Tommi Laitila

Tommi Laitila

Laitila in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-03-09) 9 March 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Tuusula, Finland
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	TuPS
	HJK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	KäPa
	FinnPa
	Jokerit
Managerial career
2007	Gnistan (assistant)
2008–2009	Gnistan
2013–2018	Espoo (coaching director)
2013–2024	Finland women (gk coach)
2018–2024	HJS (executive manager)
2024–	Lahti (executive manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 October 2024

Tommi Laitila (born 9 March 1979) is a Finnish football coach and a former player, currently working as the executive manager of FC Lahti.

Playing career

Laitila started playing football in the youth sector of his hometown club Tuusulan Palloseura (TuPS). Later he has played as a goalkeeper in a youth team of HJK Helsinki, and in the first team of Veikkausliiga club Jokerit. ^[1] He was also a Finnish youth international. Laitila ended his playing career in 2004 due to injuries. ^{[2] [3]}

Career

Laitila was an assistant coach of IF Gnistan in 2007. During 2008–2009, he was the club's first team head coach. ^[4]

During 2004–2013, Laitila worked as a coaching director of the Uusimaa district of the Finnish FA. In August 2013, he was named the coaching director of FC Espoo. ^[5]

Since 2013, he has also been serving as a goalkeeping coach of the Finland women's national football team. ^[6] He left the team after 2024.

Between August 2018 and October 2024, Laitila worked as an executive manager of Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseura (HJS). ^{[7] [8] [9]}

On 17 September 2024, Laitila was named the executive manager of FC Lahti, starting in the position on 1 November, mainly focusing on the youth sector and the unification of the associate clubs Kuusysi and Reipas. ^{[10] [11]}

Personal life

Laitila is of White Karelian descent from Jyskyjärvi and Rukajärvi from his mother's side.

References

1. Maalivahti loukkaantui FC Jokerien ottelussa, MTV Oy, mtvuutiset.fi, 11 March 2002
2. Entinen maalivahti on onnellinen siitä, että hän on saanut harrastuksestaan ammatin, hameenlinnankupunkiuutiset.fi, 18 August 2018
3. Ykköseen pudonnut FinnPa pitää nykyisen nimensä, Helsingin Sanomat, 15 December 1998
4. Gnistanin Laitila ei usko almuihin, Finnish FA, 29 August 2009
5. Valmennuspäällikkö Tommi Laitila siirtyy FC Espooseen, Finnish FA, 12 August 2013
6. HJS-pomo auttaa Helmareita maalin tilkitsemisessä matkalla EM-kisoihin – ”Tilanne on hyvä ja mielenkiintoinen”, Hämeen Sanomat, 28 October 2020
7. Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseuran jättävälle Tommi Laitilalle siirto Lahteen on uralla askel eteenpäin – Lahdessa Laitilan vakuutti seuran urheilustrategia, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 20 September 2024
8. HJS:n jättävän Tommi Laitilan uusi seura selvisi, Hämeen Sanomat, 17 September 2024
9. HJS:n toiminnanjohtaja vaihtuu ‒ Tommi Laitila uusiin haasteisiin kuluvan toimintakauden jälkeen, hjs.fi, 17 September 2024
10. FC Lahti ry:n toiminnanjohtaja on Tommi Laitila, fclahti.fi, 17 September 2024
11. Tommi Laitilasta FC Lahden toiminnanjohtaja, Yle, 18 September 2024

External links

• Tommi Laitila at Football Association of Finland