JalkapalloPalvelut Finland
Soon after graduation in 2019, I started preparing to open my company. After all preparations, I established my private trader company in January 2020. I called it JalkapalloPalvelut Finland, which translates as Football Services Finland in Finnish. Before finding the first customer, I built my company's website. I also created and published several pieces of applied research on social media of football clubs from the highest tier of Finnish football, presumably FC Lahti, HJK, SJK, KuPS, and HIFK Fotboll. The former turned out to be my first customer. Yet, my role at HIFK Fotboll was utterly different than the initially intended one. As I had experience with opposition scouting for FC KTP in 2015, thus, HIFK Fotboll's sports director offered me to join the first team, as a match analyst.
Opposition Scouting for HIFK Fotboll
My company's contract with HIFK Fotboll was officially signed on the 1st of June, 2020! As part of the HIFK Fotboll first team's staff, I had access to the first team's games, as well as the dressing room of the first team during home games. I was also watching all games of Veikkausliiga using the analytical tool from the Russian company, called "Instat". Working together with the more experienced analyst, I had a chance to observe and learn frameworks for analyses of team performance, as well as the individual player's performance. In addition, I got to work with professional football coaches, who possessed long-standing experience coaching professional teams around the world. In comparison to them, I believe my knowledge of football analysis was insufficient at that moment. That motivated me to return to coaching to study the game further.
STADIN DERBY
Stadin Derby is the biggest football event in Finland. When the two strongest teams in Helsinki: HIFK Fotboll and HJK meet together, the 10.000-seat stadium is full and fans follow the game all around the capital city. I had been unbelievably lucky to be part of this great event on 10.09.2020 (HIFK Fotboll 4-3 HJK). I was preparing the full opposition report on HJK gameplay. While my input in the victory was probably insignificant, the fact I was preparing the report made me feel part of this team. The game against HJK is a special event for HIFK Fotboll. While HIFK Fotboll has the biggest fanbase in Finland, HJK has probably the second biggest. Winning that game creates a significant resonance for the whole city! The moment HIFK Fotball won the game was the most emotional moment of that year!
