Finland coaching staff identification help needed

[TampereOwl]

I know Baxter and Huttunen, and the players, but who are the four guys in the middle?

[eijax]

Next to Huttunen is Gene Keurulainen. Star coach and famous physio.

[anttij]

Next to Huttunen: Jari-Pekka "Gene" Keurulainen. (Assistant) coach + Litmanen's personal trainer. Physiotherapist. Former head coach at several Finnish clubs.

http://www.urheilumuseo.fi/portals/44/veikkausliiga20v/valmentajat/keurulainen.htm

[TampereOwl]

Next to Huttunen: Jari-Pekka "Gene" Keurulainen. (Assistant) coach + Litmanen's personal trainer. Physiotherapist.

I'm surprised anyone else is there at all, seems like he can handle everything....

[eijax]

I'm surprised anyone else is there at all, seems like he can handle everything....

Without Keurulainen there would still be strong TPV in Veikkausliiga.

[joks11]

Without Keurulainen there would still be strong TPV in Veikkausliiga.

Bullshit, as in paskaa.

[Pyhäinhäväistys]

Next to Gene are Heikki Kinnunen (doctor), Paavo Leiramo (physio) and Kai Kyntölä (huoltaja, what ever the fuck that is in English  ), I think.

[janne#1]

(huoltaja, what ever the fuck that is in English  ), I think.

huoltaja = attendant.

[TampereOwl]

huoltaja = attendant.

I've had problems with translating this word ever since I came here. What is the guy's responsibilities? is he the kit man? we tend to have 'attendants' on flights, and in posh bar toilets, but not so many sitting next to football physios.

[eijax]

I've had problems with translating this word ever since I came here. What is the guy's responsibilities? is he the kit man? we tend to have 'attendants' on flights, and in posh bar toilets, but not so many sitting next to football physios.

Huoltaja takes care of shirts, balls, water bottles and sometimes gives ice to injured players.

[TampereOwl]

Kit man, then. Thanks for the help!

[Maakuntasatraappi]

Kit man, then. Thanks for the help!

Yeah, kit man is the correct translation.

However, as full time physios are almost nonexistant in Finnish club football, some kit men have learned to do stuff (taping ankles, even giving injections to kill the pain) that kit men in, say English Premier league, wouldn't do. Even if the idea of a beer bellied steel worker giving injections to a player might sound a bit weird...

[TampereOwl]

I'm always confused because they appear on team sheets, and that does not often happen in England. The injection thing is terrifying and sounds barely legal.

I'm captioning this pic for the national team roundup, and I know nothing about these guys really. When did they start working for the national team? What are their areas of expertise? It's rare to have a backroom staff so devoid of successful experience, or pre-existing links with the head coach.

[D mies]

Once, I remember, we had so many of these "hang arounds" on the bench that players couldnt find a seat... ; ) But everyones there for a purpose, I believe...

[Nice10]

[taylor]

Huoltaja takes care of balls, ...

Yep

[peloton]

So, TampereOwl, who do you work for? I bet it's Hodari who sent you here to check out our latest kit man talents. Am I right or...?

[TampereOwl]

So, TampereOwl, who do you work for? I bet it's Hodari who sent you here to check out our latest kit man talents. Am I right or...?

Yes indeed, I am headhunting kit men. Does Hodari not know this kit man from his own time in Finland?

Seriously now, I am trying to understand the rationale here without talking about 'hang-arounds' or whatever. I can see Huttunen's role quite clearly, as Finland is so isolated it is good to have someone closely attuned with the league, but then Keurulainen is described by Urheilumuseo as another 'link'. Can you give me something to say about him, apart from the (apparently contested) TPV-killing thing, and the striking resemblance to the Doc out of Back to the Future?

[peloton]

Well, Gene has been with the national team for some time now, and nobody has ever asked him to leave. You know, he just shows up. And talks every now and then, although that's been less frequent lately.





Sorry, I really can't help you. But it's nice to type in engrish.

[100%]

Tehkää vaikka joku kansainvälinen huone, jossa esim. englanniksi keskustelut.

[peng.xuefeng]

Tehkää vaikka joku kansainvälinen huone, jossa esim. englanniksi keskustelut.

Kalevi Pollarin huone?

[The Real Wolf]

... Keurulainen is described by Urheilumuseo as another 'link'. Can you give me something to say about him,

Well, Gene has been with the national team for some time now, and nobody has ever asked him to leave. You know, he just shows up.

- He is there, because it´s believed he is the only physio in the world capable to cure Litmanen.

[Tsei Tsei]

- He is there, because it´s believed he is the only physio in the world capable to cure Litmanen.

In a way yes. I think Keurulainen is Muurinen's trustee. That time Keurulainen had some assistant coaching responsibilities. Nowdays they are limited (as far as I now) to pre-game and training warm up and personal training programs for injured players. I think Keurulainen has a good reputation in Finland being a good physical coach. (don't know if that's a correct term)

[Jsn]

I think that Litmanen has always been treated by Keurulainen, even when he played for Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool. When he was injured he always came to Finland to be checked by Gene, always. At least as far as I know. Might as well be some type of an urban legend.

[TampereOwl]

I think that Litmanen has always been treated by Keurulainen, even when he played for Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool. When he was injured he always came to Finland to be checked by Gene, always. At least as far as I know. Might as well be some type of an urban legend.

I've heard that from Dutch journalists too - no mention of Keurulainen, but there were often trips to Finland to treat injuries.