Norio Sasaki facts for kids
Sasaki in 2015
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Norio Sasaki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 May 1958 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Obanazawa, Yamagata, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974–1976 | Teikyo High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1980 | Meiji University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1991 | NTT Kanto | 25 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 25 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Omiya Ardija | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Japan women U-17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Japan women U-20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2016 | Japan women | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Omiya Ardija Ventus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Japan women (interim) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norio Sasaki (佐々木 則夫, born May 24, 1958) is a famous Japanese football coach and former player. He is most well-known for guiding the Japanese women's national team, often called "Nadeshiko Japan," to their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup victory in 2011. They won against the United States in an exciting penalty shootout.
Sasaki was the head coach of the Japanese women's national team for eight years. He retired from this role in March 2016. Before that, he also coached the Japan women's U-20 national team starting in 2007.
Contents
Playing Football as a Youngster
Norio Sasaki started his football journey in school. He played for Teikyo High School and then for Meiji University. At Teikyo High School, he was the team captain. He led his team to win a national inter-high school competition. His high school team also reached the semi-finals of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament.
After finishing university, Sasaki began working for Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. He joined their company football club, NTT Kanto. He played as a Midfielder and sometimes as a defender. He helped his club get promoted to the Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1986. Sasaki stopped playing football when he was 33 years old.
Sasaki's Coaching Journey
After his playing career, Sasaki became a coach. In 1998, he was the head coach for Omiya Ardija, a team in the Japan Football League. He then took on other important roles at Omiya. These roles included coaching the youth team and leading player development.
Coaching the National Women's Teams
In 2006, Sasaki became an assistant coach for the Japan women's national football team. At the same time, he also became the head coach for their U-20 team. In 2008, he was promoted to lead the main national team, taking over from Hiroshi Ohashi.
Under Sasaki's leadership, the "Nadeshiko Japan" team achieved great success. They won the EAFF Women's Football Championship twice, in 2008 and 2010. He also guided the team to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Winning the World Cup
The biggest moment for Sasaki and his team came in 2011. They won the FIFA Women's World Cup! This was a huge surprise because they beat strong teams like host nation Germany and then Sweden to reach the final. In the final match, they faced the United States and won 3–1 in a penalty shootout.
This victory was a historic moment for Japan. The team was given the People's Honour Award for their amazing achievement. On January 9, 2012, Sasaki himself received the Women's Best Coach Award at the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or ceremony.
Olympic Medal and Later Years
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sasaki led Japan to their first-ever Olympic football medal. They won a silver medal after reaching the final. However, they lost 2–1 to the United States in a close match.
In the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, Sasaki tried to win his second World Cup title. His team reached the final again, but they lost 5–2 to the United States.
After Japan did not qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, Sasaki decided to step down as head coach in March 2016. Asako Takakura took over his role.
Achievements and Awards
Norio Sasaki has received many honors for his coaching career.
Team Honors (as Manager)
- Japan Women's National Team
- EAFF Women's Football Championship: 2008, 2010
- Asian Games Gold Medal: 2010
- Asian Games Silver Medal: 2014
- FIFA Women's World Cup Champion: 2011
- FIFA Women's World Cup Runner-up: 2015
- Olympic Silver Medal: 2012
- AFC Women's Asian Cup Champion: 2014
Individual Awards
- AFC Coach of the Year: 2011
- FIFA World Women's Coach of the Year: 2011
- Japan Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2019
Special Recognition
- People's Honour Award: 2011 (awarded to the team he coached)
See also
In Spanish: Norio Sasaki para niños
