Hans Ooft facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Marius Johan Ooft | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | June 27, 1947 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rotterdam | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1964–1967 | Feyenoord U21 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1967–1970 | SC Veendam | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1974 | SC Cambuur | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–1975 | SC Heerenveen | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Netherlands Youth | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1988 | Mazda | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Júbilo Iwata | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Urawa Red Diamonds | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Júbilo Iwata | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Marius Johan ("Hans") Ooft (born 1947) is a Dutch former football player and manager. He made history by becoming the first foreign coach to lead the Japanese national football team. Under his guidance, Japan won the Asian Championship for the first time in 1992. However, he was later let go because the team did not qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Hans Ooft's Football Journey
Hans Ooft had a long career in football, first as a player and then as a coach. He played as a striker for several Dutch clubs. After his playing days, he moved into coaching, where he achieved significant success, especially in Japan.
Playing Career
Hans Ooft started his football journey in the youth team of Feyenoord from 1964 to 1967. He then played for a few different clubs in the Netherlands:
- SC Veendam (1967–1970)
- SC Cambuur (1970–1974)
- SC Heerenveen (1974–1975)
Coaching Career in Japan
After coaching the Netherlands Youth team in 1976, Hans Ooft moved to Japan. He first coached Mazda from 1987 to 1988. His biggest role came in 1992 when he was chosen to manage the Japanese national team. This was a big deal because he was the first foreign coach to lead the team.
Leading Japan to Victory
Under Ooft's leadership, the Japanese national team achieved a historic win. They won the AFC Asian Cup in 1992, which was their first time ever winning this important championship. This victory showed how much the team had improved under his guidance. They also won the Dynasty Cup in the same year.
World Cup Qualification Challenge
Despite the Asian Cup success, Ooft's time with the national team ended in 1993. Japan was trying to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. In a very important match against Iraq, Japan needed to win to secure their spot. The game ended in a draw, which meant Japan did not qualify for the World Cup. Because of this, Ooft was removed from his position.
Other Coaching Roles in Japan
After leaving the national team, Ooft continued to coach in Japan's professional league, the J.League.
- He managed Júbilo Iwata from 1994 to 1996.
- He then coached Kyoto Purple Sanga in 1998.
- From 2002 to 2003, he was the manager for Urawa Red Diamonds.
- He had a second short period coaching Júbilo Iwata in 2008.
Hans Ooft's Achievements
Hans Ooft is remembered for his important contributions to football, especially in Japan.
As a Manager
Japan
- AFC Asian Cup: 1992
- Dynasty Cup: 1992
- Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1993
Urawa Red Diamonds
- J.League Cup: 2003
Individual Recognition
Hans Ooft's impact on Japanese football was recognized when he was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2013. This honor celebrates people who have made great contributions to football in Japan.
