Since the beginning of 2019, he worked as a head coach of Inter Turku II academy team in the fourth-tier Kolmonen.
[9] On 13 June 2023, after Jyrki Ahola had stepped down due to personal health reasons, it was announced that Ates was named the head coach of Järvenpään Palloseura (JäPS) on a two-year deal, starting in the 2024 season in new second-tier Ykkösliiga.
[12] On 12 July 2024, Ates was named the head coach of GIF Sundsvall in Swedish Superettan,[13] signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
[15][16] Ates managed to improve the team's performance and get some positive results, and led them to finish 13th in Superettan.
In late November, Sundsvall successfully defended its league spot in the relegation play-offs, defeating Stockholm Internazionale 4–2 on aggregate.