Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat is reporting that Jukka Jalonen, the outgoing head coach of the Finnish national team, could soon become the head coach of the Italian team.

It was initially announced on Friday under the belief it was a done deal, but in an update on Saturday, the situation was clarified.

“There is no contract, but there have been discussions about it,” Jalonen is quoted in Saturday's article.

Jalonen has spent two terms at the helm of the Finnish team from 2007 to 2013 and again from 2018 to 2024. Under his lead, the Finns have won World Championship gold medals in 2011, 2019 and 2022 and Olympic gold in 2022. He announced last summer that he would leave the national team after the 2024 IIHF World Championship, where Finland finished a disappointing eighth.

Under Jalonen, Finland became known for playing a structured, defensive-first style that was derided by many as boring but was unquestionably effective. Jalonen was known for often passing on available star talent in favor of players who were familiar with his system.

If he goes there, Jalonen’s coaching style could be an interesting fit in Italy, where he’d have a lot less talent to work with.

The Italians are looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, for which they’ve already qualified as hosts, but recent international results have been disappointing. Since being relegated from the top division of the 2022 Worlds, Italy has finished third in Division I Group A two years in a row under Canadian head coaches Mike Keenan and Mike Pelino, failing to advance each time.

On home ice in Bolzano this past spring, the Italians recorded nine points in five games, putting them in a three-way tie for second with Slovenia and Romania but failed to advance on tiebreakers. The 2025 World Championship Division I Group A will be in Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania.