Sami Okkonen

Sami Okkonen (born 20 September 1987) is a Finnish football manager and a former player, who played as a forward. Okkonen completed the UEFA A -coaching license in 2022.

Playing career Okkonen started football in the youth teams of Suurmetsän Urheilijat in Suurmetsä, Helsinki, and Puotinkylän Valtti in Vartiokylä, Helsinki.

During his playing career, Okkonen played for Helsinki-based clubs HIFK, Atlantis, PK-35, Gnistan and Kiffen in second tier Ykkönen, third tier Kakkonen and fourth tier Kolmonen. In the 2014 season when playing in Ykkönen with HIFK, the club won a promotion. However, due to injury, he did not make an appearance in Veikkausliiga. He ended his playing career in 2018 with FC Vaajakoski and worked as youth coach for the club. Next season in 2019, he started as the club's assistant coach.

Managerial career Okkonen worked as the manager of FC Vaajakoski during 2020–2021 in third tier Kakkonen.

He was named the manager of fellow Kakkonen side Jippo for the 2022 season. On 11 August 2022, the club exercised their option and extended his contract until the end of 2024.

However, on 29 November 2022, Okkonen was named the manager of a newly relegated HIFK in second tier Ykkönen, the club he used to represent for several years as a player. He signed a two-year deal with the club. He terminated his contract at the end of the season, due to the club's severe financial problems, which ultimately forced HIFK to bankruptcy.

On 8 December 2023, after terminating his contract with HIFK, it was simultaneously announced that Okkonen was appointed the manager of Käpylän Pallo (KäPa), competing in the new second tier Ykkösliiga in the 2024 season. He was dismissed on 29 July 2024.

In November 2024, he started working for IF Gnistan, developing the coaching in the club.

Personal life Besides football, Okkonen has played also futsal for Liikunnan Riemu. He has studied in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä in Jyväskylä, Finland, while working for FC Vaajakoski.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours As a player

HIFK Ykkönen: 2014 Kakkonen, Group A: 2010