Jani Honkavaara (born 2 February 1976[2]) is a Finnish football manager and retired football player, who is currently the head coach of Swedish side Djurgårdens IF.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] 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 was willing to pay a €100,000 fee for his contract, but KuPS was reluctant to let Honkavaara leave.[9] Eventually, in the 2019 Veikkausliiga season, Honkavaara led KuPS to its first Finnish championship title in 43 years.[10]
SJK Seinäjoki
In October 2019 Honkavaara was announced as the new manager of his hometown side Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK).[11] In the 2021 season, the team finished 3rd in Veikkausliiga and won the bronze medal.
In April 2023, Honkavaara returned to KuPS, when the club sacked Pasi Tuutti after only three games in the season.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17] His tenure with the Finland national team ended simultaneously.
