Norio Sasaki is a celebrated Japanese football player and manager known for his impactful coaching career.
He led the Japanese women's national team to their first FIFA Women's World Cup win in 2011, defeating the United States in a penalty shootout.
Sasaki was awarded the Women's Best Coach Award at the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or for his outstanding coaching achievements.
Biography
Early Life
Norio Sasaki, a prominent figure in Japanese football, began his journey in the sport during his high school years at Teikyo High School, where he captained the team to victory in the national inter-high school competition. He further honed his skills at Meiji University, contributing to his team's success and later joining the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone company club, NTT Kanto, as a midfielder/defender. His efforts helped the club achieve promotion to Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1986 before he retired from playing at the age of 33.
Coaching Career
Transitioning from player to coach, Sasaki took the helm of Omiya Ardija in 1998 and held various roles within the club, including youth team head coach. His significant breakthrough came in 2006 when he became the assistant coach of the Japan women's national football team while also leading the U-20 team. In 2008, he was promoted to head coach of the national team, where he achieved remarkable success. Under his leadership, the Nadeshiko Japan team won the EAFF Women's Football Championship in both 2008 and 2010, and they finished fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Sasaki's crowning achievement came in 2011 when he led the Japanese women's national team to their first FIFA Women's World Cup victory, defeating the United States in a dramatic penalty shootout. This victory earned the team the People's Honour Award, and Sasaki was recognized as the Women's Best Coach at the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2012. He continued to lead the team through the 2012 Olympics, where they secured a silver medal, and the 2015 World Cup, finishing as runners-up.
Legacy
Sasaki's contributions to women's football in Japan have been monumental. He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2019, and his coaching accolades include multiple championships and individual awards, solidifying his status as a key figure in the sport. Today, he serves as the coordinator of Nadeshiko Japan, continuing to influence the future of women's football in Japan.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Sasaki studied at and played for Teikyo High School and Meiji University. At Teikyo High School, he won the national inter-high school competition as team captain. His high school club also advanced to the semi-final at the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament. After graduating from Meiji University, Sasaki started to work for Nippon Telegraph and Telephone and joined company club NTT Kanto. He was a midfielder/defender. He contributed to the club's promotion to Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1986. Sasaki retired from playing at the age of 33.
Sasaki served as the head coach of Japan Football League side Omiya Ardija in 1998, then took various other positions at Omiya, including the youth team head-coach and the head of development. In 2006, Sasaki became the assistant coach of Japan women's national football team, as well as the head coach of its U-20 team. In 2008, he was promoted to the head coach of the national team, succeeding Hiroshi Ohashi. Under Sasaki's reign, Nadeshiko won the EAFF Women's Football Championship in 2008 and again in 2010. He also led the Japan Women to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Sasaki and his team won the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, which upset host nation Germany and then Sweden to reach the tournament final, and beat the United States 3–1 in a penalty shoot-out in the final. Nadeshiko became the 19th recipient of Japan's People's Honour Award for winning the World Cup. On 9 January 2012, Sasaki was awarded the Women's Best Coach Award in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sasaki led Japan to their first Olympic medal, a silver, after reaching the final but losing 2–1 to the United States in the final. At the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, Sasaki, who attempted to become only the 2nd coach since Vittorio Pozzo's Italian team 77 years ago to win two FIFA World Cup finals, oversaw a 2nd-place effort, as the Japanese lost 5–2 to the US in the final. At 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, following Japan's failure…
- Club
- RB Omiya Ardija (1989–1990)
Legacy
Managerial honours
Japan Women EAFF Women's Football Championship: 2008, 2010 Asian Games: 2010, Runner-up: 2014 FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011, Runner-up: 2015 Olympic Silver Medal: 2012 AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014 Individual AFC Coach of the Year: 2011 FIFA World Women's Coach of the year: 2011 Japan Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2019 Decorations People's Honour Award: 2011
Clubs
Played together with
Akihiro IenagaRB Omiya Ardija · 2014- Akinari KawazuraRB Omiya Ardija
- Akinori KosakaRB Omiya Ardija · 1998–2002
- Akira IshigameRB Omiya Ardija · 2004–2008
- Akira ItoRB Omiya Ardija · 2002–2003
- Alex GarciaRB Omiya Ardija · 2001–2001
- Alexandre FinazziRB Omiya Ardija · 2003–2003
- Alfredo AndersonRB Omiya Ardija · 2001–2001
- Alison Barros MoraesRB Omiya Ardija · 2006–2007
An Yong-hakRB Omiya Ardija · 2010–2010- Antônio Bezerra BrandãoRB Omiya Ardija · 2001–2006
- Arata SugiyamaRB Omiya Ardija · 2010–2011
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Norio Sasaki is a Japanese football coach and former player. He is best known for leading the Japanese women's national team to their first and only FIFA Women's World Cup win in 2011 over the United States on penalty shootouts. He retired as head coach in March 2016 after eight years. Today, he is the coordinator of Nadeshiko Japan. Sasaki also coached the Japan women's U-20 national team starting in 2007.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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