Coach's Info

Takeshi Okada - Japan coach Takeshi Okada has become a national celebrity after guiding his country to their first World Cup finals. Okada has dominated the sports headlines since Japan secured a place in France on a steamy night in Malaysia last November. A tense 3-2 extra-time victory over Iran in a play-off match at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru changed Okada's life overnight. He has since been hounded by television reporters and newspaper journalists who devour his every word as they seek to fill the column inches in Japan's numerous sports papers. Okada replaced Shu Kamo as national team manager in October, 1997 after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier. At that stage the country's hopes of reaching France looked remote. But Japan were unbeaten in his first eight matches in charge, including five World Cup qualifying games which took his side to the finals. Okada has since experimented with the team and has brought in some very promising young players. He was Kamo's assistant for three years after they were appointed by the Japan Football Association in December 1994. Okada played for Japan's national youth team and the national university team during his time at Waseda University. He joined Furukawa Electric Company in 1980 and played for Furukawa FC (forerunners of J-League side JEF United Ichihara). Okada made 189 appearances for Furukawa and received a Japan Soccer League (JSL) Championship medal, two JSL Cup winners medals and an Asian Club Championship winners medal. He also played for Japan 26 times, including appearances in the qualifying games for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and the Mexico World Cup in 1986. When Okada retired as a player in 1990 he began his coaching career with Furukawa FC. In a short time he has come a long way.