Ichizo Nakata

Nakata was born in Iga on April 19, 1973. He played for many clubs as defensive position, defender and defensive midfielder. After graduating from high school, he joined Yokohama Flügels in 1992. The club won the champions 1993 Emperor's Cup and 1994–95 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 1996, he moved to J1 League club, Avispa Fukuoka and played in 2 seasons. In 1998, he moved to Japan Football League club Oita Trinity (later Oita Trinita). In October 1998, he moved to JEF United Ichihara. He played many matches until 2000. In 2001, he played for Oita Trinita again. In 2002, he moved to J1 League club, Vegalta Sendai, however he could hardly play in the matches due to injury. In 2004, he moved to Ventforet Kofu.

In 2019, Nakata signed with J2 League club Kyoto Sanga FC. He implemented a possession based style of play which had Kyoto sitting in second place in the table in the middle of the season. However results detiorated in the second half of the season and Kyoto finished in 8th place, two points short of the play-off places. His last game in charge was a 13–1 defeat to champions Kashiwa Reysol and he stepped down at the end of the season. In August 2023, he was appointed as a player development coach at J2 League club Shimizu S-Pulse/ Following the dismissal of Julián Marín, in September 2024 Nakata was announced as the new manager of J3 League club Nara Club.