Now I would walk 500 miles...

A four game span as the season draws to its conclusion. Was this the time we welcomed another piece of silverware to the Ilves trophy room?


Bottom of the table KPV provided some incredible resistance in a game we dominated. It took us until the 67th minute to open the scoring, young attacking midfielder Naatan Skyttä was involved in a terrific team move which saw Martti Haukioja cross for the highly rated talent to power home a header from point blank range. We made sure of the points in the closing stages to really break KPV's hearts. In the 88th minute, Skyttä turned provider this time to weight a pass right into the path of substitute Jack White who half volleyed the ball across the keeper and into the far corner. Then in time added on, another fantastic move saw White provide Skyttä with the chance to score his second and our third. He duly obliged with an angled finish into the opposite corner.

So just one win from glory! The only downside was that we lost Lauri Dalla Valle with a fractured lower arm which has required him to visit a specialist about, it has ended his season prematurely again. How unlucky is this guy?


Could we clinch the title in Espoo at the delightfully named FC Honka? Well we turned in a majestic away performance which could have been more embarrassing for the hosts. Like the KPV game the week before, the first half was goalless but it only took us four minutes after the restart to open the scoring. Haukioja with another well flighted free-kick and this time it was Mr Moaner (skipper Matias Ojala that is) who headed home unmarked at the far post. Ten minutes later it was 2-0, Sandro Garattoni with a deep cross, and this time it was Jusif Ali who provided the finish. The party really got into full swing in the 72nd minute when Jyrki Saarinen who thumped home an unstoppable effort from over 20 yards into the net, giving Warleson in the home goal no chance whatsoever. After that we saw the rest of the game out with ease and Ilves first Veikkausliiga title since 1983 was duly signed, sealed and very much delivered!

Oh and Haukioja had a 19th minute penalty saved, his first failure from the spot this season.


The Tammeln was in party mood when we welcomed SJK four days later. SJK had actually approached me a few days after sacking Jani Honkvaara last month but I turned them down without even going to an interview. It's not as if I was going to better myself in terms of winning things. Congolese striker Aristote Mboma was to have a big game as both sides treated us to an absolute classic, which was a terrific advert for Finnish football but not great for the manager's heart rate. Mboma put SJK into the lead after 14 minutes before Timo Furuholm, scorer of the late winner in Seinajoki last month, headed in Garattoni cross to level just after the half hour. The teams went into the break level at 1-1 but the real entertainment came in the second half.

Haukioja could have put us 2-1 ahead in the 58th minute from the spot, but he missed again with Öst this time denying the defender. We were awarded a second penalty in the 73th minute, and Haukioja subbed off, Garattoni slammed in the spot kick. With a minute to go we went 3-1 ahead, Ojala with the assist and Daniel Garcia with a sublime finish. Game over, right? Wrong. Remember I said Mboma had a big game and he did in time added on, scoring twice, the second with virtually the last kick of the game. Our former striker Niklas Jokelainen sat on the bench all game, wonder if he's regretting the move now?


We finished September with another TV game, could we make it three wins out of three on national TV? Two early goals decided it and ensured another three points in the bank. After just two minutes, skipper Ojala blasted in an unstoppable effort which would had the TV cameras purring with delight. Two minutes later we added a second, Ali with the cross and Garcia with another high class finish. Robin Sid had a second half effort chalked for IFK but they scarcely troubled us and this incredible season just gets better and better.

The penultimate month of the season, this is how the table stands with everyone having just a couple of games left to play.


So we are an astonishing 14 points clear. Even better, we have accumulated more points than the winners of the last three titles, and that's some achievement isn't it? The Club are keen to tie me down with a new deal, but what else is there for me to achieve here? I've won everything domestically and know it's impossible for me to get the Champions League trophy.

Could be a case of moving on, eh? Watch this space.

Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell has named his squad for their next UEFA Under-21 qualifiers against FYR Macedonia and Norway respectively. This squad is as follows, and sees two changes from the previous squad as Liverpool's Neco Williams and Aston Villa's Lloyd Holden are both ruled out by injury.


The game against Denmark will be played 7 October 2021 at the Philip II Arena, the home of FK Rabotnicki Skopje, with the home game against Norway to be played four days later at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Another set of monthly awards:

Manager of the Month:

It's getting ridiculous this now, three in a row for me. Manager of the Year surely beckons right?

Player of the Month:

Second placed for Daniel in the Player of the Month awards, it's Chico time for the award winner though.

Goal of the Month:

Despite Jyrki scoring a screamer in Espoo against Honka, it didn't make the top three. Surely team goals count for this award?

Team of the Month:

Sandro gets a place in the Team of the Month. I'm surprised that we didn't get anyone else in though.

The final month of the season, no relegation play off for us this season. We wonder why...



Two final games and a chance to finish on 75 points. An away game at the underachieving HJK in the capital before finishing at home to TPS who might be involved in the promotion/relegation play off against the second placed side in the Ykkönen (second tier of Finnish football).

Two more qualifiers in Group 9 of the UEFA Under 21 Championships, away to Macedonia and at home to Norway.


A potential away banana skin which could end our 100 per cent record if we were too complacent. However, it proved to anything but a banana skin to be honest as we dominated our hosts in Skopje. The surprising fact was that it took us 25 minutes to break the deadlock, but it was done with panache. A first time cross by Jonathan Letheren of Swansea City, and Rangers' Rabbi Matondo headed home unmarked from close range. We doubled the lead four minutes later, Letheren again with the perfect cross and this time it was Bolton's Matty Argent-Barnes who powerfully headed the ball into the net. Five minutes after we made it 2-0, we made it 3-0. Barnsley's Joe Adams with a weighted low cross into the path of Argent-Barnes who scored his fifth U21 goal in just six appearances. They pulled one back four minutes from half time however, Zoran Jakimovski scorching one past Scott Reed from distance.

However, in first half added-on tome, we restored the three goal lead. Sam Edwards sliding the ball into the path of Matondo and the winger beat the keeper at his near post with an effort that went in off the post. A scruffy goal but nobody's complaining here. The nap hand was sealed five minutes from time, Ian Harrington shrugging off a home challenge before striding forward and placing a shot into the far corner. Job well done once again.


Norway arrived in a rainy Cardiff on the back of hammering Malta 9-1 whilst we were winning convincingly in Macedonia. A tough test awaited us and so it proved. I named the same side that started in Skopje; but with one change and enforced at that. Argent-Barnes was booked four minutes from time in Macedonia, his second booking of the tournament, and as a result he was automatically suspended for the Norway encounter. One goal was all that was needed to separate the sides, and it came after 23 minutes. Matondo with the cross and Andrew Berry, deputising for the suspended Argent-Barnes, couldn't miss from three yards out. A tap in.

We could have had more if our shooting boots were on, Berry missing a number of chances on his own. At the other end, Brandon Cooper was imperious in central defence - repelling everything Norway threw at us. A close run win but three points more in the bank.

So after four qualifying games, this is the table:


Four wins out of four, a one hundred per cent record. Second placed Denmark await next...

Thanks dude, incredible achievement so it is. To be honest, rejecting SJK was an easy decision to make. What to do next?


Cheers for the kind words man.
That's four trophies in the career now. Still undecided about my next move until the league season is finished. Might move elsewhere, nothing else left in Finland to achieve really.

Could there be a big surprise looming at Ilves?

The surprise double winning team might be looking at finding a new Head Coach next season if rumours from Finland are to be confirmed true. Englishman Mark Duell, who joined the team in October 2020, has yet to agree terms on a new contract with his current deal expiring at the end of November.

Ilves owner Tomi Erola (pictured above) has admitted that the rumours have some credence:


Do you think he will stay at Ilves? Take part in our exclusive poll right HERE! Poll ends at midnight on 20 October.

It was the end of season celebrations at Tammeln last night after the final game of the season against TPS.

There were many awards on offer such as Fans Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Signing of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Supporters Team of the Season. The fans also named their overall best XI which players no longer at the Club would be eligible.

Main Awards:


Ilves Best XI:

The final couple of games of the season.


Our penultimate game of the season was a trip to the capital to face the underachieving HJK. They took the lead midway through the first half when their top scorer Eetu Vertainen beat Daniel Kollar, who I decided to give the last couple of league games to and rest Johannes Luukkanen in the process, with a confident finish. We did go into the half time interval on level terms though, Jyrki Saarinen getting his head to a well flighted Jack White free-kick and beat Allan Roden in the home goal. From being the hero in the 39th minute with that equaliser, Saarinen turned villain when he was red carded in the 49th for two yellow cards. Could we hold on for a point with ten men? Alas the closing stages saw the home side take the points with two late goals four minutes apart. In the 79th minute Marcio's free-kick was headed in by Vertainen for 2-1 and then in the 83rd Matias Ojala clattered the striker for a definite penalty which Moshtagh Yaghoubi sent Kollar the wrong way with.

Only our third league defeat of the season but a game that we failed to really show up for.


After the loss at HJK, we faced TPS who were fighting for their Veikkausliiga lives. We dominated it for the majority but had wait until the 58th minute when skipper Ojala smashed one in off the bar, leaving the TPS keeper with no chance whatsoever. The game was put beyond any doubt in the 79th minute, substitute Saku Nygård with a delightful cross and Tuomas Rannakari powerfully headed in at the near post. Another unstoppable team goal. The game also saw me give debuts to two our promising talents, attacking midfielders Aleksi Strandvall and striker Lorenzo Pirreca; the latter whom I had brought to the club in pre-season on a freebie. Both players acquitted themselves well indeed.

The final league standings were as follows:


So we won the league by 11 points in the end but with a new club record points total. TPS suffered relegation in the play-off against city rivals FC Inter; FC Inter won the first leg 5-0 which made it really hard for TPS to come back from that. TPS won leg two 3-1 but FC Inter are now back in Veikkausliiga after a season in the Ykkönen.

Just a single monthly award:

Team of the Month:


Congratulations to Tuomas in getting this reward.

Goalkeeper of the Year:

Defender of the Year:

Midfielder of the Year:

Attacker of the Year:

Manager of the Year:

Goal of the Season:

Most Assists in a Season:

Most Man of the Match Awards in a Season:

Rookie of the Year:

Top Scorer:

Player of the Year:

Team of the Season:

Wales Under-21 manager Mark Duell has named his squad for their back to back home UEFA Under-21 qualifiers against Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively. The squad is unchanged bar Cardiff City striker Ian Branch is called up to replace Swansea's Luke James who is ruled out with a twisted ankle.


Both games will be hosted at the Cardiff City Stadium. The Denmark encounter will be played on 11 November 2021, with the one against Bosnia and Herzegovina four days later.

Two more qualifiers in Group 9 of the UEFA Under 21 Championships, home ties against Denmark and Bosnia.


Our fifth qualifying game was the first of back to back home games, the first against the Danish youngsters. Unfortunately we failed to perform and slipped to our first defeat in the qualifiers. The Danes took the lead in the 20th minute when Andreas Christensen's shot rebounded into the path of left winger Michael Mogensen and he rifled an unstoppable shot past Scott Reed. They doubled their advantage eight minutes later, right wing-back Fredrik Nᴓrrestrand with the cross and Mads Skibsted headed in from around six yards out.

We pulled a goal back in the opening minute of the second half, Man of the Match Joe Adams picking up a Rabbi Matondo pass before unleashing an effort that Andreas Sᴓndergaard stood no chance of saving. Could we get an equaliser for a share of the spoils? Alas, the away win was secured in stoppage time when Henrik Henriksen made some space for himself before angling a shot into the far corner. They had certainly taken their bacon home with them.


We needed a response four days later against Bosnia, whilst the Danes were up against their Nordic neighbours Norway. A terrific start happened with two goals in the first nine minutes. In the third minute, Ian Harrington latched onto a loose ball to sweetly strike a half volley into the net. The midfielder created the second six minutes later, a superbly weighted 35 yard pass into Matty Argent-Barnes who strode on before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper. The early drama wasn't finish there, Mehmed Ivanovic pulling one back for Bosnia with just 12 minutes on the game clock.

We restored our two goal lead after 23 minutes. Harrington was again the architect, this time with a corner, left-back Sam Edwards heading it home. No further goals followed in the game until second half added on time, Sead Hodzic scoring but it was too late for them to gain a point but three welcomed points for us.

So after six qualifying games, this is the table:


Joint top and only behind on goal difference. Still a chance to win the group and be able to automatically qualify for Israel 2023.
Next qualifying games in September 2022.

SAARINEN SIGNS NEW DEAL!!

The Club have received a massive boost in the close season already.

Highly rated midfielder Jyrki Saarinen has today signed a new three year deal with club that will keep him at Tammeln until the end of 2024 season.

It's a massive coup for the team that the Vantaa born 19 year old has committed his near future with us, and is sure to please fans that we have retained the Finland Under-21 internationalist.

However, the Club have yet to agree terms with Head Coach Mark Duell whose current deal ends in just eight days time, amidst international interest elsewhere beckoning.

DUELL RESIGNS TAMMELN POST

The Club have today received the news that Head Coach Mark Duell has resigned from his position with immediate effect.

Duell, who was appointed in August 2020 to succeed Marko Rajamaki, leaves the post with a double winning season behind him.

The Club will make no further announcement about his successor at this time, but wish Mark all the best in his managerial endeavours and thank him for his time here.

25 December 2021

It's now four weeks since I resigned from Ilves and I haven't been employed elsewhere YET!

However, I have been shortlisted in France for a position there and also interviewed for the position at Newport County. Unfortunately I missed out on the Exiles job to Mark "Magic Hat" Warburton.

Sometimes it's not easy to find a new job, but the next step of my managerial adventure will happen soon. I'm content to bide my time until the right one comes along. I had taken Ilves as far as I could do in my opinion.

Le MUC are pleased this morning to announce the appointment of Mark Duell as their new Head Coach.

The 40 year old was the choice of the board to succeed Richard Déziré who resigned just before Christmas after 6 and half years in the role to take up the Head Coach's role at Entente Sannois-Saint-Gratien in Ligue 2.

Duell brings with him an impressive CV, having won two league titles in the Scottish lower divisions with Edinburgh City where he cut his managerial teeth. Most recently the Englishman was at Veikkausliiga side Ilves Tampere where he won the League and Cup double in his most recent campaign there. After almost two months out of the game, he is itching to make it a success here.

The new man at the helm has been awarded a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season initially.

So on behalf of the Club, we welcome Mark to the team. #BienvenuMark

One game played as I get used to life in France.


I decided to adopt the same formation which I am using in the Welsh Under-21 role as I adapt to life in Le Championniat. There's literally no money to spend, which is nothing new to my club managerial career as I've been at two clubs where I've had to operate on a shoestring budget. The board's target is a top half finish and with 14 games to play then I think it's very much achievable. But then again I have a habit of doing better than expected, just recall to my time at Edinburgh City and Ilves respectively.

My first game was an away trip to USL Dunkerque, who sat in 3rd place at the time of kick off with Le Mans occupying 8th. What a start we had though! After being under the cosh for the first 19 minutes, we took the lead when Rémy Boissier's corner was bulleted into the net by winger Amadou Coulibaly. Six minutes later, we doubled our lead when another Boissier corner wasn't properly dealt with by the home defence and Serge Aka drove a low shot home. Things got better seven minutes from the break, skipper Mamadou Soro was baulked in the area by Samba Camara: left winger Oumaré Tounkara stepped up to drill the resultant penalty into the bottom corner despite Axel Maraval going the right way.

To be fair Dunkerque seldom troubled us, and it could have been more comprehensive as we were awarded a second penalty in the final minute. However this time, Maraval saved Tounkara's effort from 12 yards.

So at the end of January, this is how we stand:

My first full month of games in Le Championnat.


My first home game and a game we should have taken three points from, but didn't. We were wasteful in front of goal and when you are performing like that then you deserve to lose don't you? The only goal of the game came early in the second half, Créteil skipper Yanis Barka bundling home from close range after we had been cut open on the right wing. Right-back Abdoulaye Koté was the only player to come out with any credit on a very disappointing evening for us all.


Our next game was anything but easy as we took on runaway leaders Red Star in the capital. Predictably they had too much for us in the opening 36 minutes, scoring three times. Young striker Ridge Duah-Adusei was the wrecker in chief with a brace, whilst central midfielder Ransford Selasi contributed the other. We were facing a right old humbling unless we got our heads back on it. And we did, skipper Mamadou Soro latching onto a superbly weighted pass from Nantes loanee Thomas Basila to confidently finish. It gave us hope. That hope intensified in the opening minute of the second half, Serge Aka lashing in an unstoppable effort from the edge of the box which gave the Red Star keeper no chance whatsoever. Could we go on and get a point? Alas not, but it was a tough one to take especially when we had come back so well from a disappointing start.


Free scoring Avranches were our next game, and they gave us a lesson in finishing to send us to our third loss in succession. Striker Loïck Piquionne gave them a 14th minute lead, and they secured the points when Mamadou Ndiaye headed 16 minutes from time. The result was enough to send us down to 10th place in the table.


We needed a win to boost our confidence, and get back on the winning track. Winger Oumaré Tounkara had signed a new contract in midweek, and he celebrated the new deal with the opening goal after just 22 seconds on the clock: skipper Soro with the assist. Bastia, who made the Final of the 1978 UEFA Cup Final, equalised in the 9th minute when striker Timothé Trojani headed in. Yet we regained the lead three minutes later when central midfielder Rémy Boissier struck a beautiful long range free-kick into the roof of the net. The Corsicans levelled for a second time just before half time, Melvin Sitti striking home a penalty kick.

There was to be no fourth loss on the spin though, as we grabbed that all important winner with just 13 minutes to go. Boissier with the cross and Soro planted his header into the net to send the 20 away supporters dancing with the delight. It was a happy journey back to the mainland and stopped that unwanted record of successive losses.

So at the end of February, this is how we stand: