The coup is perfect: Italy brings in world-class coach

That's quite an exclamation mark! Italy's national ice hockey team presented its new coach on Monday. And it's a big fish that the Azzurri have caught.

July 29, 2024

From: det

After the disappointing home World Championship in Bolzano, there were fundamental changes in Italy's national ice hockey team. The two coaches Mike Keenan and Mike Pelino were let go, and the Azzurri have now presented their successor. As announced by SportNews last week, shall Jukka Jalonen will stand behind Italy’s gang in the future.

With the 61-year-old Finn, those in charge, including sports director Stefan Zisser, have hired an absolute world-class coach. Until last May, Jalonen was the coach of the Finnish national ice hockey team, which is one of the best teams in the world.

Olympic champion and world champion

The coach from Riihimäki was head coach of his home country for a total of twelve years and led Suomi to major titles. The highlight: Olympic gold in 2022 and three world championship titles. In recent history, there has been no more successful national team coach than Jukka Jalonen.

Jalonen enjoyed great success. © AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

It's hard to believe that such a coach would be hired in Italy. But that's exactly what happened. Jalonen has obviously taken a liking to leading Italy towards the 2026 Olympics. But the boot-shaped country is not new territory for the Scandinavian: in the 1998/99 season he was already working as a coach at the then Serie A club Alleghe.

Schlagwörter: Hockey Italy Jukka Jalonen