Koji Maeda facts for kids

Koji Maeda (前田 浩二, Maeda Koji, born 3 February 1969) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He was born on February 3, 1969, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Koji Maeda played as a defender for many different football clubs. After he stopped playing, he became a manager for several teams.

Koji Maeda's Playing Career

Koji Maeda started his football journey in his hometown. He played as a center back, a key defensive position. After finishing college, he joined Gamba Osaka in 1991. He didn't play in any matches there.

Moving to New Teams

In 1993, Maeda moved to PJM Futures, a team in a lower league called the Japan Football League (JFL). He played in many games for two seasons. In 1995, he joined another JFL team, Fukuoka Blux. This team won the league and moved up to the top league, the J1 League.

Success with Yokohama Flügels

In 1996, Koji Maeda joined Yokohama Flügels. He became a regular player for three years. His team had great success, finishing second in the 1997 Emperor's Cup and winning the 1998 Emperor's Cup. Sadly, the club closed down at the end of 1998 due to money problems.

Championships with Júbilo Iwata

After Yokohama Flügels closed, Maeda moved to Júbilo Iwata in 1999. This was a very successful year! The team won the J1 League championship and the 1998–99 Asian Club Championship.

Later Playing Years

In 2000, he joined FC Tokyo, but he didn't play any games. He then moved back to Avispa Fukuoka in April 2000. He played regularly for two seasons, but the team moved down to the J2 League at the end of 2001. In 2002, he played for Vissel Kobe and then for Sagan Tosu.

Retirement from Playing

In 2003, Koji Maeda joined his local team, Volca Kagoshima, which was in a regional league. He played and also helped manage the team for two seasons. He stopped playing football at the end of 2004.

Koji Maeda's Coaching Career

Even while he was still playing, Koji Maeda started his coaching career. In 2003, he became a playing manager for Volca Kagoshima. This meant he was both a player and a coach.

Early Coaching Roles

After retiring as a player in 2004, he left Volca Kagoshima. In 2005, he became a coach for Vissel Kobe. He returned to Volca Kagoshima as a coach in 2011.

Managing in the J2 League

In 2012, Maeda became the manager of Avispa Fukuoka in the J2 League. However, the team's results were not good, and he left the team in October 2012. In 2013, he became the manager of another J2 club, Gainare Tottori. He managed 14 matches, but the team didn't win any of them. The club moved down to the J3 League, and Maeda left at the end of the season.

Coaching Women's Football

In 2014, Koji Maeda became the manager for L.League club INAC Kobe Leonessa, a top women's football team. This team had won championships for three years in a row. However, their results were not as good in 2014, and he left the team in October.

Club Statistics

Managerial Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Kōji Maeda para niños