Petter Kukkonen wrote a book about a great man of antiquity – found a sad connection with modern Finland: “It’s a shame to look”

in Jyväskylä situated Petter Kukkonen43, is remembered as the former head coach of the United. Kukkonen stepped aside from the task in 2022 and has worked as Yle’s expert since then. In addition to that, Kukkonen has worked hard in the field of literature.

In 2020, he published a novel set in Ancient Greece Olive trees never die (Docendo). While collecting material, Kukkonen came across a person whose significance he had no prior knowledge of.

– Alexander the Great known, but the background of his greatness was his father Philip IIKukkonen says.

Philippos (359-336 BC) was a Macedonian king who used his military skills to subjugate the disaffected Greek city-states. Kukkonen describes this era in his recent historical novel Northern dance (Teaching).

– My book is about the establishment of the first western nation-state based on the Macedonian spirit, Kukkonen explains.

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What is the right of one man to subjugate other nations under his rule.

Sports are also mentioned in the book, because Filippos won three times in a row in the chariot race in the ancient Olympic Games.

– Or more precisely, the horse harness he owned celebrated the victory, but the king’s name was entered in the history books.

Rooster has been thinking for a long time about what kind of historical events and upheavals contemporary society has been formed from.

Although the new novel takes place in the ancient world, points of comparison with the present can be found, for example, in Finland’s immediate neighbor.

– What is the right of one man to subjugate other peoples under his power, Kukkonen asks and says that he has learned from history that robber states do not easily give up their methods or the victories they have achieved.

For example, about conquered territories or achieved financial interests.

– Once a certain limit has been crossed, it is difficult to go back to the way it was before.

Regarding Russia and China, Kukkonen is pessimistic. He sees the situation in the United States as brighter.

– Although Donald Trump would be elected president, the country’s political system is more stable and cannot be completely controlled by one person.

Finland too there is no bird’s nest in this view. Kukkonen finds the Macedonian king’s use of power a bridge to this day.

– It’s a pity to see in which direction democracy is going in Finland.

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It seems that the decline in the level of civilization just continues.

According to Kukkonen, democracy is apparently developing thanks to technology, for example, but he is worried about the development of people.

– It seems that the decline in the level of education just continues, Kukkonen worries.

While writing the book, Kukkonen was constantly thinking about today’s Finland and the social debate.

– Democracy is based on the fact that we have to give up something in order to get something for ourselves.

Kukkonen sees this very rarely.

– Even our top politicians find it difficult to speak respectfully of their competitors.

Kukkonen knows that it is partly about theatre.

– But at the same time, MPs are role models for citizens.

Fresh in addition to the book, Kukkonen is also relevant in the theater. Jyväskylä-based Teatterikone has harnessed Kukkonen’s biographical work The anatomy of winning to the stage. Will Kiljusen directed by the show will premiere at the end of November.

Kukkonen has just gone to watch the first reading exercises.

– In the theater version, it is emphasized that the daily life of a sports team is not as glamorous as the media might suggest.

According to Kukkonen, top athletes have the same concerns about human life as ordinary street people.

– In the play, the surface of pure sport is broken and brutal everyday life is shown.