Mika Lönnström

Finland

Lönnström started his coaching career at the age of 16 at FC Futura in Finland. After completing his UEFA A Licence (Welsh FA) qualification in 1998 he began working as a coach and director of coaching for several clubs.

After many successful years as a coach and Technical director of Finnish Veikkausliiga team MYPA and after finalising a Degree of Football Management from Finnish FA he was appointed by Gnistan as a club Executive Director and Head of Operations.

USA

In 2007 Lönnström took an educational break to work with Elite Football Camps for youth players in the United States where he became a staff member of University of Kentucky football program. In 2008 he joined the coaching staff of U.S. Soccer in the Olympic Development Program Camps and University of Minnesota's Gopher Soccer Camps. Lönnström also made educational visits with MLS clubs like Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire

Thailand

In May 2012 Lönnström was appointed Academy Director and first team Assistant Coach of Roi Et United of Thailand. He then became Head Coach of the first team the following year.

In his first season in charge he managed to get Roi Et United promoted to Thai Division 1 League. In 2013 he was also appointed as Assistant Coach of the U16 Thailand National Team on a part-time basis.

In April 2014 Roi Et United mutually terminated his contract to allow him to become Head Coach of Police United of the Thailand Premier League. As a result he became the first ever Finnish head coach to manage in the top flight division of South-East Asian football.

Before Lönnström took charge of Police United at the start of May, the team were languishing 17th in the Thailand Premier League with seven points from nine matches. Under his management they picked up 16 points from nine matches before him and his coaching staff resigned in June under controversial circumstances.

Maldives

In August 2014 Lönnström was appointed Head Coach of Maldives' most successful football club New Radiant SC. He guided the team to a long unbeaten streak that secured the club the Dhivehi League title and also President's Cup.

After winning the double in Maldives, Lönnström was awarded the Coach of the Year award in February 2015 at Haveeru Sports Awards.

The Maldivian league champions qualified for the AFC Cup and Lönnström became the first ever Finnish and Nordic football coach to manage a club in this competition. New Radiant SC started their new season with an away match in AFC Cup against Persib Bandung of the (Indonesia Super League). The match was played in front of a full capacity crowd of 30,000 in March 2015. New Radiant SC were beaten 4-1 and as a result, Lönnström and the club mutually terminated his contract a few days later.

After his spell in the Maldives, Lönnström took charge of Thai Premier League side Gulf Saraburi FC in April 2015. The newly promoted team were struggling to adapt to the Thailand top flight and were bottom of the table when Lönnström took over. However after just five league matches at the club, Lönnström resigned in June.

Tanzania

In July 2015 Lönnström was appointed as a Head Coach of Tanzanian Premier League side Majimaji FC. The Songea based club gained promotion last season and were determined to stay in the top flight by bringing in international coaching.

Lönnström's side made a bright start to the season by winning their first two matches 1-0. By the December mid-season break, the club had collected 11 points from ten matches and were sitting comfortably in mid-table. But following difficulties off the pitch Lönnström resigned with immediate effect.

Since leaving Majimaji FC, Lönnström has been working with his coaching group, The MnM coaching, which is a professional and international coaching group that aims to develop football coaching around the world.

Manager

New Radiant SC

Individual awards: