Miika Takkula

Miika Takkula (born 17 April 1983) is a Finnish sporting director and former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently working as the sporting director of Veikkausliiga club Ilves.

Playing career
During his playing career, Takkula played in Finland for his hometown clubs Tervarit and AC Oulu in Ykkönen and in Kakkonen. He ended his playing career after the 2007 season due to injuries.

Career
After his retirement as a player, Takkula started to work in HJK Helsinki organisation in 2008. He started in an after-school day care arranged by the club. He worked with youth teams, as a youth coach and as an academy coach, and additionally in other positions in the club. In 2018–2019, he spent eight months in Australia working in a local academy of AC Milan.

In July 2019, Takkula returned to Finland and was named the sporting director of HJK. During his four-year spell in HJK, the club won three Finnish Championship titles in a row and qualified to the group stages of European competitions in three consecutive seasons.

In the middle of the 2023 season, it was announced that Takkula departed HJK and was named the sporting director of fellow Veikkausliiga side Ilves. Takkula had worked in different roles in HJK for a total of 15 years before his departure.

Personal life
He is the brother of Finnish politician and former MEP Hannu Takkula, and cellist Heikki Takkula.