Mika Lehkosuo

Mika "Bana" Lehkosuo (born 8 January 1970 in Helsinki) is a Finnish football manager and former midfielder, currently managing FC Honka in Finnish Veikkausliiga.

Playing career

Lehkosuo played most of his career in HJK Helsinki. He was not a very prominent youth player and made his top division debut in 1993 after spending three years in lower division club Vantaan Pallo. He did not make his breakthrough into the HJK senior squad until 1995, when he made 24 league appearances and scored one goal. In previous season he had even played one league match in FF Jaro.

In following seasons Lehkosuo received more and more responsibility and became one of the best midfielders in Veikkausliiga. In the end of 1990s he formed the successful midfield trio with Aki Riihilahti and Jarkko Wiss with whom he won the league title in 1997 and worked their way to the group stage of UEFA Champions League in the next season.

In the winter of 1998 Lehkosuo was signed on loan by Italian Serie A side Perugia. He only played eleven games in Italy and returned to HJK for next Veikkausliiga season. In 1999 and 2000 Lehkosuo was made the captain of the HJK squad and he played in more attacking role. However, in August 2000 Lehkosuo injured his knee ligament. The knee didn't fully recover and Lehkosuo was forced to end his playing career in 2002, after playing 190 matches in Veikkausliiga, of which 189 he played in HJK.

International career

Lehkosuo played 17 matches in Finnish national team and scored one goal.

Managerial career

Lehkosuo started his managerial career in HJK youth teams quickly after retiring as a player. In 2005 he was appointed to the assistand manager of Ville Lyytikäinen in Ykkönen (the second tier) side FC Honka. After Lyytikäinen was sacked, he became the head coach. He guided the team to the top place of Ykkönen. In the first season in Veikkausliiga Lehkosuo guided his team to the 4th place. In 2007 Honka was again fourth. In 2008 Lehkosuo guided Honka to second place and to the UEFA Cup qualifications for the next season. In 2009 Honka was again second in the league table.

Personal life

Lehkosuo graduated Master of Science in Technology in Helsinki University of Technology in 2003.

References

• http://www.urheiluarkisto.fi/portals/44/veikkausliiga20v/pelaajat/lehkosuo.htm
• http://www.fchonka.fi/joukkue/group/10b6b4d8fec511dba79a4d356af4849a849a/4d09c21e15ad11dc9ab4f92f934831e431e4/

Persondata
Name	Lehkosuo, Mika
Alternative names
Short description	footballer
Date of birth	8 January 1970
Place of birth	Helsinki, Finland
Date of death
Place of death