Hidekazu Otani facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hidekazu Otani | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 6 November 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nagareyama, Chiba, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Kashiwa Reysol | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2022 | Kashiwa Reysol | 478 | (23) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 478 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
Hidekazu Otani (大谷 秀和, Otani Hidekazu, born 6 November 1984) is a Japanese football manager and a former professional player. He played as a defensive midfielder. Otani spent his entire playing career with Kashiwa Reysol, making over 600 appearances. He is now a coach for the same club, Kashiwa Reysol, which plays in the J1 League.
Contents
A Football Journey: Hidekazu Otani's Playing Career
Hidekazu Otani was born in Nagareyama, Japan, on November 6, 1984. He joined the youth team of J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol in 2000. By 2003, he officially became a professional player for the club.
Starting Strong: Early Years at Kashiwa Reysol
Otani made his first appearance in 2003. From 2004, he started playing many games as a defensive midfielder. This position is important because it helps protect the team's defense. By the summer of 2005, he became a regular player. However, Kashiwa Reysol faced a tough time and was moved down to the J2 League at the end of the 2005 season.
In 2006, Otani showed his versatility. He played in different roles, including left side back and left side midfielder. His efforts helped Kashiwa Reysol get promoted back to the J1 League in just one year. From 2007, he continued to play regularly as a left side back.
Finding His Place: Return to Defensive Midfield
In the summer of 2009, a new manager, Nelsinho Baptista, arrived. Under his guidance, Otani returned to his original position as a defensive midfielder. He played in this role for a long time, becoming a key player for the team. Kashiwa Reysol also reached the final of the 2008 Emperor's Cup, finishing in second place.
Despite their efforts, the club's performance was not always consistent. At the end of the 2009 season, Kashiwa Reysol was moved down to the J2 League again. But they quickly bounced back! In 2010, they won the championship in the J2 League and were promoted to J1 in just one year.
Championship Glory: Winning Titles with Kashiwa Reysol
The year 2011 was very special for Kashiwa Reysol and Otani. They won the J1 League championship for the first time in the club's history! This was a huge achievement.
Their success continued in the following years. Kashiwa Reysol won the 2012 Emperor's Cup in 2012. Then, in 2013, they won the 2013 J.League Cup. Hidekazu Otani was a big part of these victories, playing a crucial role in the team's midfield. He played a total of 478 league games and scored 23 goals for Kashiwa Reysol during his career.
Awards and Achievements
Hidekazu Otani and Kashiwa Reysol won several important titles:
- J.League Division 1: 2011
- J.League Division 2: 2010, 2019
- J.League Cup: 2013
- Emperor's Cup: 2012
- Japanese Super Cup: 2012
- Suruga Bank Championship: 2014
External Links
- Hidekazu Otani – FIFA competition recordLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Hidekazu Otani at J.League Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Profile at Kashiwa Reysol
See also
In Spanish: Hidekazu Ōtani para niños
