Takeshi Okada (岡田 武史, Okada Takeshi, born August 25, 1956) is a Japanese football manager and former player who played as a defender.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

Takeshi Okada
岡田 武史

25 May 2010
Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-08-25) 25 August 1956 (age 67)
Place of birth	Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1972–1974	Tennoji High School
1976–1979	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980–1990	Furukawa Electric	189	(9)
Total		189	(9)
International career
1980–1985	Japan	24	(1)
Managerial career
1997–1998	Japan
1999–2001	Consadole Sapporo
2003–2006	Yokohama F. Marinos
2007–2010	Japan
2012–2013	Hangzhou Greentown
2013–2014	Hangzhou Greentown (Advisor)
2014–2016	Imabari
2016–2023	Japan (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
2016–2018	Japan (Vice-President)
Medal record Furukawa Electric Winner Japan Soccer League 1985/86 Winner JSL Cup 1982 Winner JSL Cup 1986 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1984
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Close

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.^[1]

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.^[2] He resigned after the 2010 World Cup. In November, he was awarded AFC Coach of the Year.^{[citation needed]}

Okada signed a contract with Chinese Super League side Hangzhou Greentown on 14 December 2011.^[3] He extended his contract for two years in the end of 2012 season. However, he resigned from Hangzhou on 5 November 2013.^[4]

In November 2014, he bought a majority stake in FC Imabari and became a chairman of the club.^[5] In March 2016, he became a vice-president of Japan Football Association and served until March 2018.^{[citation needed]}

^[7]