Naoki Soma facts for kids

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

Naoki Soma's Club Football Journey

Naoki Soma was born in Shizuoka, Japan, on July 19, 1971. After finishing his studies at Waseda University, he joined the football club Kashima Antlers in 1994. He played as a left-back, which is a defensive position on the left side of the field.

Success with Kashima Antlers

Soma quickly became a very important player for Kashima Antlers. During the 1990s, his team won many big titles. They won the J1 League in 1996 and 1998. They also won the J.League Cup in 1997 and the Emperor's Cup in 1997.

Because of his excellent performance, Naoki Soma was chosen for the J.League Best Eleven team four years in a row, from 1995 to 1998. This is a special award for the best players in the league.

In 2000, Kashima Antlers had an amazing year. They won all three major Japanese football titles: the J1 League, the J.League Cup, and the Emperor's Cup. This was a huge achievement for the club.

Later Club Career

Unfortunately, Naoki Soma got injured in December 2000 during the Emperor's Cup. This injury kept him from playing for about a year. When he returned in 2001, he didn't get to play as much as before.

In 2002, he moved to Tokyo Verdy for a short time on loan. He came back to Kashima Antlers in 2003. Then, in 2004, he joined Kawasaki Frontale. At Kawasaki Frontale, he played in different positions, including defensive midfielder and sweeper. Naoki Soma decided to stop playing professional football at the end of the 2005 season.

Naoki Soma's International Career

Naoki Soma made his first appearance for the Japan national team on May 28, 1995. This game was against Ecuador. After his first game, he became a regular player for Japan, often playing as a left-back or left midfielder.

Playing for Japan in Big Tournaments

In 1996, he played in every match for Japan, including the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. A very important moment in Japanese football history happened in 1997 during the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification. Japan qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup for the very first time! Naoki Soma played in all of Japan's matches at the 1998 World Cup.

He also played in the 1999 Copa America tournament. By the time he stopped playing for the national team in 1999, Naoki Soma had played 58 games for Japan and scored 4 goals.

Naoki Soma's Coaching Career

After retiring as a player in 2005, Naoki Soma started a new career in coaching. He first worked as a TV commentator, sharing his football knowledge.

Managing Football Teams

In 2010, Soma became the manager of FC Machida Zelvia, a team in the Japan Football League. Then, in 2011, he took over as manager for J1 League team Kawasaki Frontale. However, in April 2012, Kawasaki Frontale decided to let him go because the team was not performing as well as they had hoped.

In 2014, Naoki Soma returned to manage FC Machida Zelvia again. This time, the team was in the J3 League. He led them to a second-place finish in 2015, which meant they were promoted to the J2 League. This was a great success for the team under his leadership.

On November 14, 2024, it was officially announced that Naoki Soma would become the manager of Kagoshima United starting in 2025.

Naoki Soma's Achievements

Naoki Soma has won many awards and titles throughout his career as both a player and a manager.

Team Honors as a Player

• J1 League: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001
• Emperor's Cup: 1997, 2000
• J.League Cup: 1997, 2000, 2002
• Japanese Super Cup: 1997, 1998, 1999

Individual Honors as a Player

• J1 League Best Eleven: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 (chosen as one of the best players in the league)
• Selected to AFC All Star Team: 1997 (chosen as one of the best players in Asia)
• J1 League Fair Play Individual: 1998 (recognized for playing fairly)

See also

In Spanish: Naoki Sōma para niños