The Samurais' New Coach
The Japan Football Association (JFA) team can finally start anew, now that a new coach has been appointed. Former Juventus and AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has been appointed the new coach of the Samurai Blues, replacing Takeshi Okada. The JPA has signed in the 57-year-old for a two-year contract worth $2.36 million. Zaccheroni may extend that contract for another two years if he wishes to. Zaccheroni is the team’s sixth foreign manager and the first Italian to take the position. His new title was officially unveiled in a news conference in Tokyo yesterday.
This is a relief for JFA’s technical director Hiromi Hara, who had been under fire for the slow selection process. He initially set his deadline to August 15, then to October, but he eventually moved it to the first Saturday of September. Names of decorated coaches such as Manuel Pellegrini, Marcelo Bisela, Ernesto Valverde, Victor Fernandez and Ronald Koeman have emerged on the list of prospects; even Kashima Antlers’ Oswaldo Oliveira declared his interest. However, Hara wanted to take his time in carefully picking out Okada’s successor.
“As the most important point, we'll see how each candidate could strengthen our national team. We’d like to make a decision by taking account of not only experience but personality and passion for Japan. We don't want to rush anything,” Hara said to defend himself. Okada has raised the bar for the Japanese team and JFA wants to ensure that the team moves forward and progresses.
The World Cup and Okada's Retirement
Takeshi Okada announced his retirement following the team’s defeat to Paraguay in the round of 16 in South Africa. The Samurais exhibited a very promising performance; perhaps one of Asia’s best in the World Cup. Japan started with a poor build-up but they showed improvement as they beat Cameroon and Denmark in the group stage. It was only Netherlands who beat them 1-0. Their campaign ended in a 5-3 loss against Paraguay in a penalty shoot-out.
The loss was a tearful one for the Samurais and the entire Japanese nation but the team exited their World Cup campaign with pride, knowing that they had exceeded the expectations of many. It was a turbulent road for the Japanese; they had a rather poor start and have never won a match in a foreign land.
Coach Okada only had praise for his boys but blames himself for the team’s early exit. “In terms of how we played, I have no regrets at all. The players were really wonderful and they've been truly proud of being Japanese and also representing Asia as a whole. They played until the end and I'm proud of them. I was not able to make them win - that's my responsibility.," said Okada, after their last match in Pretoria.
He wished that he motivated his players more. “When I look back at what I could have done for the players, I think that as head coach I should be more insistent on winning. That's really the only thought that came to mind after the match,” explained Okada.
Okada has decided not to rectify his shortcomings because he announced his retirement shortly after their World Cup campaign. The 53-year-old coach, perhaps one of the best in Japan, has decided to step down after their hopes were shattered.
“I have nothing left now - I think I will retire from the job,” Okada said. He feels that it is time for the team to be mentored by a new coach and take their dreams forward. He stepped down with happiness knowing that he supervised one of the best teams in Japan’s history.
Why Alberto Zaccheron?
Hara was very careful in selecting Okada’s successor. The technical director was very specific in his qualifications for the Samurais' new manager: “The new manager must have experience coaching at the highest levels in Europe or South America, like the Champions League or the Copa Libertadores. He must also respect Japan and seek to play to our strengths like [Ivica] Osim and [Takeshi] Okada did. He must also be willing to work in Asia, endure all the travelling and the difference in religions, and work with Japanese staff. He must be in sound health because the national team coach's job is a high-pressure job."
Zaccheroni might be a surprise name on the list. For one, he does not boast a coaching experience full of championships. He did win a Serie A championship in 1998-1999, but other candidates in Hara’s list have a more substantial resume. For instance, FC Porto won the Intercontinental Cup under Fernandez’s tutelage. When it comes to knowledge of the Japanese country, Oliveira of Kashimira Antlers’ obviously has an edge over the Italian. On top of that, his coaching career in the Land of the Rising Sun has been successful so far. The Antlers won an Emperor Supercup, three Japanese League titles, and a Japanese Supercup under his management.
Zaccheroni may have had a title already but he has no experience in international coaching. The Italian thinks that he is a suitable coach for the team, having a sense of balance between offensive and defensive play. But he wants to step out of his comfort zone. "The only way to expand my big challenge is to coach a national team," said Zaccheroni.
Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, wrote that Zaccheroni’s “offensive” style of coaching may be ideal for Japan’s well-organised defence. And even if he has not coached a national team, he has experienced guiding one of the best clubs in the world. His experience can be beneficial to the Samurais.
The coach is eager to guide the Japanese all the way. He aims to put Japan in the top three at the Asian Cup and guide the Samurais to Brazil. A solid defence is essential in a powerful team but that is only half of the equation. The Samurais are hoping that Zaccheroni will strengthen their offence to bring them closer to winning more titles.
Tags: