If Director Moriyasu is dismissed...these are the three candidates for successor | Why do you stick to Japanese coaches? Most of the players are from overseas teams… [Reporter's point of view]

Director R. Rodriguez has the advantage of knowing his rival country

There are three candidates for successor who Mr. Iima mentioned. From the left, Director Ficcadenti, Director Cho, Director R. Rodriguez. Photo: Takuya Kaneko (Soccer Digest Photography Department), SOCCER DIGEST

In the final Asian qualifiers for the Qatar World Cup, Japan finished 3 games with 1 win and 2 losses. Given the difficult situation, if the team loses against Australia in the next round, it seems that the issue of manager Hajime Moriyasu, who leads the team, will become serious. If so, who would be the successor candidate? We asked Ken Iima, a reporter from Sports Nippon Shimbun, to list the three. [PHOTO] The Japanese national team practiced for their decisive match against Australia! ――◆――◆――　I understand that it is difficult to invite foreign directors who are overseas due to the COVID-19 crisis. But the Japan Association. Is there a reason why you stick to Japanese leaders because you want to promote the "Japan's Way" that makes use of the Japanese characteristics (sacrifice, cooperation, endurance...)? Most of the players are from overseas teams, but I always feel the imbalance that the coaches only know about in Japan. Therefore, I would like to recommend the following three coaches who are in charge of the J. ● Massimo Ficcadenti (current manager of Nagoya Grampus) Gained fame in Serie B Verona and coached Yuto Nagatomo in Cesena. Since then, he has played with FC Tokyo, Sagan Tosu, and Nagoya Grampus, and has been in charge of the J-League for seven years, so he knows the Japanese well. Especially this season, they have advanced to the final of the Levain Cup. In the ACL, they are the only Japanese team to survive, and they are also ranked high in the league match. As expected of an Italian, he is good at analyzing opponents and has the ability to break things down in a short amount of time. Although he focuses on side attacks based on four backs, he can change to three backs while observing the situation, and has excellent flexibility and ability to read the game. It also has a strictness that requires the main force to behave resolutely. ● Takashi Cho (current manager of Kyoto Sanga F.C.) In just one year of his appointment, he dramatically changed J2 Kyoto Sanga F.C., which had been stagnant for many years. During his time in Shonan, there was a lot of talk about compliance issues, but in Kyoto, he always encourages players by speaking positively, and says that he never scolds players for intentional or purposeful mistakes. He is also rich in expressiveness, and there are times when his remarks unintentionally draw you in. Although he only had experience playing in Japan during his playing days, after retiring he learned coaching methods at the Cologne University of Physical Education, and now he brushes up by watching the Premier League from early in the morning. As a coach, he is full of desire to absorb European football trends and is seriously trying to "bring Kyoto's football closer to the world." In addition to his enthusiasm and coaching that draws out the strength of the players, his immediate effect of changing the team has been proven. ●Riccardo Rodriguez (current Urawa Red Diamonds coach) The young Spanish coach aspires to positional football. It shakes the opponent's defense system and launches an attack at once when it finds a breakthrough. Attacking soccer is what many Japanese like. Of course, Tokushima Vortis also took four years to get promoted, and Urawa Red Diamonds had a period of repeated wins and losses in the early stages of the season. It may seem that he is unsuitable for the Japan national team coach because he has some time. However, the current Japanese national team has players who have a high degree of tactical understanding and can express themselves if they keep their "heart" in check. He also has the experience of coaching the Saudi Arabia national team in the same group in the World Cup Asian Final Qualifiers from 2011 to 2013, so he may have the advantage of knowing the rival country. Coverage and text Ken Iima (Sports Nippon Shimbun)