Masami Ihara

Masami Ihara (井原 正巳, Ihara Masami, born September 18, 1967) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.

Masami Ihara
井原 正巳
Personal information
Full name Masami Ihara
Date of birth (1967-09-18) September 18, 1967
Place of birth Koka, Shiga, Japan
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
1983–1985 Moriyama High School
1986–1989 University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1999 Nissan Motors / Yokohama Marinos / Yokohama F. Marinos 267 (5)
2000 Júbilo Iwata 20 (1)
2001–2002 Urawa Reds 54 (1)
Total 341 (7)
National team
1988–1999 Japan 122 (5)
Teams managed
2006–2008 Japan U-23 (assistant)
2009–2014 Kashiwa Reysol (assistant)
2015–2018 Avispa Fukuoka
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

The influential defender was captain of the Japan national team for more than a decade in the 1990s, together with striker Kazuyoshi Miura and Brazilian-born midfielder Ruy Ramos. Ihara's long standing record of 122 national team appearances was bested by Yasuhito Endo on October 16, 2012[1][2]

Club career

Ihara was rarely out of the spotlight in the emerging J1 League throughout the 1990s. He spent most of his career with Yokohama F. Marinos and formed a key defensive partnership with the flamboyant Tsuyoshi Kitazawa at club level. After graduating from University of Tsukuba, he joined Nissan Motors (later Yokohama Marinos) and rapidly rose through the Marinos youth ranks to become a key player. The long-serving Ihara was so important to his club that he was nicknamed Mister Marinos by many Japanese fans.[3] He formed the backbone of the club and also helped to bring on talented youngsters like Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and Shunsuke Nakamura.

After leaving Marinos, Ihara also spent a season with Júbilo Iwata (2000) and his last 2 seasons with Urawa Reds (2001-2002). He retired in 2002. He played 341 games and scored 7 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven for 6 years in a row (1991/92-1997)

National team career

On January 27, 1988, when Ihara was a University of Tsukuba student, he debuted for Japan national team against United Arab Emirates. After debut, he became a regular player and he played at 1990 World Cup qualification and 1990 Asian Games. In 1992, Japan won Asian Cup first time. However, at 1994 World Cup qualification, Japan failed to won for qualify to 1994 World Cup. After that, Ihara became a captain for Japan and played at 1995 King Fahd Cup and 1996 Asian Cup. In 1997, at 1998 World Cup qualification, Japan won for qualify 1998 World Cup first time. During the 1998 World Cup in France, the veteran sweeper's experience was crucial to Japan's survival in their very first World Cup appearance, forming a flat back three defence with strong centre-back Yutaka Akita as well as speedy fullbacks Eisuke Nakanishi (or strong centre-back Norio Omura). Young Marinos goalkeeper, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was Japan's first choice goalkeeper at the time. After 1998 World Cup, he played at 1999 Copa América. This competition was his last game for Japan. He played 122 games and scored 5 goals for Japan until 1999.[4]

Coaching career

In 2006, Ihara became the assistant coach for the Japan U-23 national team and spent two years.

He then became the assistant coach for club Kashiwa Reysol in 2009, being the caretaker on two occasions.

After a horrible three years of being at the bottom half of the table in the J2 League, Avispa Fukuoka then hired Ihara as their coach, replacing the former Marijan Pušnik. Under Ihara, then club went on to win 24 games out of 42 and collected a total of 82 points, ending their regular season in third place. Avispa then went on to the playoffs, where they beat V-Varen Nagasaki 1-0, and then drew 1-1 against Cerezo Osaka. Avispa eventually ended up getting promoted to the J1 League as they were the higher-seeded team.

Ihara's first match in charge of Avispa in the 2016 J1 League was a 2-1 away loss against Sagan Tosu. The first win in the league was on their eighth match in a 0-1 away win in Tokyo against FC Tokyo.

He resigned end of 2018 season.[5]

Club statistics
Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
1990/91Nissan MotorsJSL Division 122240262
1991/9222030250
1992Yokohama MarinosJ1 League-5080130
19933201000330
19944114020471
199547120-491
199629110130431
19972202000240
19982701000280
1999Yokohama F. MarinosJ1 League2503060340
2000Júbilo IwataJ1 League2010030231
2001Urawa RedsJ1 League2614060361
20022800091371
Total 34172305414188

National team statistics

[4]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
198850
1989110
199060
199120
1992110
1993152
199491
1995161
1996130
1997211
1998100
199930
Total1225

Managerial statistics

[6]

Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Kashiwa Reysol 2009 2009 2 0 1 1 000.00
Avispa Fukuoka 2015 2018 160 68 41 51 042.50
Total 162 68 42 52 041.98

Honours and awards

National team

See also

References
  1. "IHARA Masami". Japan National Football Team Database. Archived from the original on 2013-09-22.
  2. "SOCCER/ Endo's Japan record ruined by Brazil thumping". Asahi Shimbun. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  3. "Masami Ihara". J-League Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  4. Japan National Football Team Database
  5. Avispa Fukuoka(in Japanese)
  6. J.League Data Site(in Japanese)
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