Masami Ihara

Masami Ihara
Personal information
Full name Masami Ihara
Date of birth (1967-09-18) September 18, 1967
Place of birth Minakuchi, Shiga, Japan
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Defender
Youth career
1983–1986 Moriyama High School
1986–1990 University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1990–1999 Nissan Motors 267 (5)
2000 Júbilo Iwata 20 (1)
2001–2002 Urawa Red Diamonds 54 (1)
National team
1988–1999[1] Japan 122 (5)
Teams managed
2006–2008 Japan U-23 (Assistant)
2009–2014 Kashiwa Reysol (Assistant)
2009 Kashiwa Reysol (Caretaker)
2013 Kashiwa Reysol (Caretaker)
2015– Avispa Fukuoka

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Masami Ihara (井原 正巳 Ihara Masami, born September 18, 1967 in Minakuchi, Shiga) is a former Japanese football player. The influential defender was captain of the Japan national football 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 among male footballers.[2] (Homare Sawa has surpassed that total among Japanese women).

Career

Ihara was rarely out of the spotlight in the emerging J. League throughout the 1990s. He spent most of his career with Yokohama Marinos and formed a key defensive partnership with the flamboyant Tsuyoshi Kitazawa at club level. After graduating from Tsukuba University, Ihara joined Nissan Motors SC (now known as Yokohama F. 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.

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 four defence with strong centre-back Yutaka Akita as well as speedy fullbacks Naoki Soma and Akira Narahashi (all from Kashima Antlers). Young Marinos goalkeeper, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was Japan's first choice goalkeeper at the time.

After leaving Marinos, Ihara also spent a season with Júbilo Iwata and his last 2 seasons with Urawa Red Diamonds prior to becoming a coach.

Club career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J. League Cup Total
1990/91Nissan MotorsJSL Division 122240262
1991/9222030250
1992Yokohama MarinosJ. League 1-5080130
19933201000330
19944114020471
199547120-491
199629110130431
19972202000240
19982701000280
1999Yokohama F. MarinosJ. League 12503060340
2000Júbilo IwataJ. League 12010030231
2001Urawa Red DiamondsJ. League 12614060361
20022800091371
Country Japan 34172305414188
Total 34172305414188

International career statistics

[4]

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

Coach career

Managerial statistics

As of 1 December 2015.
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Avispa Fukuoka January 2015 Present 46 27 10 9 58.70
Total 46 27 10 9 58.70

Honors and awards

National team

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IHARA Masami". Japan National Football Team Database.
  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. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ihara-intl.html

External links

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