Iikka Henrikki Miettinen (born 20 July 1990) is a Finnish professional football coach who is currently the sporting director of Veikkausliiga club Ilves.
Career Born in Tampere, Miettinen played football in the youth sectors of TPV, Haka, TKT Tampere and PP-70. After fulfilling the mandatory conscription service in Finland, Miettinen moved to St. Petersburg, Russia when aged 21, to study football coaching at the Lesgafta University.Vieraana futisvalmentaja Iikka Miettinen (FC Honka), rss.com, 16 August 2023 During his studies, Miettinen had stints working as analyst for Zenit Academy and Dinamo Zagreb Academy in Croatia.FC Zenit coach Iikka Miettinen: I knew that I would not return to Finland. And now I know how to communicate with the Russians, sportsdaily.ru, 14 August 2018 During 2016–2019, he worked for the Zenit Saint Petersburg organisation as analyst and the academy director.Elmo: Nuori suomalaismies sai huippupestin venäläisestä suurseurasta, suomifutis.com, 8 August 2018Italian menestyksen arkkitehdin kanssa työskennellyt suomalainen murtaa myytin EM-kisojen puhutuimmasta valmentajasta, Yle, 9 July 2021
In 2019, he moved to Italy and joined Giorgione as assistant coach with Gert Remmel.Eccellenza. Il Giorgione saluta Gert Remmel e Iikka Miettinen, venetogol.it, 16 June 2020Iikka Miettinen, dalla Finlandia a Bologna per studiare Italiano: “Mi piace tutto del suo calcio, sta facendo un lavoro straordinario”, zerocinquantuno.it, 30 April 2025
During 2020–2022, he worked for the academy of Cypriot club Pafos and as assistant coach of Croatian club NK Novigrad.Kaukana Suomesta luotiin jo vuosia sitten Pikkuhuuhkajien pelaamisen resepti, jonka oppimisnälkäiset nuoret muuttivat voitoiksi, Apu Aitio, 19 November 2024
In January 2023, Miettinen returned to Finland and started as assistant coach of Veikkausliiga club Honka. Next year he was named the head coach of the under-19 team of Veikkausliiga club Ilves, leading the team to finish third in the domestic league.Iikka Miettinen on uusi Ilveksen B-poikien päävalmentaja – tervetuloa Ilvekseen!, ilvesjalkapallo.fi, 19 October 2023Ilveksen päävalmentaja Iikka Miettinen: ”Tosi vauhdikkaita pelejä ollut”, Eerikkilä, 10 January 2025 In February 2025, after the departure of Guillem Santesmases, Miettinen was named the head coach of the club's reserve team Ilves II.IIKKA MIETTINEN ILVES/2:N PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, ilvesfootball.com, 15 February 2025Suoraa puhetta jalkapallosta, Aamulehti, 9 May 2025Iikka Miettinen palasi vuosien jälkeen Tampereelle ja teki synkän huomion: ”Surullista”, lauttasaarensanomat.fi, 9 May 2025Ilves jatkoi loistavaa harjoituskauttaan voitolla – Kakkosjoukkueelle uusi valmentaja, joka on työskennellyt suurnimien kanssa, Aamulehti, 15 February 2025
References