Yuji Sakakura

Yuji Sakakura
Personal information
Full name	Yuji Sakakura
Date of birth	June 7, 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth	Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1983–1985	Yokkaichi Chuo Technical High School
1986–1989	Juntendo University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1990–1994	JEF United Ichihara
1995	Nagoya Grampus Eight
1996–1997	Brummell Sendai
1998	Mind House TC
Total
National team
1990–1991	Japan
Teams managed
2001	Yokohama FC
2014–2015	Tochigi SC
2018	AC Nagano Parceiro
Honours
JEF United Ichihara
Nagoya Grampus Eight
Representing Japan
AFC Asian Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Yuji Sakakura (阪倉裕二, Sakakura Yuji, born June 7, 1967) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Sakakura was educated at and played for Yokkaichi Chuo Technical High School and Juntendo University. After finishing the university, he joined Japan Soccer League side Furuawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara). In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and the club joined new league, J1 League. He moved to Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1995, then Japan Football League side Brummell Sendai in 1996. He finished his playing career in 1998 at his home town club Mind House TC, a Regional Leagues side, after playing for them for one season.

On July 27, 1990, Sakakura debuted for the Japan national team against South Korea. He was selected Japan for 1990 Asian Games and played 2 matches. He played 6 games for Japan until 1991. He was also a member of the Japan which won the 1992 Asian Cup, but did not play in the tournament.

After the retirement, Sakakura started coaching career at new club Yokohama FC in 1999. He served as an assistant coach. He also managed the club as caretaker in 2001. In 2005, he moved to Kyoto Purple Sanga (later Kyoto Sanga FC) and served as a manager for the youth team. In 2008, he moved to Tochigi SC. He mainly served as assistant coach for top team. In 2014, he was promoted to a manager. He resigned in July 2015. In 2016, he signed with Shimizu S-Pulse and served as a assistant coach. In 2018, he moved to AC Nagano Parceiro and served as a assistant coach. In June, he became a manager and managed the club until end of 2018 season.

Statistics

^[1]^[2]

Club statistics			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
1990/91	Furukawa Electric	JSL Division 1	20	0			5	0	25	0
1991/92	Furukawa Electric	JSL Division 1	12	1			1	0	13	1
1992	JEF United Ichihara	J1 League	-				9	0	9	0
1993			25	0	0	0	0	0	25	0
1994			8	0	0	0	2	0	10	0
1995	Nagoya Grampus Eight	J1 League	18	0	0	0	-		18	0
1996	Brummell Sendai	Football League	26	0	3	0	-		29	0
1997	Brummell Sendai	Football League	26	0	2	0	5	0	33	0
Country	Japan		135	1	5	0	22	0	162	1
Total			135	1	5	0	22	0	162	1