Ates was born in Konya, Turkey. He was raised in Turkey until 2007, when his family relocated to Finland when he was 12 years old.[2] They settled in Turku, where Ates started playing football in the youth sector of FC Inter Turku.[3]
He returned to his former club Inter Turku as a youth coach in 2018. Since the beginning of 2019, he worked as a head coach of Inter Turku II academy team in the fourth-tier Kolmonen.[7][8] During 2021–2022, Ates was an assistant coach of Inter Turku first team in Veikkausliiga. He left the club after the 2022 season.[9]
JäPS
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. It was also announced that first Ates will work for JäPS as a technical advisor for the remainder of the 2023 season.[1][10][11]
Since 2023, Ates has also worked for Naantali-based VG-62 for the coaching development in the club.[12]
GIF Sundsvall
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.[14] The team were sitting close to relegation zone in the league standings.[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.[17]
