COACHES from Japan

Top 8

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Japanese Coaches of all time. This list of famous Japanese Coaches is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.

1. Norio Sasaki (b. 1958)

With an HPI of 45.86, Norio Sasaki is the most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 35 different languages on wikipedia.

Norio Sasaki (佐々木 則夫, Sasaki Norio, born 24 May 1958) is a Japanese football coach and former player who is currently the general manager of Omiya Ardija Ventus and interim manager for Japan national women's team. 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. Sasaki also coached the Japan women's U-20 national team starting in 2007.

2. Hiroshi Ohashi (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 36.27, Hiroshi Ohashi is the 2nd most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Hiroshi Ohashi (大橋 浩司, Ohashi Hiroshi, born October 27, 1959) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He managed Japan women's national team.

3. Tatsuma Yoshida (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 35.40, Tatsuma Yoshida is the 3rd most famous Japanese Coach.  Her biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Tatsuma Yoshida (吉田 達磨, Yoshida Tatsuma, born 9 June 1974) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He was previously the head coach of the Singapore national team, serving from 2019 to 2021 which he was famously known in the country for enhancing Singapore fluidity football. As a player, Tatsuma spent the majority of his career with Montedio Yamagata.

4. Keiichiro Nuno (b. 1960)

With an HPI of 35.11, Keiichiro Nuno is the 4th most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Keiichiro Nuno (布 啓一郎, Nuno Keiichiro, born December 21, 1960) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He was currently manager of Vonds Ichihara until 31 January 2023.

5. Tsutomu Ogura (b. 1966)

With an HPI of 34.18, Tsutomu Ogura is the 5th most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Tsutomu Ogura (小倉 勉, Ogura Tsutomu, born July 18, 1963) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Singapore national football team.

6. Shuhei Yomoda (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 32.13, Shuhei Yomoda is the 6th most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Shuhei Yomoda (四方田 修平, Yomoda Shūhei, born March 14, 1973) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who is the manager of J1 League club Yokohama FC.

7. Kazuaki Yoshinaga (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 29.90, Kazuaki Yoshinaga is the 7th most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Kazuaki Yoshinaga (吉永一明, Yoshinaga Kazuaki, born March 17, 1968, in Fukuoka, Japan) is a Japanese coach. He is the former head coach at Singapore Premier League club, Albirex Niigata (S).

8. Riki Takagi (b. 1978)

With an HPI of 24.67, Riki Takagi is the 8th most famous Japanese Coach.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Riki Takagi (髙木 理己, Takagi Riki, born July 13, 1978) is a Japanese football manager. He currently manager of AC Nagano Parceiro.