Background
Kanerva, who is known by the nickname "Rive", was born in Helsinki.
Kanerva, who is known by the nickname "Rive", was born in Helsinki.
He is currently managing the Finnish national team In Finland, he played as a central defender and full back in his hometown clubs HJK (1983–1990 and 1994–1998) and the season 1994 in the then local rivals FinnPa. The seasons 1991 and 1992, he played in the Swedish team IF Elfsborg.
His last years as a player were shadowed by injuries, but he was still an important part of the HJK defence.
His playing career ended in 1998 which included the historical Champions League participation. At the Finnish top league, he played total of 291 matches and scored 29 goals.
Kanerva worked as a school teacher already during his playing career, but since then he has been concentrating on football coaching. In 2001 and 2002, he was an assistant coach of Jyrki Heliskoski and Keith Armstrong in his former club HJK, and in 2003 he was the head coach of the East Helsinki club Football Club Viikingit.
As the head coach of under-21 side, he led the team to the 2009 European Championships final tournament.
In the same year, he was awarded the in Finland. On 29 November 2010, it was announced that Kanerva would coach the Finnish national team for the Spring period in 2011 while the Finnish FA will be seaking a new head coach. Mika Laurikainen will take his place as the U21 coach.