Mixu opts for Finland return

By European football
October 25 2006

Former Finland striker Mika-Matti "Mixu" Paatelainen, who quit as the manager of Scottish second division club Cowdenbeath last week, has signed a managerial contract with Finnish top flight side TPS, according to Finnish media. The news come as somewhat of a surprise, considering that Paatelainen was strongly linked with the available Hibernian post, as well as with an unnamed English side, widely thought to be Sheffield Wednesday. Paatelainen, 39, will follow former Finland U21-coach Kari Ukkonen at TPS, and his contract will start at the end of the season. TPS currently lie in the 8th position in the Finnish Veikkausliiga with one game to go.

Paatelainen's close friend, Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi, has been investing in the Turku-based club for some time and is thought to be person to persuate Mixu to return to Finland after almost 20 years abroad. The duo plan to make the black-and-white -striped club a force in the Finnish league. Early speculations suggest, that Paatelainen's younger brothers Mikko and Markus (Jaro and Cowdenbeath respectively) might be following their older brother's lead and join TPS.

One reason for Paatelainen's return to Finland might also be an interest in working on international stage some time in the near future. The Finnish national side managerial post is currently occupied by popular Roy Hodgson, but the U21-coach Markku "Pumpkin Head" Kanerva has received enormous quantities of criticism following his side's poor performances. Paatelainen has formerly however denied any interest in the U21 job.

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