# Jani Honkavaara

Jani Honkavaara (born 2 February 1976) is a Finnish football manager and retired football player, who is currently the head coach of Swedish side Djurgårdens IF. Previously he served as the manager of Veikkausliiga club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS), leading the club to win two Finnish championship titles in two separate stints, in 2019 and 2024, respectively.

## Career

Honkavaara began his football career in TP-Seinäjoki (formerly known as Törnävän Pallo-55). During his time in the club, he played 10 matches in the Finnish top tier Veikkausliiga. Later in his career, he was mainly known for playing for East Helsinki based club FC Viikingit of Vuosaari.

## Managerial career
### Viikingit

After retiring as a football player, Honkavaara started as an assistant coach of FC Viikingit, in the coaching staff of Toni Korkeakunnas. In 2007, he was appointed the head coach for the 2007 Veikkausliiga season and held the position of coach in the club until 2009.

### HIFK and Gnistan

In the autumn of 2009, he was selected as head coach of HIFK where he led the club towards promotion to the Finnish first division Ykkönen after season 2010. He resigned from the role of manager of HIFK after season 2011. After the successful spell at HIFK, he went to coach another Helsinki based club IF Gnistan. Despite a rather successful season, he then resigned from the club after season 2012, citing family reasons. Soon after he was appointed as the new head coach of HIFK which had faced relegation back to Finnish second division, Kakkonen, after the ending season, led by Honkavaara's successor in the managerial role, Juha Moilanen. Right after next and very successful season 2013, he led HIFK back to Ykkönen. After the 2014 season, HIFK was promoted to Veikkausliiga, making it to the top tier of Finnish football for the first time in over 40 years.

### KuPS

At the end of November 2016 it was announced, that Honkavaara would be the new manager of Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS), starting from 1 January 2017. He managed the club to finish 2nd in the league in 2017, and in the 3rd place in 2018. In June 2019, he was offered a head coach position of Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. The Belgian club offered to pay a €100,000 fee for his contract, but KuPS was reluctant to let Honkavaara leave. Eventually, in the 2019 Veikkausliiga season, Honkavaara led KuPS to its first Finnish championship title in 43 years.

### SJK Seinäjoki

In October 2019 Honkavaara was announced as the new manager of his hometown side Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK). In the 2021 season, the team finished 3rd in Veikkausliiga and won the bronze medal.
In the early 2022, Honkavaara started to work as a specialist for the Football Association of Finland.

### Return to KuPS

In April 2023, Honkavaara returned to KuPS, when the club sacked Pasi Tuutti after only three games in the season. Honkavaara led KuPS to finish 2nd in the 2023 Veikkausliiga season, by a goal difference to HJK. In the end of the season, the club first didn't exercise their option, but later announced that Honkavaara's contract was extended for the 2024 season. For the 2024 season, KuPS reduced the player budget and acquired more of young potential players, rather than players who had already proved their league-level.
On 17 June 2024, Honkavaara was also named the new assistant coach of the Finland national football team. It was also announced that he would not continue as the manager of KuPS after the 2024 season. In September, Honkavaara guided KuPS to win the Finnish Cup, and in October they won the Veikkausliiga championship title again, making it the first double win in the club's history. He was awarded the Veikkausliiga Manager of the Year in 2024.

### Djurgårdens IF

On 20 December 2024, Swedish Allsvenskan side Djurgården announced that they had appointed Honkavaara as their new manager on a three-year contract, starting in January 2025. His tenure with the Finland national team ended simultaneously.

## Personal life

Honkavaara has studied Finnish language and literature at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, and has later worked as a teacher.
In 2005, he worked briefly as a host of a TV-program Näytetään kieltä, produced by Yle.
Honkavaara is married and a father, and has lived in Tuusula with his family.

## Managerial statistics

    As of 13 March 2025
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W% |
| HIFK | | 1 January 2010 | 31 December 2011 | 50 | 23 | 11 | 16 | 046.00 |
| Gnistan | | 1 January 2012 | 31 December 2012 | 27 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 055.56 |
| HIFK | | 1 January 2013 | 27 July 2016 | 113 | 46 | 27 | 40 | 040.71 |
| KuPS | | 1 January 2017 | 31 December 2019 | 116 | 58 | 28 | 30 | 050.00 |
| SJK Seinäjoki | | 1 January 2020 | 31 December 2021 | 59 | 25 | 12 | 22 | 042.37 |
| KuPS | | 21 April 2023 | 20 December 2024 | 72 | 45 | 11 | 16 | 062.50 |
| Djurgården | | 20 December 2024 | present | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 040.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 442 | 214 | 97 | 131 | 048.42 |

## Achievements
### As a manager

HIFK
* Ykkönen: 2014
* Kakkonen Group 2: 2013
* Kakkonen Group A: 2010
KuPS
* Veikkausliiga: 2019, 2024
* Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2017, 2023
* Veikkausliiga 3rd place: 2018
* Finnish Cup: 2024
* Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2024
SJK
* Veikkausliiga 3rd place: 2021
Individual
* Finnish Football Manager of the Year: 2024
* Veikkausliiga Manager of the Year 2024
* Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month (6): May 2017, August 2019, October 2019 May 2024, July 2024, October 2024