Takeshi Okada is a prominent figure in Japanese football, known for his dual role as a player and manager.
He played for JEF United Chiba from 1980 to 1990, making 189 appearances and scoring 9 goals.
Okada represented the Japan men's national football team from 1980 to 1985, earning 24 caps.
Biography
Early Life
Takeshi Okada was born on August 25, 1956, in Osaka, Japan. He pursued higher education at Waseda University, where he honed his skills in football, setting the stage for a successful career in the sport.
Playing Career
Okada began his professional career in 1980 when he joined the Japan Soccer League club Furukawa Electric, which later became known as JEF United Chiba. Over the course of his decade-long tenure with the club, he made a significant impact, playing 189 matches and scoring 9 goals. His contributions helped the team secure the 1982 JSL Cup, and in 1986, they won both the JSL and JSL Cup, with Okada being named to the Best Eleven. Notably, he was part of the squad that won the 1986 Asian Club Championship, marking a historic achievement as the first Asian champions from Japan. Okada also represented the Japan national team from 1980 to 1985, earning 24 caps and scoring once, including participation in the 1982 Asian Games and the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Coaching Career
After retiring in 1990, Okada transitioned into coaching, starting with Furukawa Electric. His coaching career took a significant turn when he became the head coach of the Japan national team in 1995. He made history by leading Japan to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 1998, although the team did not advance past the group stage. Okada later coached Consadole Sapporo, where he led them to a J2 League title, and Yokohama F. Marinos, where he won consecutive Best Manager awards in 2003 and 2004. His most notable achievement came when he returned to the national team in 2007, guiding them to a ninth-place finish in the 2010 World Cup, showcasing his ability to develop young talent and create a competitive team.
Legacy
Today, Takeshi Okada is recognized not only for his contributions as a player but also for his impactful coaching career, which has left a lasting legacy in Japanese football. He is currently the owner of FC Imabari, continuing his involvement in the sport he loves.
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Career & Clubs
Okada was born in Osaka on August 25, 1956. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Japan Soccer League (JSL) club Furukawa Electric in 1980. In 1982, the club won 1982 JSL Cup. In 1986, the club won JSL and JSL Cup and he was selected Best Eleven. The club also won 1986 Asian Club Championship. This is the first Asian champions as Japanese club. He retired in 1990. He played 189 games and scored 9 goals in the league.
On June 9, 1980, Okada debuted for Japan national team against Hong Kong. In 1982, he selected Japan for 1982 Asian Games. At the Asian Games, he played two games and scored a goal against South Korea. He also played in the 1980 Summer Olympics qualification and in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification. He played 24 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 1985.
After retirement, Okada started his coaching career at Furukawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara) in 1990. In 1995, he became a coach for the Japan national team. During the 1998 World Cup qualification Final round in October 1997, Japan's manager Shu Kamo was sacked and Okada was named his successor. In November, Okada led Japan to qualify for the 1998 World Cup for the first time in Japan's history. At the 1998 World Cup, Japan lost all 3 matches and he resigned after the World Cup. In 1999, Okada signed with J2 League club Consadole Sapporo. In 2000, he led the club to win the J2 League and promoted the club to the J1 League. He resigned at the end of the 2001 season. In 2003, he signed with Yokohama F. Marinos. The club won the league title and he was also awarded Best Manager for 2 years in a row in 2003 and 2004. From 2005, the club performance was sluggish and he resigned in August 2006. In November 2007, Japan national team manager Ivica Osim suffered a cerebral infarction. In December, Okada was named a new manager for Japan. In 2008, he selected numerous new young players, including Atsuto Uchida, Shinji Kagawa, Yuto Nagatomo, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki and many others. In 2009, Japan qualified for the 2010 World Cup. Okada gained worldwide attention for leading Japan to ninth-place finish in the 2010 World Cup. He was commended for turning his Japanese team of young, inexperienced players into a slick passing, talented squad of youngsters. He resigned after…
- Club
- JEF United Chiba (1980–1990)
- Club
- Japan men's national football team (1980–1985)
- National team
- Japan
Clubs
- JEF United Chiba1980–1990
- Japan men's national football team1980–1985
Played together with
Ado OnaiwuJEF United Chiba · 2014- Akihiro HyodoJEF United Chiba · 2012–2014
- Akihiro TabataJEF United Chiba · 2001–2002
- Akira TakeuchiJEF United Chiba · 2011–2014
- Alex Antônio de Melo SantosJEF United Chiba · 2009–2010
An Byong-junJEF United Chiba · 2015–2015
Andrew KumagaiJEF United Chiba · 2017
Arnold ScholtenJEF United Chiba · 1997–1998- Atsuhiko EjiriJEF United Chiba · 1990–1998
- Atsushi ItoJEF United Chiba · 2006–2008
- Atsushi ShiraiJEF United Chiba · 1997–1998
- Atsuto TataraJEF United Chiba · 2016
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Takeshi Okada is a Japanese football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is currently the owner of FC Imabari.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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