Jarkko Jokiranta (born 17 May 1984) is a Finnish sports executive and a former player, currently working as a sporting director of IF Gnistan in Veikkausliiga.

Jarkko Jokiranta
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-05-17) 17 May 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Elimäki, Finland[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Gnistan (sporting director)
Youth career
MYPA[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Elimäen Villisiat
City Stars
JPS
Managerial career
2023– Gnistan (sporting director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2024

Playing career

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Jokiranta has played in the youth sector of MyPa. As a senior player, he played for Elimäen Villisiat, City Stars and JPS in lower divisions.[1]

Career

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While studying in Pajulahti, Jokiranta also worked as a youth coach for JyPK girls' teams in Jyväskylä.

He started as a youth director of JJK Jyväskylä in 2011.[2] He has also worked as a youth talent coach for the club,[3] before he joined HJK Helsinki as a talent coach in August 2017.[4] On 17 September 2021, he started to work for Finnish FA as a director of club development in the Southern Finland.[5]

On 4 October 2023, a newly promoted Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan announced the appointment of Jokiranta as their new sporting director, starting in the position for the 2024 season.[6][7][8][1] He is also responsible of developing the club's youth sector.

Personal life

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Jokiranta has studied in the Pajulahti Sports Institute. In 2012, he graduated from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.[1][2]

References

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