Takahiro Shimada

Shimada was born in Osaka Prefecture on February 9, 1965. After graduating from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, he joined Matsushita Electric (later Gamba Osaka) in 1987. He became a regular player as center back from first season. In 1990, the club won the champions Emperor's Cup, which was the first major title in the club's history. He retired at the end of the 1997 season.

After retirement, Shimada became a coach for Gamba Osaka in 1998, managing its youth team until 2010. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the coach of the junior youth team, before returning as a youth team coach in 2017 and becoming its head coach in 2018.