# Joonas Rantanen

Joonas Rantanen (born 27 July 1987) is a Finnish football manager, currently working as a manager of Veikkausliiga club Ilves. He has obtained a UEFA Pro -coaching license.

## Coaching career

Rantanen was raised in Oulunkylä neighbourhood of Helsinki, and played in a local club IF Gnistan as a youth player. His first coaching position was also in a youth team of Gnistan.

### HJK organisation

Rantanen started as a sports coordinator for youth teams in HJK Helsinki organisation in 2009. He worked for HJK in various positions until 2015, when he had a brief study leave.
During 2016–2019, Rantanen worked as a head coach of HJK women's team competing in Naisten Liiga, leading the team to win Finnish championship title in 2019, and Finnish Women's Cup in 2017 and 2019.
He was named the head coach of Klubi 04, the reserve team of HJK, for the 2020 season, winning the Kakkonen Group B and gaining a promotion to Ykkönen. Rantanen worked as an assistant coach in Toni Koskela's coaching staff in HJK first team for the 2021 Veikkausliiga season.

### Gnistan

In October 2021, Rantanen returned to his former club Gnistan, and during 2022–2023 he served as the head coach of the club's first team in the second-tier Ykkönen. At the end of the 2023 season, he led the team to finish as Ykkönen runner-up and qualify for the Veikkausliiga promotion play-offs, eventually losing to IFK Mariehamn. However, Gnistan were later granted the Veikkausliiga license and promoted via supplemental process, after FC Honka was declared for bankruptcy.

### Ilves

On 23 October 2023, Rantanen was appointed as the manager of Veikkausliiga club Ilves on a two-year deal, starting in 2024, and reuniting with former HJK sporting director Miika Takkula. In his first season as a manager in the top tier, he coached the team in the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League qualifiers, advancing to the 3rd round by an aggregate win against Austria Wien. He was named the Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month in September 2024, after leading his team to a winning streak during the month. He led Ilves to finish as the season's runners-up, falling two points short of the champions KuPS.

## Personal life

Rantanen has graduated as a Master of Education (MEd).
His father Jari Rantanen is a former police and football coach.
His brothers Tuomas and Juuso have also worked for Gnistan.

## Managerial statistics

    As of 19 October 2024
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W% |
| HJK women | | 25 August 2016 | 31 December 2019 | 84 | 58 | 12 | 14 | 069.05 |
| Klubi 04 | | 1 January 2020 | 31 December 2020 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 085.00 |
| Gnistan | | 1 January 2022 | 31 December 2023 | 71 | 34 | 20 | 17 | 047.89 |
| Ilves | | 1 January 2024 | present | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 052.63 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 213 | 129 | 43 | 41 | 060.56 |

## Managerial honours

HJK women
* Naisten Liiga: 2019
* Finnish Women's Cup: 2017, 2019
Klubi 04
* Kakkonen, Group B: 2020
Gnistan
* Ykkönen runner-up: 2023
Ilves
* Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024
Individual
* Western Finland FA Manager of the Year: 2024
* Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month: September 2024