Other stops in his playing career included Germany (Starbulls Rosenheim, Augsburger Panther), Sweden (Linköping HC) and Denmark (Herning Blue Fox).

Tirkkonen kicked off his career behind the bench immediately after retiring as a player and was appointed as head coach of Finnish second division side SaPKo prior to the 2008–09 season.

In the 2013–14 season, Tirkkonen won the Kalevi Numminen Trophy as the league's Coach of the Year.

He guided SaiPa to the Liiga semifinals that season, where they fell short to eventual champions Kärpät.

Tirkkonen parted ways with SaiPa following the 2015–16 season and was named head coach of EHC Kloten of the National League (NL) on June 24, 2016.