Naohiro Takahara

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Naohiro Takahara
高原 直泰
Takahara with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2012
Personal information
Full name Naohiro Takahara[1]
Date of birth (1979-06-04) 4 June 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1995–1997 Shimizu Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2002 Júbilo Iwata 105 (58)
2001 → Boca Juniors (loan) 6 (1)
2002–2006 Hamburg 97 (13)
2006–2008 Eintracht Frankfurt 38 (12)
2008–2010 Urawa Reds 63 (10)
2010 → Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan) 12 (4)
2011–2012 Shimizu S-Pulse 46 (9)
2013–2014 Tokyo Verdy 41 (11)
2014–2015 SC Sagamihara 54 (11)
2016–2023 Okinawa SV 62 (30)
Total 464 (129)
International career
1995 Japan U-17 3 (1)
1998–1999 Japan U-20 16 (16)
1998–2000 Japan U-23 11 (4)
2000–2008 Japan 57 (23)
Managerial career
2016–2019 Okinawa SV
2021–2023 Okinawa SV
Medal record
Júbilo Iwata
Winner J1 League 1999
Winner J1 League 2002
Runner-up J1 League 1998
Runner-up J1 League 2001
Winner J.League Cup 1998
Runner-up J.League Cup 2001
Shimizu S-Pulse
Runner-up J.League Cup 2012
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2000 Lebanon
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 1999 Nigeria
AFC U-19 Championship
Silver medal – second place 1998 Thailand
AFC U-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place 1994 Qatar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 December 2023, 13:22 (UTC)

Naohiro Takahara (高原 直泰, Takahara Naohiro, born 4 June 1979) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer. He also played for Japan's national football team. Currently, he is working as president for Okinawa SV.

Club career

Takahara was born in Mishima on 4 June 1979. After graduating from high school, he joined Júbilo Iwata in 1998. In 1998, the club won J.League Cup and he was selected New Hero awards. In 1999, the club won J1 League and Asian Club Championship. The club also reached second place at the 1999–2000 and 2000–01 Asian Club Championships. In August 2001, he moved to Boca Juniors on loan. He became the first Japanese player to play in the Argentine Primera División.[2]

In 2002, he returned to Júbilo Iwata. The club went on to win the 2002 J.League Division 1, while Takahara became the top scorer and was elected Most Valuable Player of the year.

After the 2002 season, Takahara moved to Hamburger SV. He made his Bundesliga debut on in January 2003 in a 2–2 draw against Hannover 96, thereby becoming the third Japanese footballer to play in Bundesliga after Yasuhiko Okudera and Kazuo Ozaki.[3] On 3 December 2006, he scored his first hat-trick in the Bundesliga in a match against Alemannia Aachen.

In January 2008 he moved to Urawa Reds for a transfer fee of around ¥180 million (around $1.7 million).[4] Due to a disagreement with the style of coach Volker Finke, who had taken over as coach of Urawa in 2009, Takahara was leased to Suwon Samsung Bluewings of the South Korean K League 1 in July of the following year. On 31 July 2010, he made his debut as a substitute for the 39th minute of the match against Gwangju FC. On 29 August, he scored a goal in the 39th minute of the second half of the game against FC Seoul. He helped victorious game 4-2 and won the MVP in this game.

In 2011, he returned to Japan and signed with Shimizu S-Pulse. After that, he played for J2 League club Tokyo Verdy (2013–14) and J3 League club SC Sagamihara (2014–15).

In December 2015, along with Japanese judoka Tadahiro Nomura, Takahara founded Okinawa SV.[5] He served not only as club's president, but also played and captained the club. On 27 November 2022, he brought his club a first-time promotion for the Japan Football League, after a 4–0 over FC Kariya led them to finish as runners-up at the 2022 Regional Champions League. He featured in the match as a late substitution. On 31 August 2023, Takahara announced his retirement at the end of this season.[6]

International career

In August 1995, Takahara was selected by the Japan U17 national team for 1995 U-17 World Championship. He played all three matches and scored one goal. In April 1999, he was also selected Japan U-20 national team for 1999 World Youth Championship. He played all seven matches and scored three goals. Japan achieved second place. In February 2000, he was selected by the Japan national team for 2000 Asian Cup qualification. At this qualification, on 13 February, he debuted against Singapore. He played all three matches and three goals and Japan won the qualify for 2000 Asian Cup.

In September, he was selected Japan U23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played all four matches and scored three goals in first match and quarterfinal. In October, he played at 2000 Asian Cup. He played five matches and scored five goals. Japan won the champions. However he missed the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by his home country and South Korea, because of lung disease (venous thrombosis).[7]

After 2002 World Cup, Takahara played at 2003 Confederations Cup. Although his convocation for Japan decreased due to the schedule, he played as regular player when he was elected Japan. In 2006, he was elected Japan for 2006 World Cup and he played all three matches. After 2006 World Cup, he played at 2007 Asian Cup. He played six matches and scored four goals, and became a top scorer. He played 57 games and scored 23 goals for Japan until 2008.[8]

2007 Asian Cup

Takahara finished top scorer after an impressive performance at the 2007 Asian Cup. He scored against Qatar in the first match, who Japan tied 1–1. Japan won the next match, against United Arab Emirates and Takahara impressed coach Ivica Osim with two goals. In the quarterfinal match against rivals Australia, Takahara scored the tying goal and sent the game to penalty kicks. Although Takahara missed his spot-kick, saves from goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi sent Japan through into the semifinals, where they lost to Saudi Arabia 3–2.

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 March 2023.[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Júbilo Iwata 1998 J.League / J. League Division 1 20 5 2 0 6 4 – 28 9
1999 21 9 3 1 1 0 – 25 10
2000 24 10 0 0 2 0 – 26 10
2001 13 8 0 0 2 2 – 15 10
2002 27 26 3 0 0 0 – 30 26
Total 105 58 8 1 11 6 – 124 65
Boca Juniors 2001–02 Argentine Primera División 6 1 – – 1 0 7 1
Hamburger SV 2002–03 Bundesliga 16 3 – – – 16 3
2003–04 29 2 3 1 3 1 2 0 37 4
2004–05 31 7 1 0 – *1 0 33 7
2005–06 21 1 2 1 – *10 0 33 2
Total 97 13 6 2 3 1 13 0 119 16
Eintracht Frankfurt 2006–07 Bundesliga 30 11 4 4 – 5 2 39 17
2007–08 8 1 2 0 – – 10 1
Total 38 12 6 4 – 5 2 49 18
Urawa Reds 2008 J.League Division 1 27 6 1 0 3 1 4 1 35 8
2009 32 4 0 0 8 2 – 40 6
2010 4 0 0 0 1 1 – 5 1
Total 63 10 1 0 12 4 4 1 80 15
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2010 K-League 12 4 1 0 – 1 0 14 4
Shimizu S-Pulse 2011 J.League Division 1 28 8 1 0 4 1 – 25 9
2012 18 1 0 0 2 0 – 20 1
Total 46 9 1 0 6 1 – 53 10
Tokyo Verdy 2013 J. League Division 2 41 11 0 0 – – 41 11
2014 0 0 0 0 – – 0 0
Total 41 11 0 0 – – 41 11
SC Sagamihara 2014 J3 League 21 5 0 0 – – 21 5
2015 33 6 0 0 – – 33 6
Total 54 11 0 0 – – 54 11
Okinawa SV 2018 Kyushu Soccer League 17 11 – 17 11
2019 11 7 2 1 – 19 8
2020 4 5 1 0 – 5 5
2021 15 5 1 0 – 16 5
2022 13 2 1 0 – 14 2
2023 Japan Football League 2 0 0 0 – 2 0
Total 68 30 5 1 – 73 31
Career total 530 159 28 8 32 12 24 3 614 182

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[8]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2000 11 8
2001 4 0
2002 4 1
2003 8 2
2004 5 1
2005 7 2
2006 5 3
2007 9 6
2008 4 0
Total 57 23
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takahara goal.
List of international goals scored by Naohiro Takahara
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 February 2000 Macau, China  Brunei 9–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2
3 20 February 2000 Macau, China  Macau 3–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4 14 October 2000 Sidon, Lebanon  Saudi Arabia 4–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup
5 17 October 2000 Sidon, Lebanon  Uzbekistan 8–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup
6
7
8 24 October 2000 Beirut, Lebanon  Iraq 4–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup
9 27 March 2002 Łódź, Poland  Poland 2–0 Friendly
10 20 August 2003 Tokyo, Japan  Nigeria 3–0 Friendly
11
12 31 March 2004 Jalan Besar, Singapore  Singapore 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 7 September 2005 Rifu, Japan  Honduras 5–4 Friendly
14 8 October 2005 Riga, Latvia  Latvia 2–2 Friendly
15 28 February 2006 Dortmund, Germany  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–2 Friendly
16 30 May 2006 Leverkusen, Germany  Germany 2–2 Friendly
17
18 24 March 2007 Yokohama, Japan  Peru 2–0 Friendly
19 1 June 2007 Fukuroi, Japan  Montenegro 2–0 Friendly
20 9 July 2007 Hanoi, Vietnam  Qatar 1–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup
21 13 July 2007 Hanoi, Vietnam  United Arab Emirates 3–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup
22
23 21 July 2007 Hanoi, Vietnam  Australia 1–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup

Managerial statistics

As of 19 March 2023.
Managerial record by club and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Okinawa SV 1 February 2016 31 January 2020 44 37 0 7 084.09
29 July 2021 present 40 30 6 4 075.00
Total 84 67 6 11 079.76

Honours

Júbilo Iwata

Hamburger SV

Okinawa SV (player-manager)

Japan U17

Japan U20

Japan

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Spreading Their Wings: Japanese Soccer Stars Seek Success Overseas", web-japan.org, accessed 20 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Takahara struggles in Hamburg SV debut". The Japan Times. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  4. ^ (in German) "Takahara leaves Eintracht" Archived 19 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, eintracht.de, accessed 4 January 2008.
  5. ^ (in Japanese) "沖縄SV立ち上げの高原は「代表兼監督兼選手」…県3部スタートも将来的なJリーグ入り視野"
  6. ^ "髙原直泰選手 今シーズンで選手引退のお知らせ". 31 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Takahara suffering lung disease again". ESPN. 31 May 2004. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  8. ^ a b Japan National Football Team Database
  9. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 2015 (NSK MOOK)", 14 February 2015, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411246 (p. 269 out of 298)
  10. ^ "Valencia 0-0 Hamburg (Aggregate: 0 - 1)". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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