Miika Nuutinen
Miika Nuutinen is a Finnish football manager and former player, who is currently the head coach of Veikkausliiga club KuPS.
Playing career
Nuutinen began his football journey in the youth system of Tuusulan Palloseura. As a teenager, he appeared for the club's senior team in the fourth-tier Kolmonen, but his playing career remained brief as he pivoted toward coaching at the unusually young age of 17. His early transition to the sidelines was driven by a strong interest in game analysis and leadership, leading him to prioritize coaching education over a professional playing career.His early transition was motivated by a self-described interest in tactical analysis and leadership over professional playing ambitions.Coaching career
Nuutinen has a UEFA Pro -coaching license. He has also graduated in a bachelor's degree programme of Sports Coaching and Management in the Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Since June 2022, Nuutinen works also as a football pundit for Yle Sport.Nuutinen started football coaching in his former youth club Tuusulan Palloseura as a youth coach, additionally working with another local club PK Keski-Uusimaa youth sector. In 2017, Nuutinen started as a youth talent coach in, and in late 2019 he joined Käpylän Pallo U17-team.
Klubi 04
On 30 November 2021, it was announced that Nuutinen was named the head coach of Klubi 04, the reserve team of HJK Helsinki. At the end of the 2023 season, he led the team to gain a spot in new Ykkönen.Nuutinen also coached HJK U19 youth squad in 2023–24 UEFA Youth League, where the team advanced by defeating Malmö FF, before eventually losing to Nantes on penalties, after drawing them 1–1 on aggregate.