Yoshikazu Nagai

Japanese association football player and manager

Yoshikazu Nagai (永井 良和, Nagai Yoshikazu, born April 16, 1952) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Yoshikazu Nagai
Personal information
Full name Yoshikazu Nagai
Date of birth (1952-04-16) April 16, 1952 (age 71)
Place of birth Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1968–1970 Saitama Urawa Minami High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1988 Furukawa Electric 272 (63)
Total 272 (63)
National team
1971–1980 Japan 69 (9)
Teams managed
1989–1990 Japan U-20
1992–1993 JEF United Ichihara
1996 Fukushima FC
1998–2000 Albirex Niigata
2001 Yokohama FC
2006–2007 Urawa Reds Ladies
Honours
Furukawa Electric
Winner Japan Soccer League 1976
Winner Japan Soccer League 1985/86
Winner JSL Cup 1977
Winner JSL Cup 1982
Winner JSL Cup 1986
Runner-up JSL Cup 1979
Winner Emperor's Cup 1976
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1984
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography change

Nagai was born in Saitama on April 16, 1952. After graduating from Saitama Urawa Minami High School, he joined Japan Soccer League club Furukawa Electric in 1971. The club won the league champions in 1976 and 1985/86. The club also won 1976 Emperor's Cup, 1977, 1982 and 1986 JSL Cup. He retired in 1988. He played 272 games and scored 63 goals in the league. It is the record for most appearances in Japan Soccer League Division 1. In 1976, he was selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year" awards. He was selected Best Eleven 5 times.

On August 13, 1971, when Nagai was 19 years old, he debuted for the Japan national team against Iceland. He also played at 1972 Summer Olympics qualification in 1971. Although he did not play for Japan in 1972, he was selected Japan for 1974 World Cup qualification in 1973. He also played at 1974, 1978 Asian Games. In 1980, he was selected Japan for 1980 Summer Olympics qualification, Japan's failure to qualify for 1980 Summer Olympics. This qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 69 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1980.

After retirement, Nagai became an assistant coach for Furukawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara) in 1988. In 1989, he became a manager for Japan U-20 national team. In 1992, he returned to JEF United Ichihara and managed until 1993. In 1996, he signed with Japan Football League (JFL) club Fukushima FC and managed in 1 season. In 1998, he signed with JFL club Albirex Niigata. The club joined new league J2 League in 1999. In 2001, he moved to Yokohama FC. In 2006, he signed with his local Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds Ladies.

In 2012, Nagai was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics change

[1]

Club statistics League
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals
JapanLeague
1971 Furukawa Electric JSL Division 1 10 2
1972 10 0
1973 18 2
1974 18 5
1975 18 7
1976 18 5
1977 18 14
1978 18 1
1979 18 6
1980 17 3
1981 15 6
1982 10 1
1983 12 1
1984 14 5
1985/86 22 3
1986/87 14 0
1987/88 22 2
Country Japan 272 63
Total 272 63

[2]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
1971 4 1
1972 0 0
1973 5 0
1974 4 1
1975 11 1
1976 17 2
1977 5 0
1978 12 1
1979 9 3
1980 2 0
Total 69 9

References change

Other websites change