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Naoki Soma
相馬 直樹
Personal information
Date of birth (1971-07-19) 19 July 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.75 m
Playing position Midfielder, defender
Club information
Current club Kagoshima United (manager)
Youth career
1987–1989 Shimizu Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1994–2003 Kashima Antlers 250 (10)
2002 →Tokyo Verdy (loan) 27 (0)
2004–2005 Kawasaki Frontale 27 (0)
Total 304 (10)
National team
1995–1999 Japan 58 (4)
Teams managed
2010 Machida Zelvia
2011–2012 Kawasaki Frontale
2014–2019 Machida Zelvia
2021 Kashima Antlers
2022–2023 Omiya Ardija
2025– Kagoshima United
Honours
Kashima Antlers
Winner J1 League 1996
Winner J1 League 1998
Winner J1 League 2000
Winner J1 League 2001
Runner-up J1 League 1997
Winner J.League Cup 1997
Winner J.League Cup 2000
Runner-up J.League Cup 1999
Runner-up J.League Cup 2003
Winner Emperor's Cup 1997
Winner Emperor's Cup 2000
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Naoki Soma (相馬 直樹, Sōma Naoki, born July 19, 1971) is a Japanese football manager and former player. He played for the Japan national team until 1999. He set to manager of Kagoshima United from 2025.

Club career

Soma was born in Shizuoka on July 19, 1971. After graduating from Waseda University, he joined Kashima Antlers in 1994. He played as left-back and became one of the main player in a successful era of the club. In the 1990s, the club won several titles: the 1996 J.League, 1998 J.League, 1997 J.League Cup and 1997 Emperor's Cup. He was also selected for the Best Eleven for four years in a row (1995-1998). In 2000, the club won all three major titles in Japan: J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. However at Emperor's Cup in December 2000, he sustained an injury and he could not play for about a year. Although he came back in the latter half of 2001, his opportunity to play decreased behind Augusto. In 2002, he moved to Tokyo Verdy on loan. He returned to Kashima Antlers in 2003 and moved to Kawasaki Frontale in 2004. At Kawasaki Frontale, he played as defensive midfielder and sweeper. He retired at the end of the 2005 season.

International career

On May 28, 1995, Soma debuted for the Japan national team against Ecuador. After his debut, he became a regular player as left-back and left midfielder. In 1996, he played in all matches included 1996 AFC Asian Cup. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification in 1997, Japan achieved qualification for 1998 FIFA World Cup first time Japan's history. He played in all matches at the 1998 World Cup. He also played at 1999 Copa America. He played 58 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 1999.

Coaching career

Soma retired at the end of the 2005 season. After working as a TV pundit, Soma managed the Japan Football League side FC Machida Zelvia in 2010. He held a managerial post in charge of J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale prior to the 2011 season. On April 12, 2012, Kawasaki dismiss coach Naoki Soma after performing 'far below expectations'. The 40-year-old coach was sacked with the club's president stating the team were performing 'far below expectations' having aimed to win the title this term. In 2014, he signed with J3 League side FC Machida Zelvia again. He led the club to won the 2nd place in 2015 and promoted to J2 League. On 14 November 2024, Soma announcement officially appointment manager of Kagoshima United from 2025.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kashima Antlers 1994 28 0 1 0 1 0 – 30 0
1995 50 3 4 0 – – 54 3
1996 30 2 3 0 14 0 – 47 2
1997 21 0 5 0 2 1 – 28 1
1998 34 1 4 0 1 0 – 39 1
1999 30 0 2 0 7 1 – 39 1
2000 30 2 4 0 7 0 – 41 2
2001 7 0 3 0 1 0 – 11 0
2003 20 2 0 0 3 1 3 0 26 3
Tokyo Verdy (loan) 2002 27 0 0 0 6 0 – 33 0
Kawasaki Frontale 2004 15 0 1 0 – – 16 0
2005 12 0 2 0 3 0 – 17 0
Total 304 10 29 0 45 3 3 0 381 13

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 1995 9 0
1996 13 2
1997 21 1
1998 10 1
1999 5 0
Total 58 4
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Soma goal.
List of international goals scored by Naoki Soma
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 May 1996 Fukuoka, Japan  Mexico 3–2 3–2 1996 Kirin Cup
2 12 December 1996 Al Ain, United Arab Emirates  China 1–0 1–0 1996 AFC Asian Cup
3 25 March 1997 Muscat, Oman  Macau 3–0 10–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 17 May 1998 Tokyo, Japan  Paraguay 1–1 1–1 1998 Kirin Cup

Managerial statistics

Update; December 31, 2018

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Kawasaki Frontale 2011 2012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&041.&&&&&041 &&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06 &&&&&&&&&&&&&019.&&&&&019 &&&&&&&&&&&&&039.&2000039.02
FC Machida Zelvia 2014 2019 &&&&&&&&&&&&0195.&&&&&0195 &&&&&&&&&&&&&093.&&&&&093 &&&&&&&&&&&&&058.&&&&&058 &&&&&&&&&&&&&044.&&&&&044 &&&&&&&&&&&&&047.69000047.69
Kashima Antlers 2021 present
Total &&&&&&&&&&&&0236.&&&&&0236 &&&&&&&&&&&&0109.&&&&&0109 &&&&&&&&&&&&&064.&&&&&064 &&&&&&&&&&&&&063.&&&&&063 &&&&&&&&&&&&&046.19000046.19

Honors

Individual

  • J1 League Best Eleven: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • Selected to AFC All Star Team: 1997
  • J1 League Fair Play Individual: 1998

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Naoki Sōma para niños

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