Latest news with #MixuPaatelainen
The Courier
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Mixu Paatelainen: Ex Dundee United boss back in Scottish football
Mixu Paatelainen has returned to Scottish football after accepting the role of sporting director at League Two outfit The Spartans. The 58-year-old's last SPFL position was as Dundee United manager, with the ex-Tannadice striker unable to stop the Terrors from crashing to relegation during the 2015/16 campaign. Since then, Paatelainen has bossed Thai side Ubon United, Finnish outfit IFK Helsingfors and taken charge of the Latvia and Hong Kong national teams. However, the former Kilmarnock and Hibernian gaffer, who lives in Edinburgh, has agreed to take up a new position with The Spartans, based in the south of the capital. He will support their men's and women's senior teams and men's U/20 side. He told the club's official website: 'Everybody knows that Spartans is a community club who do a lot for the kids – boys and girls – which is fabulous. 'The facilities are fantastic and what struck me straight away is that people are very ambitious. 'They don't want to be a League 2 club all the way, they want to go forward and do better. 'I want to be part of that.'
Scottish Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Mixu Paatelainen makes shock return to Scottish football as cult hero lands new role at SPFL club
The iconic ex-striker is dropping down the divisions to take on an exciting new role BACK IN THE MIXU Mixu Paatelainen makes shock return to Scottish football as cult hero lands new role at SPFL club MIXU PAATELAINEN has seen it all in football. As a player, a coach, a manager, educator, and a student of the game. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mixu Paatelainen starred for several Scottish clubs Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow 3 He played for and managed Dundee United Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow 3 He recently managed the Hong Kong national team Credit: Getty Now he hopes to utilise all that experience as The Spartans' newly-appointed Sporting Director. Lured in by the League Two side's ambition and convinced by the solid foundations, the man who has busied himself over the past year with his role as a technical observer for Uefa, taking in Champions League and Europa League matches. He has also helped the SFA deliver coaching courses and studying for a postgraduate diploma in sporting directorship, has now added to his remit. Having met the men's and women's first team coaches and players this week, the former Dundee United and Hibs striker and manager, is already looking ahead to the new season. The men's side, in only their second season in the SPFL, narrowly missed out on a second successive stab at the promotion play-offs, while the women's team were unable to secure a berth in the top half of the Premier table ahead of the split. But Paatelainen says he sees real potential throughout the club and, crucially, after the chaotic end to his previous management role, at HIFK, in Finland last year, he believes the Ainslie Park club have the right people in place to deliver stability and success. 'My last [management] job actually was in Finland, where the club went bankrupt. It wasn't a nice experience at all. The owner pulled his money out because his business was not doing well or it was shambles. 'But these things happen. It's an unfortunate thing. But it's quite nerve-wracking when you put your 100% in and you want to develop and you want to do everything professionally and then there's no chance to do that. 'So it eats you. So that's why I've had a wee break now and done other stuff. 'But that stability is 100% the main thing I wanted to make sure of the next time I got involved with a club. David Gray opens up on THAT Cup Final winner for Hibs against Rangers and how he felt like a 'wild horse' as he celebrated 'Spartans are a part time club, which helps with studying and the Uefa work and the SFA work but, also, the people in charge are people who you can trust and your efforts and your hard work doesn't go for nothing at the end of the day because the club doesn't exist.' That stability includes backing the club's coaches, rather than casting a shadow. Making it clear he wants to help others develop and thrive rather than encroach on their territory, he insists he will be as much a dedicated team player off the park as he was on it. 'I'm hoping that all my experience will help but time will tell. 'As a player I was lucky to play in Scotland, in Finland, in England, in France and international football, obviously, in my country. So, there's plenty of experience there. 'I've been coaching over 20 years - different cultures, different types of football, different management because people are different.' But while the level of performance differs from taking in Champions League fixtures to watching development games or League Two matches, Paatelainen's enthusiasm is the same. 'Football is football. It's not about me going there as Sporting Director and saying 'this is how we do it'. 'It's just another person to hopefully give another idea and discuss things with the coaches, like how can we do better in terms of training sessions, the content of the training session, preparation for matches, tactics, player recruitment what type of players the head coaches would like for certain positions, can we identify those players and bring them in? I will do the negotiations, the contracts and stuff like that. 'Obviously, this is my first job as a sporting director so this is the start but I've been very impressed. Everybody knows that Spartans is a community club, which is fabulous, they have fantastic facilities and what struck me straight away is that people are very ambitious, they don't want to be a League 2 club all the way, they want to go forward. It's a wonderful club, wonderful people so I want to be part of that.' And, he says he would welcome the mooted league reconstruction, if it reduces the number of times teams have to play eachother. 'Playing four times in the league and then cup games on top of that, sometimes you play a team seven times, I don't think anybody enjoys that. If there's a chance to have more clubs in the division I welcome that and, hopefully, bringing more clubs in the division will increase the standard of football in that division. 'There is more ambition now. Spartans want to do better and there are many other clubs who've got the same aspirations and they want to go forward. It's up to us to rise to that challenge. It's not going to be easy but hopefully all of us who work for Spartans can put our heads together and give the club owners and the board what they are looking for.' 'We are delighted to welcome Mixu Paatelainen as our new Sporting Director,' said Spartans chairman Craig Graham. "Mixu brings us so much expertise. He will support me, my fellow directors and all our coaches as we continue to grow and develop our club. 'He is so passionate about football and about helping others develop, so it's such an exciting move for us.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Former Hibs manager makes shock return to Scottish football as sporting director of SPFL club
Ex-Easter Road boss back in game after 'not nice experience' in homeland Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Mixu Paatelainen has seen it all in football. As a player, a coach, a manager, educator, and a student of the game. Now he hopes to utilise all that experience as The Spartans newly-appointed Sporting Director. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lured in by the League 2 side's ambition and convinced by the solid foundations, the man who has busied himself over the past year with his role as a technical observer for UEFA, taking in Champions League and Europa League matches, as well as helping the SFA deliver coaching courses and studying for a postgraduate diploma in sporting directorship, has now added to his remit. Mixu Paatelainen, pictured attending the recent Rangers v Fenerbahce at Ibrox, has been appointed the new sporting director of The Spartans. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group Having met the men's and women's first team coaches and players this week, the former Dundee United and Hibs striker and manager, is already looking ahead to the new season. The men's side, in only their second season in the SPFL, narrowly missed out on a second successive stab at the play-offs for promotion to League One, while the women's team were unable to secure a berth in the top half of the Premier table ahead of the split. But Paatelainen says he sees real potential throughout the club and, crucially, after the chaotic end to his previous management role, at HIFK, in Finland last year, he believes the Ainslie Park club have the right people in place to deliver stability and success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My last [management] job actually was in Finland, where the club went bankrupt. It wasn't a nice experience at all. The owner pulled his money out because his business was not doing well or it was shambles. 'But these things happen. It's an unfortunate thing. But it's quite nerve-wracking when you put your 100% in and you want to develop and you want to do everything professionally and then there's no chance to do that. So it eats you. So that's why I've had a wee break now and done other stuff. 'But that stability is 100% the main thing I wanted to make sure of the next time I got involved with a club. Spartans are a part time club, which helps with studying and the UEFA work and the SFA work but, also, the people in charge are people who you can trust and your efforts and your hard work doesn't go for nothing at the end of the day because the club doesn't exist.' A general view of Ainslie Park, home of The Spartans. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group That stability includes backing the club's coaches, rather than casting a shadow. Making it clear he wants to help others develop and thrive rather than encroach on their territory, he insists he will be as much a dedicated team player off the park as he was on it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I'm hoping that all my experience will help but time will tell. 'As a player I was lucky to play in Scotland, in Finland, in England, in France and international football, obviously, in my country. So, there's plenty of experience there. 'I've been coaching over 20 years - different cultures, different types of football, different management because people are different.' But while the level of performance differs from taking in Champions League fixtures to watching development games or League 2 matches, Paatelainen's enthusiasm is the same. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Football is football. It's not about me going there as Sporting Director and saying 'this is how we do it'. It's just another person to hopefully give another idea and discuss things with the coaches, like how can we do better in terms of training sessions, the content of the training session, preparation for matches, tactics, player recruitment, what type of players the head coaches would like for certain positions, can we identify those players and bring them in? I will do the negotiations, the contracts and stuff like that. 'Obviously, this is my first job as a sporting director so this is the start but I've been very impressed. Everybody knows that Spartans is a community club, which is fabulous, they have fantastic facilities and what struck me straight away is that people are very ambitious, they don't want to be a League 2 club all the way, they want to go forward. It's a wonderful club, wonderful people so I want to be part of that.' Mixu Paatelainen managed Hibs between January 2008 and May 2009. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 And, he says he would welcome the mooted league reconstruction, if it reduces the number of times teams have to play each other. 'Playing four times in the league and then cup games on top of that, sometimes you play a team seven times, I don't think anybody enjoys that. If there's a chance to have more clubs in the division I welcome that and, hopefully, bringing more clubs in the division will increase the standard of football in that division. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There is more ambition now. Spartans want to do better and there are many other clubs who've got the same aspirations and they want to go forward. It's up to us to rise to that challenge. It's not going to be easy but hopefully all of us who work for Spartans can put our heads together and give the club owners and the board what they are looking for.' 'We are delighted to welcome Mixu Paatelainen as our new Sporting Director,' said Spartans chairman Craig Graham. "Mixu brings us so much expertise. He will support me, my fellow directors and all our coaches as we continue to grow and develop our club.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tickets are selling for Scotland's answer to Soccer Aid featuring celeb players
More than 1,300 tickets have been bought for a fundraising sports dinner which will be held in Glasgow with celebrity players before a charity football match. The Shooting Stars match – dubbed Scotland's version of Soccer Aid – will see a host of sporting heroes take to the pitch to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland's dementia care and research. We previously reported that The Shooting Stars Sports Dinner will be hosted at Glasgow's Radisson Blu hotel from 6pm, where guests can meet the celebrity players. Among the big names to sign up are ex-Scotland goalie Allan McGregor, former Scotland forward James McFadden, ex-basketball player Kieron Achara, and boxers Martin Bakole and David Brophy. More than 1,300 tickets have already been sold for the March 2 match, the highlight of a family fun day at Falkirk Football Stadium. (Image: Supplied) A Scotland Select team will face a World Select team, managed by former Rangers manager and Scotland captain Graeme Souness and Finnish former professional footballer and manager Mixu Paatelainen, respectively. Other well-known sports figures include ex-Celtic and West Ham striker Frank McAvennie, former Rangers stopper Marvin Andrews, and comedian Sanjeev Kohli. Stuart Taylor, Dundee FC assistant manager and a lead organiser of the event, got involved after his father's dementia diagnosis. He said: "It's fantastic to have even more big names signed up to take part, including two legends for our team managers in Graeme Souness and Mixu Paatelainen. "Alzheimer Scotland played a big part in my dad's journey with dementia before he passed away in 2021. "My family and I wanted to give something back to the charity and the game seemed the obvious way to raise funds and raise awareness too." The day will also feature interactive games, face painters and a caricature artist, as well as half-time entertainment. To book tickets, go to Kohli, best known for his role as shopkeeper Navid in BBC sitcom Still Game, signed up in memory of his dad. He said: "My dad had been living with Alzheimer's disease before he died last year. "I saw first-hand the debilitating effect this illness can have and know how important it is to support Alzheimer Scotland's vital work in supporting people who are affected by dementia. "I'm looking forward to the match. "I've been putting in the hard yards on the training ground and working on other football clichés for the post-match interview." Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said: "We're delighted to have so much support from these sporting legends for our brand new event, Shooting Stars, and to see ticket sales going so well. "Having so many famous names supporting our cause really helps to get out the message that no one needs to face dementia alone – Alzheimer Scotland is here for you."
