Takuya Takagi
Encyclopedia
is a former Japanese football (soccer) player and a current football coach. He is currently the manager at Roasso Kumamoto
. He was a physical forward and the Japanese media and fans dubbed him as the Cannon of Asia.
. After finishing the university in 1990, he joined Japan Soccer League
side Fujita S.C. (current Shonan Bellmare
). He moved to Mazda S.C. (current Sanfrecce Hiroshima
) in 1991 and was awarded the JSL Young Player of the Year in 1992. His partnarship with Czech Ivan Hašek
up front was so successful that Hiroshima won the second stage of J. League
in 1994.
Due to financial difficulties, Hiroshima was forced to release their key players including Takagi in 1998. He moved to Verdy Kawasaki
. He was then transferred to J. League Division 2 side Consadole Sapporo
in 2000 and retired there at the end of the season.
44 times and scored 27 goals for the Japanese national team
. He made his international debut in a friendly against Argentine on May 31, 1992 at the Tokyo National Olympic Stadium
, the first match under Hans Ooft
's reign. He scored his first international goal in a Dynasty Cup match against China national football team
on August 24, 1992 in Beijing
. He became the ace striker for Ooft's Japan national team.
He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup
. He scored the lone goal in the final against Saudi Arabia
and even though he is said to be awarded the Most Valuable Player of the competition, this is not true. The honor went to his team mate Kazuyoshi Miura
. Takagi wasn't even elected into the Tournament Best Eleven.
He was also a member of the Japan squad who participated in the AFC
final qualifying stage for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. He was suspended for the crucial last match that the Japanese fans now refer to as the Agony of Doha
, and watched from the bench a late Iraqi equaliser dashed Japan's hope to qualify for the finals in the U.S.A.
He also took part in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup
hosted by UAE
. He played 3 games and scored 1 goal against Syria
in the competition.
At the beginning of 2006, he was appointed an assistant coach at Yokohama FC
. He was unexpectedly promoted to the manager of the club to replace Yusuke Adachi who was sacked only after the team lost to Ehime F.C.
in the opening match of the season. Takagi's lack of coaching experience and untimely dismissal of Adachi worried the fans who decided in protest to watch the second match of the season (the first match under Takagi) in silence.
However, Takagi quickly convinced the supporters as he guided the club unbeaten for the first fifteen matches under his reign. This was the record unbeaten run since appointment of a new manager in J. League. The club made another J. League record when they did not concede any goal for 770 consecutive minutes by breaking Shimizu S-Pulse
's 731 minutes recorded in 1993. They kept 7 consecutive clean sheets which was also a tied J. League Division 2 record.
Yokohama FC, who had been languishing in the bottom half of the standing previous 5 seasons since their accession to J2, won the title and gained the first-ever promotion to J. League Division 1.
and Alemão who scored 30 goals together out of club's 61 goals in the previous season. Long-serving Tomotaka Kitamura and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake also left. Takagi enhanced his squad by recruiting former Japanese internationals Tatsuhiko Kubo and Daisuke Oku (both from Yokohama F. Marinos
), and Silva (from Tokyo Verdy
).
They beat Marinos in a Yokohama derby in the second match of the season, but otherwise the things didn't go well for Takagi. New team leaders Oku and Kubo were sidelined due to injuries and the club was anchored at the bottom of the standing. The club signed high-profile former Japanese international midfielder Atsuhiro Miura in August. Apparently there was a conflict between the management and Takagi as he expressed disgruntlement on Miura's signing quoting that what the club needed at that point was a good defender or forward. He was sacked on August 27, 2007 and replaced by Brazilian Julio Cesar leal Junior.
.
|1990/91||Fujita Industries
||JSL Division 2
||15||3||||||0||0||15||3
|-
|1991/92||Mazda
||JSL Division 1
||22||9||||||0||0||22||9
|-
|1992||rowspan="6"|Sanfrecce Hiroshima
||rowspan="6"|J. League 1||colspan="2"|-||0||0||7||4||7||4
|-
|1993||29||11||2||0||0||0||31||11
|-
|1994||42||14||0||0||1||0||43||14
|-
|1995||24||5||5||4||colspan="2"|-||29||9
|-
|1996||30||11||5||2||6||1||41||14
|-
|1997||26||12||2||1||0||0||28||13
|-
|1998||rowspan="2"|Verdy Kawasaki||rowspan="2"|J. League 1||22||9||3||0||1||0||26||9
|-
|1999||18||2||0||0||3||1||21||3
|-
|2000||Consadole Sapporo
||J. League 2
||17||0||3||1||1||0||21||1
245||76||20||8||20||6||285||90
245||76||20||8||20||6||285||90
|}
|-
|1992||11||5
|-
|1993||13||7
|-
|1994||5||2
|-
|1995||0||0
|-
|1996||10||6
|-
|1997||5||7
|-
!Total||44||27
|}
Roasso Kumamoto
is a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. Roasso Kumamoto was promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of the 2007 season, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 12th...
. He was a physical forward and the Japanese media and fans dubbed him as the Cannon of Asia.
Club
He was educated at and played for Kunimi High School and Osaka University of CommerceOsaka University of Commerce
, abbreviated to , is a private university located in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.- History :The origin was founded in 1928 as Osaka Joto School of Commerce by Noboru Tanioka . This was a five-year school for boys...
. After finishing the university in 1990, he joined Japan Soccer League
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...
side Fujita S.C. (current Shonan Bellmare
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...
). He moved to Mazda S.C. (current Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
) in 1991 and was awarded the JSL Young Player of the Year in 1992. His partnarship with Czech Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek
Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager....
up front was so successful that Hiroshima won the second stage of J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
in 1994.
Due to financial difficulties, Hiroshima was forced to release their key players including Takagi in 1998. He moved to Verdy Kawasaki
Tokyo Verdy 1969
, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo, Japan, that plays in J. League Division 2.Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles , 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J...
. He was then transferred to J. League Division 2 side Consadole Sapporo
Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
in 2000 and retired there at the end of the season.
International
He was cappedCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
44 times and scored 27 goals for the Japanese national 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...
. He made his international debut in a friendly against Argentine on May 31, 1992 at the Tokyo National Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Tokyo)
or National Stadium is a stadium in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics. It currently serves as the stadium where the Japan national football teams home matches and major football club cup finals are held.-History:The stadium was...
, the first match under Hans Ooft
Hans Ooft
Marius Johan Ooft is a Dutch football manager who is the first foreigner to coach Japan national football team. Under Ooft, Japan won AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 1992.-Honors:*AFC Asian Cup Champions - 1992*J. League Cup Champions - 2003...
's reign. He scored his first international goal in a Dynasty Cup match against China national football team
China national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
on August 24, 1992 in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He became the ace striker for Ooft's Japan national team.
He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup
1992 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1992 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan between October 29 and November 8. The host nation, Japan, defeated the defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final in Hiroshima.-Stadiums:...
. He scored the lone goal in the final against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
and even though he is said to be awarded the Most Valuable Player of the competition, this is not true. The honor went to his team mate Kazuyoshi Miura
Kazuyoshi Miura
----Kazuyoshi Miura , often known simply as Kazu, is a Japanese football striker. He has played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation. He is currently with...
. Takagi wasn't even elected into the Tournament Best Eleven.
He was also a member of the Japan squad who participated in the AFC
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
final qualifying stage for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. He was suspended for the crucial last match that the Japanese fans now refer to as the Agony of Doha
Agony of Doha
The Agony of Doha is a term used by fans of the Japanese national football team to refer to the qualification match for their 1994 FIFA World Cup match with Iraq, held in Doha, Qatar on October 28, 1993....
, and watched from the bench a late Iraqi equaliser dashed Japan's hope to qualify for the finals in the U.S.A.
He also took part in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup
1996 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1996 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in the United Arab Emirates between December 4 and December 21. Saudi Arabia defeated host nation U.A.E. in the final match in Abu Dhabi.-Qualification:...
hosted by UAE
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. He played 3 games and scored 1 goal against Syria
Syria national football team
The Syria national football team represents Syria in association football and is controlled by the Syrian Football Association, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria's home grounds are Abbasiyyin Stadium and Aleppo International Stadium...
in the competition.
2006
After finishing his playing career, he worked as a soccer commentator on television. He also acquired the S-Class Coaching License that was a prerequisite to manage a J. league club in 2004.At the beginning of 2006, he was appointed an assistant coach at Yokohama FC
Yokohama FC
are a Japanese football club based in the city of Yokohama.-History:The club was formed in 1999, following the merger of the city's two J. League clubs, Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama Marinos the previous year. Flügels supporters, whose club was essentially dissolved, rejected the suggestion that...
. He was unexpectedly promoted to the manager of the club to replace Yusuke Adachi who was sacked only after the team lost to Ehime F.C.
Ehime F.C.
Ehime F.C. is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. After winning the JFL championship in 2005, the club now plays in J. League Division 2. Ehime F.C. is one of only four J. League clubs whose names simply consist of a place name and "F.C."...
in the opening match of the season. Takagi's lack of coaching experience and untimely dismissal of Adachi worried the fans who decided in protest to watch the second match of the season (the first match under Takagi) in silence.
However, Takagi quickly convinced the supporters as he guided the club unbeaten for the first fifteen matches under his reign. This was the record unbeaten run since appointment of a new manager in J. League. The club made another J. League record when they did not concede any goal for 770 consecutive minutes by breaking Shimizu S-Pulse
Shimizu S-Pulse
is a professional Japanese association football club. Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J. League Division 1 . Formed as recently as 1991, S-Pulse are one of the youngest professional teams in Japan, but are among only five to have competed in...
's 731 minutes recorded in 1993. They kept 7 consecutive clean sheets which was also a tied J. League Division 2 record.
Yokohama FC, who had been languishing in the bottom half of the standing previous 5 seasons since their accession to J2, won the title and gained the first-ever promotion to J. League Division 1.
2007
The club made a drastic change in their squad before the beginning of the 2007 season in preparation for the fight in the top-flight. Eleven players left while another eleven joined the club. Those who left included the striking partners Shoji JoShoji Jo
is a retired Japanese football player.He was born on the island of Hokkaidō and began his footballing career with JEF United in 1994. He quickly established himself, scoring twelve goals in his first season; he scored his first goal on his debut against Gamba Osaka on 12 March...
and Alemão who scored 30 goals together out of club's 61 goals in the previous season. Long-serving Tomotaka Kitamura and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake also left. Takagi enhanced his squad by recruiting former Japanese internationals Tatsuhiko Kubo and Daisuke Oku (both from Yokohama F. Marinos
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...
), and Silva (from Tokyo Verdy
Tokyo Verdy 1969
, is a Japanese professional football club, based in Tokyo, Japan, that plays in J. League Division 2.Founded as Yomiuri F.C. in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated teams in the J. League, with honours including 7 league titles , 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup / J...
).
They beat Marinos in a Yokohama derby in the second match of the season, but otherwise the things didn't go well for Takagi. New team leaders Oku and Kubo were sidelined due to injuries and the club was anchored at the bottom of the standing. The club signed high-profile former Japanese international midfielder Atsuhiro Miura in August. Apparently there was a conflict between the management and Takagi as he expressed disgruntlement on Miura's signing quoting that what the club needed at that point was a good defender or forward. He was sacked on August 27, 2007 and replaced by Brazilian Julio Cesar leal Junior.
2008
He became a coach at Tokyo Verdy under manager and his former international team mate Tetsuji HashirataniTetsuji Hashiratani
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a defender and a defensive midfielder.-Playing career:He was educated at and played for Kyoto Commercial High School and Kokushikan University. He joined Japan Soccer League side Nissan Motor in 1987. He moved to Verdy Kawasaki in 1992 when professional...
.
Statistics
|-|1990/91||Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...
||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...
||15||3||||||0||0||15||3
|-
|1991/92||Mazda
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
||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...
||22||9||||||0||0||22||9
|-
|1992||rowspan="6"|Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
||rowspan="6"|J. League 1||colspan="2"|-||0||0||7||4||7||4
|-
|1993||29||11||2||0||0||0||31||11
|-
|1994||42||14||0||0||1||0||43||14
|-
|1995||24||5||5||4||colspan="2"|-||29||9
|-
|1996||30||11||5||2||6||1||41||14
|-
|1997||26||12||2||1||0||0||28||13
|-
|1998||rowspan="2"|Verdy Kawasaki||rowspan="2"|J. League 1||22||9||3||0||1||0||26||9
|-
|1999||18||2||0||0||3||1||21||3
|-
|2000||Consadole Sapporo
Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō....
||J. League 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
||17||0||3||1||1||0||21||1
245||76||20||8||20||6||285||90
245||76||20||8||20||6||285||90
|}
|-
|1992||11||5
|-
|1993||13||7
|-
|1994||5||2
|-
|1995||0||0
|-
|1996||10||6
|-
|1997||5||7
|-
!Total||44||27
|}