Jani Honkavaara

Honkavaara began his football career in his hometown club TP-Seinäjoki (formerly known as Törnävän Pallo-55). During his time with the club, he played 10 matches in the Finnish top tier Veikkausliiga in the 1997 season. While studying in Joensuu, Honkavaara played for local clubs Joensuun Pallo and Jippo in the third-tier Kakkonen, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Later in his career, he was mainly known for playing for East Helsinki based club FC Viikingit of Vuosaari in the second-tier Ykkönen.

Viikingit

After retiring as a football player, Honkavaara started as an assistant coach of FC Viikingit, in the coaching staff of Toni Korkeakunnas. In 2007, he was appointed the head coach for the 2007 Veikkausliiga season and held the position of coach in the club until 2009.

HIFK and Gnistan

In the autumn of 2009, he was selected as head coach of HIFK where he led the club towards promotion to the Finnish first division Ykkönen after season 2010. He resigned from the role of manager of HIFK after season 2011. After the successful spell at HIFK, he went to coach another Helsinki based club IF Gnistan. Despite a rather successful season, he then resigned from the club after season 2012, citing family reasons. Soon after he was appointed as the new head coach of HIFK which had faced relegation back to Finnish second division, Kakkonen, after the ending season, led by Honkavaara's successor in the managerial role, Juha Moilanen. Right after next and very successful season 2013, he led HIFK back to Ykkönen. After the 2014 season, HIFK was promoted to Veikkausliiga, making it to the top tier of Finnish football for the first time in over 40 years.

KuPS

At the end of November 2016 it was announced, that Honkavaara would be the new manager of Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS), starting from 1 January 2017. He managed the club to finish 2nd in the league in 2017, and in the 3rd place in 2018. In June 2019, he was offered a head coach position of Royale Union…

Honkavaara has studied Finnish language and literature at the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu, and has later worked as a teacher. In 2005, he worked briefly as a host of a TV-program Näytetään kieltä, produced by Yle. Honkavaara is married and a father, and has lived in Tuusula with his family.

KuPS

Veikkausliiga: 2019, 2024 Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2017, 2023 Veikkausliiga 3rd place: 2018 Finnish Cup: 2024 Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2024 SJK

Veikkausliiga 3rd place: 2021 HIFK

Ykkönen: 2014 Kakkonen Group 2: 2013 Kakkonen Group A: 2010 Individual

Finnish Football Manager of the Year: 2024 Veikkausliiga Manager of the Year 2024 Allsvenskan Manager of the Month: September 2025 Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month (6): May 2017, August 2019, October 2019 May 2024, July 2024, October 2024