Former midfielder of the national team of Ukraine and several Ukrainian clubs Denys Oliinyk commented on his appointment as an assistant coach of the second team of the Finnish club SJK.
Denys Oliinyk— Denys, how did the option with SJK come about?
— I have a good relationship with the club’s president. Many employees have been working here since my playing career. When I returned to Ukraine in July 2022, I had an active contract with SJK, but I insisted on being released to my homeland and the president obliged. My contract included an option that I would work as a coach at the club after my career ended.
When I obtained my A coaching license at the beginning of September, I contacted the president, we discussed everything, and I started my coaching duties at SJK.
— Can you tell us about your responsibilities at SJK?
— I am an assistant coach for the second team and the head coach for the third team, where 15−16-year-old boys play. Today I already conducted my first training session and I liked everything.
— In which divisions do the SJK teams play?
— The first team of SJK is currently playing in the elite division and is fighting for the championship, the second team plays in the First League, and the third in the Second League.
The second team consists of players under 23 years old, but the majority are 16−18 years old. There is a lot of talented youth who will soon strengthen the first team.
— Who is the head coach of the second team that you assist?
— The well-known Portuguese specialist Paulo Lopes, who was a goalkeeper at Benfica for many years, and then worked within the club’s structure.
— In what language do you communicate with Lopes and the players?
— In English. All our training sessions are conducted in English. About 50% of the first team is made up of foreigners, and all Finns understand English as a lot of attention is given to its study in schools.
— Besides you, are there any Ukrainians in the SJK structure and Academy?
— Currently, no.
— To coach the first team, you need a Pro license. When do you plan to pursue it?
— With an A license, I can coach the second and third teams and assist the first team’s head coach. To enroll in Pro, I need to work for a year, but I will definitely get it because I see myself only as a coach. Managerial work doesn’t interest me.
— What is the infrastructure at SJK like?
— The club is constantly developing. Since the time I played here, improvements are noticeable. The SJK owner’s company built a modern, purely football stadium with six thousand seats, two restaurants, and «Mercedes» seats in the VIP box. The first and second teams train there. The arena has artificial turf that is replaced every 4−5 years. Players eat at the stadium restaurant after training.
There’s also its own indoor arena where teams train in winter. So the infrastructure is very good, everything is done for the children. Youth football is developing well in Finland. In such a small city like Seinäjoki, there are many training fields where kids engage in sports.
— If you compare the infrastructure of SJK with Ukrainian clubs, which would it resemble?
— It’s hard to say because almost all Ukrainian clubs have a base where teams gather before a game and train. In Finland, that’s not the case. Teams are based at the stadium, where there’s a gym and everything necessary, while in winter, it’s in the indoor arena. The day before a game, no one gathers at a hotel; players come directly to the match. It was the same in the Netherlands.
If comparing stadiums, our arena is somewhat similar to «Livyi Bereh,» but at SJK, it is larger and of higher quality, with restaurants and a VIP box.
— Who from the first team of SJK could strengthen Ukrainian clubs?
— SJK has many quality players who could play in the UPL. I would highlight Kasper Paananen, who scored 16 goals in the championship. He was part of Bologna’s structure and is now having an excellent season in Finland. There’s also the experienced Rasmus Karjalainen, who played in the Netherlands. Argentine Valentin Gasc plays excellently in the center of the field.
— Could the players you’ve named fit into «Dynamo» and «Shakhtar,» middle-ranking champions league teams, or outsiders?
— I think they could fit into teams like «Kryvbas,» «Karpaty,» «Metalist 1925,» and LNZ. But here, finding a team that suits their playing style is needed, rather than just guessing.
— Where do you live in Finland?
— I have an apartment in Finland from my playing career days, and I pay a mortgage for it. My children lived in Finland with my mother, only my daughter lived with me in Ukraine for half a year. So I returned to my apartment.
— By the way, how did you leave Ukraine?
— I have three children, and I have a deferment according to current law. I wasn’t afraid to return to Ukraine during the war and did everything possible to do so, despite having a valid contract with SJK. I wouldn’t have respected myself and would have considered myself a coward if I hadn’t returned. I had a dream to finish my playing career in Ukraine, and I achieved it.
— Did you receive any coaching offers from Ukraine?
— There were only talks, but nothing concrete. Some options were not interesting to me. I don’t see any sense in revealing the club names.
— Finally, can you tell us about your thoughts on the UPL? Which teams do you like currently from a play perspective, and can you predict the champion?
— It’s very difficult to make any assessment now, everyone is losing points, and no one has stability. «Dynamo» has slightly slowed down, «Polissya» is gaining and I’m sure the Zhytomyr team will continue to progress.
I was at «Oleksandriia» for four months during Rotan’s training and I know the principles of the game of his coaching staff. It takes time to implement them, but I’m sure «Polissya» will play great football. LNZ has shown quality football in the last rounds, playing one-on-one aggressive, very physically strong and it’s hard to play against them.
«Shakhtar» has always played as the first number; they have many quality, technical players. In terms of squad depth, they surpass everyone in Ukraine. I think «Shakhtar,» «Dynamo,» and «Polissya» will fight for the championship.
— Who will you be supporting?
— I will support «Polissya,» «Dynamo,» and LNZ. I am a «Dynamo» graduate, I was in their structure for eight years, and I always support them. With Rotan, I interned in «Oleksandriia,» and I have developed friendly relations with the entire coaching staff, so I support them and am confident they’ll succeed in «Polissya.» I also want LNZ to have a good season and fight for medals. I played for the Cherkasy team and know how much the leaders love football and how much they do for the team.
Andriy Piskun
