Hiromi Hara
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japanese
football player. He currently serves as technical director for the Japanese national football team
.
in 1981, Hara joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F.C.
(later to be Urawa Red Diamonds
) as a forward.
Between 1978 and 1988 Hara played 75 games for the Japanese national football team
, scoring 32 goals. Hara was known for his headers and was aptly nicknamed the "Asian Nuclear Warhead".
of the Youth Team of his old club, which had been renamed by this point as Urawa Red Diamonds
. In 1998 Hara became the manager of Urawa's top squad. Initially he saw success, with the team achieving a 3rd place finish for J.League's second stage in 1998. However, during J.Legue's first stage of 1999, the team finished 13th in the standings and Hara was released.
Following his release from Urawa, Hara travelled to Spain to study the coaching methods applied by several La Liga
clubs. Upon returning to Japan, he spent two years working as a commentator
for Sky PerfecTV!.
, Teruyuki Moniwa
and Akira Kaji, introduced Spanish-style tactics into the young and fresh team, and won J. League Cup
in 2004. Hara was released from his position as manager of the club in 2005. However in 2007 he was re-appointed as the club's manager, but was again released only after one season.
as its new technical director for the Japanese national football team
, responsible for strengthening the national team. After fellow Waseda alumnus Takeshi Okada
stepped down after leading Japan to a lauded performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, Hara was given the responsibility for finding his replacement, which was revealed in late August after protracted negotiations in Europe to be the Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni. He also took charge in a caretaker capacity for the friendlies against Paraguay
, leading Japan to a 1-0 win, and Guatemala
, both of which were held at his former hunting ground in Saitama.
|1981||rowspan="11"|Mitsubishi Motors
||rowspan="8"|JSL Division 1
||18||4||||||||||18||4
|-
|1982||18||7||||||||||18||7
|-
|1983||18||3||||||||||18||3
|-
|1984||18||8||||||||||18||8
|-
|1985/86||22||10||||||||||22||10
|-
|1986/87||22||8||||||||||22||8
|-
|1987/88||22||10||||||||||22||10
|-
|1988/89||18||3||||||||||18||3
|-
|1989/90||JSL Division 2
||16||9||||||||||16||9
|-
|1990/91||rowspan="2"|JSL Division 1
||18||3||0||0||1||0||19||3
|-
|1991/92||2||0||||||1||0||3||0
192||65||0||0||2||0||194||65
192||65||0||0||2||0||194||65
|}
|1978||6||1
|-
|1979||2||0
|-
|1980||5||2
|-
|1981||10||1
|-
|1982||6||3
|-
|1983||10||6
|-
|1984||7||5
|-
|1985||10||5
|-
|1986||6||7
|-
|1987||11||7
|-
|1988||2||0
|-
!Total||75||37
|}
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
football player. He currently serves as technical director for the Japanese national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
.
Playing career
After graduating from Waseda UniversityWaseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
in 1981, Hara joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F.C.
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
(later to be Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
) as a forward.
Between 1978 and 1988 Hara played 75 games for the Japanese national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
, scoring 32 goals. Hara was known for his headers and was aptly nicknamed the "Asian Nuclear Warhead".
Urawa Red Diamonds
Hara retired from football in 1992 and began his new career as the coachCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the Youth Team of his old club, which had been renamed by this point as Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
. In 1998 Hara became the manager of Urawa's top squad. Initially he saw success, with the team achieving a 3rd place finish for J.League's second stage in 1998. However, during J.Legue's first stage of 1999, the team finished 13th in the standings and Hara was released.
Following his release from Urawa, Hara travelled to Spain to study the coaching methods applied by several La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
clubs. Upon returning to Japan, he spent two years working as a commentator
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for Sky PerfecTV!.
FC Tokyo
In 2002 Hara decided to return to coaching as the manager of F.C. Tokyo. He brought youngsters such as Naohiro IshikawaNaohiro Ishikawa
Naohiro Ishikawa is a Japanese footballer who plays for F.C. Tokyo.He was part of the Japanese 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, having finished fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy and Ghana.-Club career:...
, Teruyuki Moniwa
Teruyuki Moniwa
is a Japanese football player who currenttly plays for J. League side Cerezo Osaka. The centre-back started his professional career at J. League Division 2 side Bellmare Hiratsuka. He was a first-choice defender but had to be transferred due to club's financial difficulties.He made his...
and Akira Kaji, introduced Spanish-style tactics into the young and fresh team, and won J. League Cup
J. League Cup
J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...
in 2004. Hara was released from his position as manager of the club in 2005. However in 2007 he was re-appointed as the club's manager, but was again released only after one season.
Japanese national team
On 12 February 2009, Hara was appointed by JFAJapan Football Association
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body responsible for the administration of association football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions....
as its new technical director for the Japanese national football team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
, responsible for strengthening the national team. After fellow Waseda alumnus Takeshi Okada
Takeshi Okada
is a former football player that was head coach of the Japanese national football team between 2007 and 2010.-International career:Okada played 24 games and scored one goal for the Japan national football team between 1980 and 1985.-Coaching career:...
stepped down after leading Japan to a lauded performance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, Hara was given the responsibility for finding his replacement, which was revealed in late August after protracted negotiations in Europe to be the Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni. He also took charge in a caretaker capacity for the friendlies against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
, leading Japan to a 1-0 win, and Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, both of which were held at his former hunting ground in Saitama.
Club career statistics
|-|1981||rowspan="11"|Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...
||rowspan="8"|JSL Division 1
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||18||4||||||||||18||4
|-
|1982||18||7||||||||||18||7
|-
|1983||18||3||||||||||18||3
|-
|1984||18||8||||||||||18||8
|-
|1985/86||22||10||||||||||22||10
|-
|1986/87||22||8||||||||||22||8
|-
|1987/88||22||10||||||||||22||10
|-
|1988/89||18||3||||||||||18||3
|-
|1989/90||JSL Division 2
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||16||9||||||||||16||9
|-
|1990/91||rowspan="2"|JSL Division 1
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||18||3||0||0||1||0||19||3
|-
|1991/92||2||0||||||1||0||3||0
192||65||0||0||2||0||194||65
192||65||0||0||2||0||194||65
|}
International career statistics
|-|1978||6||1
|-
|1979||2||0
|-
|1980||5||2
|-
|1981||10||1
|-
|1982||6||3
|-
|1983||10||6
|-
|1984||7||5
|-
|1985||10||5
|-
|1986||6||7
|-
|1987||11||7
|-
|1988||2||0
|-
!Total||75||37
|}