It has been decided that J1 and former Kashima Antlers coach Go Oiwa will be appointed as the new coaches for the Japanese national football team aiming for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This was approved by the board of directors of the Japan Football Association held on the 16th.
The Japanese national football team for the Tokyo Olympics was commanded by Hajime Moriyasu, who also served as an age-restricted national team, but in the tournament he lost in the bronze medal match and did not win a medal.
According to the association, Go Oiwa, who was the director of J1 and Kashima Antlers based on his experience as a J1 coach and his achievements in Asia, will lead the Japanese national team under the age of 21 aiming for the Paris Olympics three years later. It means that it has been decided.
Mr. Oiwa is 49 years old from Shizuoka prefecture.
During his active career, he played for Kashima Antlers as a defender and has participated in three games as a representative of Japan.
After retiring, he led the J1 Kashima Antlers from the middle of the 2017 season, won the ACL = Asian Champions League for the first time in club history in 2018, and has also served as the coach of the Japanese national team under the age of 18.
In order to qualify for the Paris tournament, it is necessary to win the qualifying round in Asia, and Koji Sorimachi, technical chairman of the Japan Football Association, said, "Knowing how to fight in Asia was one of the judgment factors. The Olympics occupy a very important position in the Japanese soccer world. I hope they will reach the medals at the next Paris tournament. "