutes the mood-elevating a scholarship from Henley Business effects of the sun. Working for School’s renowned ICMA Centre Polar Electro within physiological at the University of Reading in research provides strong experience September 2009. Topics currently of physiology modelling and under his scrutiny include; When is developing training computers and the Optimum Time to Sack a Football heart rate monitors. The combination Manager, Football Club Valuation, Harri Aho, Sports Director at of knowhow in physiology and Financial Fair Play and the Prudence Oulun Kärpät technology as well as a brilliant of Player Transfer Fees. Tom also business idea created Valkee, a next- writes a weekly topical column on Harri Aho’s career as a defenceman in generation bright light solution. football finance for Onebooker.com ice-hockey started in Oulu in 1980s. Valkee Oy is a true born global (http://blog.onebooker.com/author/ Becoming sporting director at Oulun company from Oulu. tom/). Kärpät was a natural progression

6 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 7 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

3. “From a leader on the pitch into a leader in working life”

Sports and business walk hand in hand in many ways. But what about on a personal level? Do great athletes make great colleagues when they swap stadiums for offi ces and tactics boards for black boards? Are there lots of similarities in leading a team of footballers and in leading a team of computer programmers? Can leadership skills be transferred from the fi eld into offi ce life? What makes a good leader anyway?

Brian Deane, Director at Football Jarmo Kekäläinen, General Aki Riihilahti, CEO of Sonera and Education, ex-Premier League Manager at Jokerit Arena, ex-footballer striker Jarmo Kekäläinen is an ice-hockey Aki Riihilahti is a Finnish Brian Deane has an impressive 20 player who played in the Finnish football player with an impressive years long career in football English league, NHL and in Sweden. international career. In addition to Premier League. He won 3 caps for Immediately after his player career his role as a defensive midfi elder, England whilst with Sheffi eld United Kekäläinen became involved with Riihilahti is also known as a talented in the early 1990s and made history front offi ce work and created a journalist who wrote columns to The by being the scorer of the fi rst ever successful career within ice-hockey. Times during his football career. goal in the English Premier League. He was General Manager of IFK After his retirement as a player, Nowadays Deane as the Director at Helsinki in the Finnish SM-League he continued his career in sports Football and Education is providing from 1995 to 1999. At the same as the CEO of Sonera Arena. He young players the opportunity time Kekäläinen also worked in also started his MBA studies at the to continue their development as several capacities with the Ottawa University of Liverpool and continued footballers in a full time environment Senators. After he left Finland in 1999 as a columnist. Riihilahti’s work in whilst attaining a top education over a Kekäläinen became director of Player football has been recognized and three year period. Personnel at the Senators until 2002, gained several awards. One such helping to pick future NHL stars. In award was the Sport Culture Act 2002 Kekäläinen joined the St. Louis Of The Year in 2008, for his work Blues as Assistant GM and Director in supporting the development of of Amateur Scouting. football culture in Finland. Moreover, the Finnish government also appointed Riihilahti to the Finland Branding committee in 2009.

8 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 9 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

4. “Culture and adaptation in teams and Martti Kuusela, ex-national team workplaces” coach of Finland and, journalist We live in a world where our nextdoor neighbour or co-worker might have been born on the other side of the planet. In our team we can have players from After his playing career Martti completely different backgrounds, with completely different histories. Some Kuusela has coached the Finnish born and raised in a wealthy and healthy environment, while others might have national team as well as teams in been living in slums eating scraps for most of their lives. The cultural differ- ences are highlighted in sports teams. Proper adaptation, orientation and guid- Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark ance are key points in building a successfull team in a multi-cultural environ- and Hungary. In fact, Kuusela is the ment. most successful Finnish football coach since the early 1980s, and has wide experience of multicultural teams in various environments. In addition to his international career as a football coach, Kuusela also works as an expert commentator for Finland’s national broadcasting company, YLE. Trine Klavenes, Creative manager, Tom Saintfiet, Football manager Mental coach in RAW Performance and football coach AS Tom Saintfiet is a football manager Trine Klavenes works in business and former player from Belgium. At and personal development. She has the age of 24 he became the youngest experience of different arenas within manager in Belgian football and Cecilie Ystenes, Performance sport from a sales and marketing holds the UEFA Pro Licence, which Coach, RAW Performance AS manager perspective; a lead player he achieved in 2000. Saintfiet has within sponsoring and promotional had a truly international career and Cecilie Ystenes is a performance events in Norway and within has coached in several countries: coach, working with mental skills academia; a leading recruiting and Belgium, Qatar, Germany, the Faroe training at Vålerenga Football club. consulting company focusing on Islands, Finland, Holland, Namibia, She has good experience in training young professionals in the Nordic Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. In addition athletes to improve their mental region. She has a bachelor’s degree to his broad experience in Europe, toughness. She also has a MSC in in Marketing and International Africa and Middle East he is also Psychology and Leadership. Since she business and is a certified mental fluent in Dutch, English, French, started working for Vålerenga, she coach. Klavenes is currently working German and Faroese, and has a basic began to specialize in team and group on performance development as a knowledge of Arabic, Afrikaans and dynamics. She has developed several creative manager for a team of project Spanish. He has also worked on techniques and concepts for players, managers within the marketing and television as a football analyst, and as for example a “Football leadership communications industry, and also as a columnist in several countries. development program”. She started a manager of professional services for her own company in 2009 (www.raw- RAW Performance AS. performance.no) to deliver mental training and coaching for both athletes and business.

8 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 9 FRIENDSHIP CITY FOOTBALL FRIENDSHIPTOURNAMENT CITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Alta IF, Norway Oulun Palloseura A, Finland , Finland Bodens BK, Sweden Oulun Palloseura-j, Finland AC Oulu, Finland JS Hercules, Finland Oulun Työväen Palloilijat

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday 17.2.2012 Saturday 18.2.2012 Sunday 19.2.2012

19:45 - 21:30 AC Oulu - ALTA IF 12:00 - 14:00 OTP - OPS A 12:00 - 14:00 RoPS - ALTA IF 14:00 - 16:00 AC Oulu - RoPS 14:00 - 16:00 OPS-j - Bodens BK 16:00 - 18:00 JS Hercules - Bodens BK 16:00 - 18:00 JS Hercules - OPS-A

TICKETS All the games are played in Arina Tournament ticket 15 € Free admission with Areena located close to downtown Day ticket 8/6 € FootCoop 2012 seminar badge. Oulu in Heinäpää. Welcome!

10 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 11 ESSENTIALESSENTIAL INFORMATION INFORMATION

FOOTCOOP 2012 SEMINAR Radisson Blu, Oulu Hallituskatu 1 90100 Oulu tel. +358 (0)20 1234 730

Situated on the ground fl oor and available for all badge holders. Seats are allocated on a fi rst come, fi rst served basis. There will be standing room available at the back if needed.

For security purposes we request that you wear your badge at all times.

FRIENDSHIP CITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT Arina Areena Nuottasaarentie 12 90100 Oulu

Indoor football arena build in 2007 is situated next to downtown Oulu in Heinäpää Sports Centre. Maximum capacity of 700 spectators. Free WiFi available (panOulu). MAP OF THE CITY CENTER PARKING 1 Radisson Blu, Oulu Parking available in front of Radis- son Blu and next to Vanha Paloasema FootCoop 2012 seminar (day rates apply). Free parking next to Arina Areena available 24h. 2 Arina Areena Friendship City Football TRANSPORT Tournament Taxi’s are available at Radisson Blu. Please ask at reception. At the 3 Oulu City Hall tournament arena, please call +358 Socializing Friday! (0)600 300 81.

4 Vanha Paloasema ORGANIZERS OF FOOTCOOP Evening party 2012 SEMINAR AND FRIENDSHIP CITY FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT Topspot Ltd. / Mikko Perälä tel. +358 (0)40 7453 749 NOMINATED RESTAURANTS JS Hercules / Juho Syrjä Restaurant Sassi Vanha Paloasema Bar & Bistro tel. +358 (0) 44 5656 154 tel. +358 (0)8 887 7886 tel. +358 (0)44 788 6190 http://www.footcoop.info Fri, Sat 13:00 - 24:00 Fri-Sun 15:00 - 23:15 (kitchen) Sun 15:00 - 22:30 http://www.jshercules.com

10 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 11 ‘Reject’ Deane is now an education evangelist Interview and photo by Egan Richardson

Former Benfica and a big chance for Deane, one modern playing abroad, and you can probably footballers are reluctant to take. name on one hand the number of Sheffield United English players””yet we are still a “It’s a different culture now,” says huge footballing nation. striker Brian Deane Deane. “To go abroad to enhance urges English pros your reputation was less of a risk then. “Now in order to bring back Whereas I think now players would experiences for the national team, we to leave ‘comfort prefer to stay in their comfort zone.” need to get more players playing in the top leagues abroad. We’ve got Joe zone’ Deane’s career spanned three decades Cole at the moment, we’ve got David that transformed football. When he Beckham in America but essentially To people working in any other signed his first professional contract the best players are here because the profession, it would be an odd question. with Doncaster Rovers, English contracts here are the most lucrative.” When Brian Deane returned after just clubs were not yet banned from a few months from his well-paid, European competition. Heysel was Deane signed for Benfica in January high-profile job in Portugal to work just a stadium in Brussels rather than a 1998, leaving behind adoring but in Middlesborough, having swapped watershed moment in English football shell-shocked Sheffield United fans sardinhas assadas for parmos, Sintra history, and the idea of anyone paying who saw their club sell Jan Aage- for Seaton Carew and the Stadium of huge rights fees for football seemed Fjortoft””their other main striker and Light for one that didn’t see much light preposterous. best hope of securing promotion””on at all during the winter, does he maybe the same day. Deane was an icon for regret returning to England so soon? The Sky revolution had started by United, having scored 94 goals over Funnily enough, he does. the time Deane went to Portugal, but two spells for them, but the club’s the hype levels and pay packets were hierarchy were always aware of his “Yes, I do but it was out of my hands not yet at today’s stratospheric levels. value. really,” says Deane. “Middlesborough The move turned out to be a valuable had made an offer to Benfica. The club footballing education. His two transfers brought in nearly was quite keen to get some money £4m, crucial cash injections for a club in for their players because of the “It gave me an understanding of that often lived hand-to-mouth in the financial problems at the club at the perhaps why as a nation we always 1990s. Deane had moved to his first time. As soon as I came back I missed fall at the last hurdle,” says Deane, club outside Yorkshire at the age of the weather, I missed training at 4pm, I who played for his country three times 29, and he was impressed with his new missed going out in a t-shirt in January in the early nineties. “It’s because our surroundings. and February.” players are only used to playing in the Premier League. As good as you can “Oh it was fantastic,” says the striker. England is home to the ‘greatest league be, you don’t understand sometimes “I lived in a place called Cascais which in the world’, it offers footballers more the mentality of some of the other is right on the coast. Beautiful place. I financial rewards than anywhere else nations.” loved the food out there, the culture, on the planet (despite recent cash the people. It was brilliant. I wouldn’t injections in certain other leagues), “Apparently there were over a thousand hesitate at any time to go back out and and is a magnet for players from all players from Argentina playing abroad play abroad, because it was such a over the world. But it hasn’t always last year. It’s the same with Brazilians. positive experience.” been like that. Moving to Benfica was You get a lot of Portuguese players

12 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 13 Brian Deane is a director of the International Academy for Football and Education, where he also coaches. He will be speaking at the FootCoop event in Oulu, Finland on 17 February. More on Brian Deane at the Topspot ‘Reject’ Deane is website at www.topspot.fi now an education evangelist

club. It’s only when you look back that create a little bit of resentment, it can you realise what a massive experience create worry.” it was.” Although he wholeheartedly The club was not without its problems recommends playing abroad to at the time. President Joao Antonio De English players, Deane is not quite so Benfica was a step up, as well. Deane’s Araujo Vale e Azevedo was eventually keen on the international recruitment early-90s Sheffield United sides jailed in 2002 for embezzling part policies of modern-day football clubs. had punched above their weight in of the fee received for goalkeeper He clearly values his connection avoiding relegation from the top flight. Sergei Ovchinnikov, and his colourful with the fans of every club he played Leeds qualified for Europe during management style certainly affected at, especially Sheffield United, and his spell with them, but they were in dressing room morale. Deane believes that the modern footballers’ decline at that time after their 1992 diplomatically says that it “wasn’t occasionally mercenary career path championship win. The expectations run how it should have been run” and can disrupt those links. at Benfica were on another level. that unpaid salaries were not the best “I think it’s quite different in England motivation for the squad. because there are that many foreign “We’d go to away games and we’d players here,” says Deane. “You can have more fans than the home teams,” “It’s not an isolated problem with quite easily slip under the radar and remembers Deane. “In terms of the Benfica, I think it happens quite a lot nobody really cares. I think it’s sad fanbase, everything was great. If we across Europe,” says Deane. “If you really that some teams can field a were playing at home and it was 0-0 put the pressure of actually playing in whole team of foreign players. You after 20, 30 minutes, the crowd started front of those crowds alongside the fact have to have something that the local getting a bit restless, but that’s the that sometimes you’ve got 8 weeks, 7 community can associate themselves pressure of playing at such a massive weeks without getting paid, then it can with, I think.”

12 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 13 Photos © Lars Jørgen Grønli

TROMSÖ IL - Pride of the North

When you want to club Tromsø Idrettslag was founded well on the football pitch things have talk about running a in 1920. While still chasing for their not been so good on the fi nancial successful football club fi rst Norwegian league title, Tromsø side. Therefore, for the season 2012 in the world’s most IL has managed to win the Norwegian Kræmer’s most important goal is to northern locations it’s cup on two occasions, 1986 and 1996, keep the club’s fi nances in balance. hard to imagine any and have fi nished runners-up in the Otherwise they are in danger of losing better experts in that league twice, most recently in last their club license, which would mean subject than Norwegian year’s campaign. Success in their a relegation to Division 2. In the club Tromsø IL and home country has also allowed them Tippeligaen for this season the club is their Sports Director to represent Norway in European aiming to fi nish in the top six and they Morten Kræmer. competitions on several occasions. are also hoping for success in Europe, with the dream of qualifying for the For fi ve years now, Morten Kræmer Europa League. has been in charge at the world’s northernmost top fl ight football team, In 2007 Tromsø IL appointed their having to work with challenging former player, Morten Kræmer, weather conditions, remote location as their Sports Director. Although When asked about the challenges and scarce fi nances. having his playing career hampered that Tromsø IL faces due to its by several injuries, Kræmer played northern location, Kræmer mentions Tromsø is the eighth-largest in the Norwegian Premier League things like long and expensive trips municipality in Norway with a for 15 seasons and was part of the to away games, training conditions, population of around 70 000 and is team in both times Tromsø IL won diffi culties to get quality training located far up in Northern Norway, the Norwegian Cup. Now as a club matches in Tromsø and little academic 350 kilometers inside the Arctic executive he is facing a different set in elite football in the area. Also the Circle. City’s most successful football of challenges. Despite the club doing climate, especially the darkness, can

14 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 15 be a challenge for players coming good player development they have THOMAS DRAGE from other areas. On the other hand, becoming a more attractive option. Kræmer believes that local players Bringing in players from different develop a sort of natural toughness cultural backgrounds is seen important through the harsh conditions. In player at the club, because it will also bring recruitment the club is putting a lot new things in to the training process.

of effort in their youth development © MAX system, hoping to promote young players from Northern Norway and Tromsø IL’s extensive team structure building a team for the future, heavily has several youth teams and their relying on their own young players. reserve team is playing in the Division 19-year old versatile midfielder Thomas 2 and the 3rd team in Division 4. This Drage made his breakthrough for Tromsø gives young players several ways to IL during the 2011 season. He helped his Currently the club’s first team squad of progress in their football career. When team to finish second in the league, giving 11 assist during the season. In January 2012 22 players consists of 15 Norwegians taking part in the Royal League in Drage was selected for Norway national from the northern area, 3 players from 2004-2005, the clubs grass pitch got team to represent his country in King’s Cup Sweden, 2 from Senegal, 1 player destroyed due to adverse weather tournament in Thailand. from Oslo, and of course their back conditions. After that experience, the line stalwart Miika Koppinen from pitch was changed to an artificial turf, How old were you when you started playing Finland. According to Kræmer it bringing the club an important upgrade football? has always been challenging to get to the training facilities. In addition to When is was 6-7 years old. players from the south to come play in their own youth development, Tromsø Who is or has been your biggest or most Tromsø, but with recent success on the IL wants to help other clubs in the area important football idol? field and the financial crisis affecting with club and player development, I don’t have an exact Idol, have many. For the markets it has become a little bit and also by that way be visible to the example Torres, Fabregas for creativity, easier. Tromsø IL is still not able to Messi for weight transfers. compete financially with the bigger clubs, but Kræmer thinks that with Interview by Mikko Polvi Was football an easy choice or were you talented in other sports also? It was easy, also played Handball. But nothing could compare with football.

Which position you feel most comfortable playing in? OK anywhere, but perhaps the very best on the left winger or central midfielder.

What has been the highlight or the best moment in your career? When I was picked for A national team and when we got the silver medal 2011. What is your goal in your football career? To become as best as possible, preferably abroad.

Do you think that you have an equal chance to make it to the top compared to players from the southern parts of Norway? At least as good as a chance, but we from the north will get nothing for free. Players from the south are often raised by the media to be better than they really are. © Mikepopstar/Wikimedia Commons © Mikepopstar/Wikimedia

How do you think TIL will compete in the upcoming season 2012? I think we’re going to fight at the top of the table

14 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 15 Oulu - The best area for innovative entrepreneurship in Northern Scandinavia

As Oulu thrives on a natural balance of technology, business services and Oulu takes great pride on the overall success and Oulu as one of its Smart21 Intelligent education, it’s widely recognized as a environment we’ve been able to create. Communities of 2012. The title of young, creative and entrepreneurial • The biggest urban area in the Northern Intelligent Community of the Year city in a most dynamic and fast Scandinavia with close to 250 000 2012 will be awarded to one of the growing region in Finland. inhabitants and also the youngest shortlisted 21 �inalists in New York City popula�on in Europe in 2013 Multi-Disciplinary Capabilities at on 8 June 2012. ICF’s theme for 2012 is • World R&D hub for wireless technologies Your Reach Intelligent Communities – Platforms for • Excellent logis�c center and Finland’s Innovation. second busiest airport

• Strong regional economy with the most Whether inventing new wireless and BusinessOulu, an enterprise owned suppor�ve poli�cal climate computing platforms, enabling global by the city of Oulu, aims at creating connections using new devices, coding a business climate that supports • High quality of life with an immediate access to the purest nature and gorgeous software, or breaking ground in the entrepreneurship and boosts the scenery research labs, this region’s greatest creation, operation, growth and • In Oulu you can, and will find partners to do resource is its highly educated, skilled competitiveness of businesses. New it with and agile people. The key sectors entrepreneurs will easily prosper in this are ICT, HealthBio, Wellness, Bio and environment, which offers cutting-edge Nanotechnologies and Environment. business development services together Companies from different sectors with our regional, national, and global closely cooperate and smoothly utilize partners. We encourage enterprises to diverse skills for joint success. This is grow and think internationally also by strengthened by the outstanding R&D inviting foreign investors. Moreover, and by a strong link between research BusinessOulu handles the international and education. business marketing of Oulu. Juha Ala-Mursula The Oulu region recently gained international recognition for its Mr. , the Executive Director of innovativeness: The Intelligent Business Oulu, welcomes all the FootCoop 2012 participants to further explore the city and its Community Forum has nominated www.businessoulu.com 16 FootCoop2012 multifaceted possibilities. FootCoop2012 17 AFFILIATION ACROSS THE BORDER Sport and nationalism have often gone together. Clubs and sportsmen strive to be After the 1808-09 war between “In my opinion it’s a shame that a lot the best in their own countries, Sweden and Russia, Tsar Alexander I of players are not given the opportunity and then to take on the best from ensured the long-established trading to play in a better series,” says Huhta. overseas, and then maybe, one day, be town of Tornio fell on the eastern “They are limited to one side of the acknowledged as the best in the world. side of the new border between the border. By bringing them over to the two empires. The Swedes were a little Swedish side they are playing in one miffed at losing their border town of the best leagues in the world, so it and trading hub, and set up a rival would be a shame to not give them settlement—Haparanda—on the other that chance to develop themselves side of the Tornio River. further by going on and playing for other major clubs in Sweden or even Happily such hostility is long gone. Russia.” Haparanda and Tornio now form what is known as a ‘Euro City’ straddling Although the team is now in the the border, a model of international co- division, Huhta expects operation. That atmosphere fostered them to return to the top fl ight in the But what happens when that paradigm the current setup. coming years. Whatever happens on is rejected? Could clubs compete in the ice, he enjoys the idea of another country’s league and try that reaching across the border to help route to success? One club here in the build something bigger. north has decided to do just that. “To actually see a team grow Born in Spain, raised in England from one culture to become a and now resident in Lapland, HT multicultural team is something Bandy chairman Miguel Huhta is a a that inspires me as well,” says cosmopolitan man used to recognising Huhta. “I’m Spanish, I grew up in distinctive aspects of different England and I’ve been involved societies. When he moved to Northern Sweden in 1988 sport helped him to “We have two major clubs,” says adapt. Huhta. “On the Swedish side we have “I played football and my kids played Haparanda SKT, which is the mother hockey, but I needed something to club for HT Bandy and anything to do in the wintertime,” says Huhta in do with youth bandy up to about 15. excellent, British-accented English. Then you have ToPV, which has youth That something turned out to be bandy. teams up to 18 or 19, and we all work Huhta describes the sport as faster than together to develop each player and to ice hockey, with more of a tactical ensure that the development matches HT Bandy’s ambitions.” dimension. It’s fun to watch, but in in a lot of different cultures during Tornio and Haparanda there was a This season’s budget for the fi rst team my life. It’s great to see what you can problem: bandy’s biggest audience and is around 1.8 million SEK, and it can achieve with the different cultures best league is in Sweden, but the best rise to around 5 million SEK when the interacting within this team.” team in the area happened to be on the club is in Elitserien, the top level of wrong side of the border, in Finland. Swedish bandy. Bigger crowds help Bandy’s problem was the result of an pay for the increased costs, but the accident of history. players are part time. Interview by Egan Richardson

16 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 17 Alta IF was founded in 1927, and is a multi-sport club including football, handball, volleyball, cross country skiing etc. Today, Alta IF is Finnmarks largest club, with over 1.000 active athletes, of which football is the largest branch, consisting of over 600 active players.

Alta is a small town in the northernmost country of Norway. The town got its city status in 2000, and is Finnmarks - small club with largest “city” with approximately Alta IF 15.000 residents. Historically, the city consisted of three city centers, but has through the last few decades a big heart started focusing on developing one of these. The modern city center has been Our primary goal is to keep these two (playing at a high national level) developing rapidly the last few years, teams in their respective divisions, and in regard to lighting, capacity and including through the establishment of at the same time excelling in regard to general facilities. Some adaptations a new shopping mall and other large player development. have been done, but we have a vision businesses. of building our own stadium within the next fi ve years. This arena will also be

The club has senior teams on the second highest national level for both “Alta IF organize men and women. The female team will be playing their fourth consecutive Finnmark’s largest season at this level in 2012, whilst the men are the second most consistent sports event” team in Adeccoligaen (equal to the English Championship League) with Senior matches are played indoors an indoor facility with artifi cial turf. their fi fth consecutive season. Both at “Finnmarkshallen”, a local arena The climate in this part of Norway teams have a solid local focus. In opened in 1996. The turf is artifi cial, makes it diffi cult to have an outdoor 2011, the men’s team had 17 of 25 and the capacity is 1.200 spectators. arena when the season stretches from players from northern Norway. In the The arena is mainly built for grassroot March to November. Today, we also women’s team, all the players except football, which has resulted in some have two artifi cial outdoor turfs and one was from the northern region. challenges during the last few years two natural grass turfs in connection

18 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 19 CHRISTIAN REGINIUSSEN

22-year old talented Alta IF midfielder Chris- tian Reginiussen comes from a footballing fam- ily. His two brothers play as professionals too.

How old were you when you started playing football? I was about 5-6 years old.

Who is or has been your biggest or most impor- tant football idol? My two brothers Tore Reginiussen (Odense, DEN), and Mads Reginiussen (Tromsø IL, NOR).

Was football an easy choice or were you tal- ented in other sports too? I had a reasonable talent for handball, which I played until I was about 17 years old. Then when I had to make the decision to either play handball or football, football was the natural choice.

If there were another hobbies what made you choose football? Because football is the most exciting thing I can do. I love the game and enjoy every minute I play.

What has been the highlight or the best mo- ment in your career? Alta IF - small club with I have had a lot of great moments at Alta IF, and it’s hard to pick out one in particular. The cup quarter final against Start last year was very fun, together with the 4th round against Rosenborg in 2010 and the 4th round in 2009 a big heart against Molde. I have experienced a lot over these years as professional football player at Alta IF, and I hope to see even more in the next to the club offices – mainly used for competence through hiring young, few years. training and youth matches. ambitious employees with the right What is the most memorable goal of your qualifications. There are also a few career? coaches and player developers in In the second to last match of our Adecco-ligan smaller positions. Regarding the season in 2011. We had to get a draw to avoid Each year, Alta IF organize relegation. We were a goal down when I scored men’s team we regard ourselves as a three minutes before the end. It was an amaz- Finnmark’s largest sports event, semi-professional team, since most ing feeling and probably my most important “Altaturneringen”, the second goal ever. of our players combine football with weekend in August. “Altaturneringen” work or studies. Do you think that you have the same kind of is also Norway’s third largest youth chances of making it to the very top as players football tournament, with over 330 from the south of Norway? Football in northern part of Norway has had teams, 3.500 participants and up to tremendous development in recent years, a 10.000 spectators coming to Alta for We have a strong cooperation with lot of highly skilled people have come to work with football in Alta and the rest of Northern three days. The tournament celebrated Norwegian Premier League team Norway. We are lucky enough to have fantastic its 30 year anniversary in 2011. Tromsø IL, and also work closely training facilities. So to answer your question, yes, I feel my chances are equal with any other with our smaller neighbor clubs in player in Norway. and around Alta. Still, we want to How do you think you will do in the next The football part of the club has establish a better cooperation and season? six full-time employees, whereof sharing of knowledge with all clubs I think the team is beginning to look great, with a lot of talented players. I hope I can three in administration and three in the Finnmark region, and will try contribute in the best way, so that Alta IF has a focusing on sport. Through the last to reach this goal in 2012 by going successful season 2012. few years, the club has increased its on a “tour of Finnmark”.

18 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 19 Interview by Juuso Madetoja and Mikko Perälä - Starting a New Era Antti Hietakangas was appointed as the fi rst match there were not enough play- RoPS aims to be the leading club in Cap of the new CEO of RoPS during what ers to put a full match-day squad out. In the North. And we all know that the region could perhaps be described as a dif- the end RoPS did put up a good fi ght, but includes the northernmost parts of Nor- fi cult situation. they were relegated by couple of points way, Sweden and Russia! The key thing margin. for that is to establish trustworthy coopera- Jouko Kiistala had stepped down after tion with the smaller clubs in the area. So a scandalous spring during which RoPS In many ways, relegation can also be seen that one’s success benefi ts everybody. made headlines all over the world, for the as a new beginning. The old guard has wrong reasons. A match fi xing syndicate been replaced by the young and enthusias- To this end, RoPS is working closely with had infi ltrated RoPS’s squad and was tic. A new era has stared. FC Muurola, whose coach is the former manipulating match results. Many of the RoPS head coach Matti Hiukka. RoPS’s team’s players were involved. During the struggles of last season Antti A-juniors play and practice together with Hietakangas, his right-hand man Marko FC Muurola’s fi rst team thus gaining valu- All of a sudden nine out of his starting Koivukangas and the coaching staff have able experience at the senior level. eleven were behind the bars, the media managed to lay a solid foundation to build was hungry for more scandalous stories a future team that the whole of Lapland can RoPS has two full-time coaches and one and the general public was awestruck by be proud of. Rovaniemi already has good part-time working in youth development. the turn of events. Hietakangas stood little facilities and lots of coaching know-how That might sound humble, but in fact by chance of getting an easy introduction to due to an Olympic-level sports academy. Finnish standards that is already way his new job as CEO. Many of the Finnish winter sport above the average. Many professional professionals train and study in clubs do not have youth development at It is hard to imagine more Rovaniemi. New co-operaion all, not to mention full-time professional diffi cult situation between the club and academy youth coaches! Vesa Tauriainen, a Rova- for the new man, will now offer the same kind niemi born ex-player and coach who has but Hietakangas of educational prospects for played more than 200 games in the best took the job young and talented footbal- teams in Finland and also coached in which many lers. , returned to his home town would not The long term perspective and became part of the club’s coaching have dared to is to have more and more team. He is ready to teach the local boys touch. He has RoPS juniors growing up to all the secrets of the trade! held his head be the backbone players in the high ever since. fi rst team. Rovaniemi had been The RoPS squad has some interesting famous for good youth develop- names, including central defender Jarkko The 2011 season ment, but unfortunately that work Lahdenmäki and midfi elder Mika-Matti was not easy for was wasted for years, when a Maisonvaara. Both have already played RoPS on the number of Zambian players occu- in Veikkausliiga. Although Maisonvaara fi eld either. pied most places in the team. Now has had to take few steps back to go for- Two weeks the grass roots development has ward again, this season will show how before started again, mixing young far he can go. Lahdenmäki put in solid Lappish players from performances in Veikkausliiga last season Cap of the North and we can expect to hear more from him. with carefully Another young player to keep an eye on is scouted midfi elder Tuomas Tyystälä, who packed young his bags and moved 120km northeast from talents Kemi to Rovaniemi after a good season from with his home town club PS Kemi. other countries. Antti Hietakangas can now look back at the last year as a great learning-by-doing experience. To be thrown into chaos like that and come out of it alive can only make Photos © Markku Saukko one stronger and an even better leader.

20 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 21 Redhot sports innovations pioneered in Oulu

Trainer4You, FAM Sports, Polar, Viherio, Liikku, Valkee …. Oulu- who do sports for so many diff erent reasons, or the local coaches based companies have been steadily building wellness and sports who are building their teams to win the series. They are related business success for years. The sports fanatic northern city also partners who design, test, productize, manufacture, market has inspired many innovators. The trail-blazer in many ways has and sell your sports and wellness products. Sports innovation been Polar Electro, whose world-leading heart rate measurement community is the network of people who are important connections technology has been used already forover 30 years for improving in order to get your business forward. sports performance and �itness all over the world. Polar is a role model for many other aspiring sports innovators in the north. All in all, what you need is a sports innovation ecosystem and I believe Oulu has managed to create such an ecosystem. You don’t Some examples of the new breed of sports innovations include have to have all the capabilities within your own company anymore. FAM Sports,whose product helps you optimize training eff ect and You can instead network to the vast local and worldwide community recovery and avoidovertraining. There’s also Ball-IT’s Blobo game, of service providers to boost your research and accelerate your which improves children’shealth with an activity game concept. product development and commercialization eff orts. Today it is Viherio transforms and tracks yourgol�ing experience. What about truly possible even for a small startup in a far-away Northern city, to Valkee, whose bright light headset is claimed not only to combat build a successful global business. mood swings during dark winter but also improve motoric reaction performance of the National League hockey team Oulun Kärpät. Oulu Wellness Institute (OWI) has been building the community around health, wellness and sports business for �ive years. OWI is Oulu is also a homebase for fascinating service innovations for a non-pro�it foundation aiming to promote and develop the health sports and wellness. Trainer4You has pioneered and transformed and wellbeing cluster. We support companies and other actors the way personal trainers are trained. Hukka is among the world’s in the �ield by creating networks and partnerships, promoting top 10 group �itness facilities. HealthEx has revolutionized the research and education, evaluating business ideas and helping health club concept around 30 minutes time slot. Liikku is a unique with commercializing the world-class competence. During the �ive health club innovation off ering aff ordable, high quality exercise past years, we have arranged several events on health and wellness experience. All these businesses are great examples of making it entrepreneurship, coached over 250 companies and built an active easy for people to have exercise an important part of a healthy daily health, wellness and sports industry community in the Oulu area. life. All these innovations have a major impact on improving the OWI is part of OSKE Health and Well-being Cluster Programme health and wellness of people. which is funded by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy and the city of Oulu. What is the secret sauce for creating sports innovations in such high volumes in our northern community? There are several Are you building a revolutionary sports or wellness product? Are you ingredients involved. First of all you need to have a committed, looking for partners, developers, marketers, clients, international stubborn, individual person, the entrepreneur who has the passion contacts, funding? Welcome to the OWI community on Facebook with her team to take the idea forward, execute all the way to the and join others in our events. global marketplace. Second, you need a business idea, which really addresses a burning need or solves a real problem in a totally unique way. All this grows from a strong community of like-minded innovative and little bit crazy people who truly enjoy creating new Contact information: stuff and most importantly come from diff erent �ields of life. Eeva Kiuru Executive director Who are the people in this community? They are the scientists Oulu Wellness Institute who provide you with ground-breaking, double-blinded, scienti�ic evidence. They are the people with money to get your development eeva.kiuru@owi.�i funded. They are behavior experts who tell you the tricks to change www.owi.�i customer’s habits. They are also the potential customers, people Find OWI also in Facebook! 20 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 21 Interview by Antti Railo and Juuso Madetoja AC OULU - The Next Generation

of 2003 when it inherited Tervarit’s for a better and more sustainable fu- league spot. ture for the club.

After that AC Oulu has spent seven Last season AC Oulu fi nished third seasons in the fi rst division, and had in the table after FC Lahti and local two short spells in the Finnish top rivals OPS, even though AC Oulu AC Oulu was founded in 2002 in league, Veikkausliiga, in seasons 2007 won all four games against these op- the aftermath of the bankruptcy and 2010. Just as they were establish- ponents. These wins included a 6-2 of First Division club Tervarit. ing themselves in Veikkausliiga, the win over OPS in the second derby of The goal was to setup a new club’s time in the top fl ight was cut the season. short in early 2011 when they were fl agship club that could compete denied a license for fi nancial reasons. Despite these successes, the young, at the highest possible level in Oulu’s football community was disap- promising AC Oulu side was not yet Finland. Tervarit, OTP, OPS pointed by the decision, but the club’s mature enough to take enough points and OLS, the four biggest Oulu fi nances were not in shape. from lower-ranked teams over the clubs, agreed to form a new course of the season. In 2012 they are entity to play at as high a level as They then lost some of their better one year wiser and ready to complete possible. players, but the situation also opened the challenges that defeated them last better opportunities for the many season. AC Oulu started in the First Division, promising youngsters in AC Oulu’s the second highest level, in the season ranks and potentially paved the way They will do so back at the centrally

22 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 23 before taking on roles as Sporting Di- chance of making it as those from the rector and in marketing. south, and wants to exploit the local talent pool. AC OULU - The Malinen and Nurmela want to create a competitive force in Finnish football, He says that the main factor is an in- offering a chance for Oulu’s football dividual player’s determination and people to support, get involved in talent. The proof for this is the long list and even play for one of Finland’s of top players that have emerged from top clubs. AC Oulu is also actively the junior teams in Oulu. Nurmela Next Generation collaborating with junior clubs in the himself, , Markus Heik- Oulu area. Currently there is no co- kinen, Ville Nylund, Panu Toivonen, operation with other teams of the north Aarno Turpeinen, Juho Mäkelä, Antti of Finland, Sweden or Norway but an and Jarkko Okkonen, Toni Koleh- event like FootCoop may provide a mainen, Jarkko Hurme, Jani Kauppila, starting point for that. Janne Hietanen, Otto Fredriksson, Aki Lahtinen and Miika Juntunen all Nurmela thinks that young players gained their footballing skills at Oulu from northern Finland have as good a junior teams.

MATIAS OJALA early age I had clear targets: to play AC Oulu’s wonderkid abroad as a professional and to be se- lected for the senior Finnish national Depending on game strategy I play team. I know that those targets are as either a defensive or attacking tough and require a lot of work, but midfielder. I’m more than ready to do that work.

I started to play football at the age I feel that Oulu is great place to de- of six. The most important person velop as a footballer and I’m sure we in my career has so far been my aren’t in a lesser position than the father. I spent a lot of time playing teams in southern Finland. Develop- football with him. We still watch ment of young players is a key strat- football games together egy for AC Oulu, and many of us have already played for the senior team. As a small boy I was also interested Practice conditions are good. We have in gymnastics, ice hockey and a great indoor field and the brand new athletics. As time went by I real- Raatti stadium. However, one prob- ized that I only had time for one lem is the lack of other teams, since sport and I had to choose between there are only a few junior teams in athletics and football. The choice northern Finland that can give us a

Photos © AC Oulu Photos © was easy since football has always good challenge. been close to my heart and I was located Raatti stadium after several also better at it. Football just felt From season 2012 I expect to perform years in exile at the temporary Väli- better than other sports. better in midfield and hope that I de- vainio ground. The club’s support velop as much as possible as a player. group is named Sinitähdet (Blue The main highlights in my career As a team I’m sure that we willbe one Stars). so far have been my debut in of the top teams in the league. I also Veikkausliiga and my first cap in expect and hope that when the fat the U-17 national team against lady sings we will be celebrating pro- Since 2008 AC Oulu has been coached Belgium. Those are the top memo- motion to Veikkausliiga. by one of the best-known coaches in ries from my career so far. From an Finland, . Since he took over he has tried to prioritise players Soon after this interview from the Oulu area, both those return- Matias Ojala was chosen to participate in the Finland XI ing after playing elsewhere and young training camp led by Finnish talents looking to make it big. national team head coach Mixu Paatelainen. Mixu chose Sporting Director Mika Nurmela says 20 names that he believes are that the goal is to create a stable, suc- the future of Finnish football and have great potential to cessful club in Veikkausliiga. Nurmela make the breakthrough to had an outstanding playing career in the national team. So one of Finland, Sweden, Holland and Ger- the Matias’ dream is one step many, winning 71 caps for Finland. closer to realization. He was signed in 2009 first as a player

22 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 23 NAVICO NAVIGATING TOWARDS NEW FRONTIERS

Navico Ltd. is a small multidisciplinary consultancy solutions” summarizes Perälä. city’s development projects. “Hopefully very company founded in 2007 Oulu, the best winter cycling city in the world soon, maybe in a year from now, we’ll see an international Winter Cycling congress in NetworkingOulu”, says Perälä. through Hercules Navico has of�ices in the cities of Oulu and Out of hundreds on projects completed Helsinki. Green values and sustainable by Navico Ltd., Perälä wants to single out development are ranked highly within the one project being the most interesting one Navico has been one of the main partners company. Although the name of the company internationally and also from the Northern with JS Hercules right from the beginning. strongly implies to the maritime sector, dimension point of view: the Winter Cycling Mr. Perälä has acted as the president of the Navico Ltd. hasn’t got much to do with it. In development project. The author and club from 2007 until 2011. As stepping aside fact, Navico Ltd.’s main areas of expertise are researcher of the national winter cycling from the presidential glory, Perälä sees his strongly- Development rooted on land of and technical are as follows sector study in 2001 – 2002, Mr. Perälä has urged beloved club in a new light. “As a president functions in cities and municipalities the city of Oulu to take initiative in matter. I was always too busy with everyday’s - Forestry industry development projects, “There’s no city like Oulu when it comes problems and didn’t have time to develop bio-energy consultancy and logistics down to winter cycling”, Perälä claims. “Oulu the club further. Now as a senior player and - Walking and cycling development has approximately 12 % of all the trips made a CEO of a company, I see Hercules in two projects by cyclists during winter time. Many cities ways. One, to stay �it myself and two, as a aren’t achieving those numbers even during tool to improve my business”, he clari�ies. - Environment and green area planning the summer time”, Perälä reveals. “At the “This seems to work perfectly for me, so - Road maintenance consultancy present, hundreds or even thousands of cities why not in a larger scale”, asks Perälä. This - Procurement services with similar harsh winter conditions are is why “Herkku Klubi”, a group of companies wondering, how to promote all-year-around co-operating with the club, was founded. cycling in their cities. The city of Oulu has a “These companies can bene�it from the Navico’s main clients are the public lot to off er to them”, says Perälä. And it’s not club by scouting potential employees for sector organisations, mainly cities and only about civil engineering according to Mr. themselves and networking with other municipalities from all over Finland. Despite Perälä. “Mobility management needs testing companies”, tells Perälä. “The world is full operating mainly on land, according to Timo grounds, new ideas and technological of players who quite didn’t make it to the Perälä, the CEO of the company, Navico still solutions. Which city has better combination top and had to do something else besides likes to think they are navigating. “Navico of these ingredients than Oulu”, asks Perälä. football. Which company is not interested Ltd. is navigating its clients trough the rough The winter cycling project is rolling forwards. from workers who are educated, accustomed seas of changes and challenges they’re The city of Oulu has taken winter cycling as to work hard and know how to operate in a 24 facingFootCoop2012 and �inding new opportunities and one of the leading guidelines in several group”, asks Perälä. FootCoop2012 25 JS Hercules - academic and athletic Photos © JS Hercules

An academic football club? laxed and beer-fuelled sauna-evening as the search for the right athletic level was organised after every match, won continues. Yes, JS Hercules (JS stands for FC in or lost. Finnish) can proudly call itself that. It Herkku-klubi to widen shoulders is an Oulu-based football club founded After a few years things got a bit more JS Hercules has always wanted to be in 1998 with strong links to the Uni- serious as Herkku enjoyed a brief spell somehow different. Unserious, when versity of Oulu. While roaming the in the 3rd division at the beginning of others squeeze their fi sts tighter. Pro- hallways of the university, a young the century. After relegation back to the fessional at a low level, when others let electronic engineer student Kristian 4th division in 2004, Herkku played 6 loose. Laugh when others cry. As 2012 “Keke” Rosberg realised that there’s a consecutive seasons in the 4th division is rolling on, Hercules’ goal is to inter- demand for an academic football club. and was even in danger of going down nationalise the club and become more Therefore when the referee’s whistle to the 5th division in 2009. professional—in a different way. blew starting the fi rst offi cial Hercules football match in remote Vaala Central Things took a turn for the better bet- FootCoop 2012 is a window that opens Field in May 1998, the Hercules white ter when former Nigerian interna- new possibilities for cross-border co- jerseys were fi lled mostly by young tional Ladi Babalola found his way operation. Maybe season 2012 will university students. Herkku, as the to Oulu, thanks to the connections of see Swedish and Norwegian young club quickly became known to other ex-Herkku player Mikko Perälä. Lift- players testing their wings in the Finn- local football teams, has stuck with ing the bar higher, Babalola rallied ish 3rd division North? We’ll see. The that academic hallmark ever since, his troops to gain promotion after his newly founded Herkku-klubi offers a even though the fi rst legion of players fi rst season in charge. The second year new route for JS Hercules to become a (at least most of them) have already ended in a respectable 6th place in the more professional football club. A ring hung their boots. Finnish 3rd division North. After two of companies, several founded, owned seasons Babalola packed his bags and or infl uenced by former Herkku-play- Finding the right level headed for new challenges in India. ers, is looking to tap the pool of young JS Hercules has been struggling for Now, in 2012, a new era is starting. football-loving students. JS Hercules years to fi nd the right athletic level. Hercules is looking for a brighter fu- aims to offer its’ players new career At the beginning it was all about fun ture with a new coach, Ari Koski. Still, possibilities to proceed on and off the and excitement. In the early days, a re- fun and excitement are still important pitch.

24 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 25 FOOTBALL TRAINING FOR COMPANIES

CORPORATE FOOTBALL STARTS IN FEBRUARY 2012

Football club Hercules organises football trainings for companies in Heinäpää football hall starting in February 2012. Practice hours are held mainly during morning hours. Late during the spring 2012 evening hours are also possible.

Practice hours are held by UEFA B-licenced JS Hercules coach Ari Koski.

The price for one practice hour is 80 € (including VAT). The maximum size of a group is 20 persons. The costs can be divided among several participating companies.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Ari Koski tel. 041 436 0957 [email protected]

26 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 27 26 FootCoop2012 FootCoop2012 27 © JS Hercules 2012

28 FootCoop2012