Shinji Otsuka facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shinji Otsuka | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | December 29, 1975 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chiba, Japan | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
|
Current team
|
Ventforet Kofu (manager) | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Narashino High School | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | JEF United Ichihara | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Montedio Yamagata | 95 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Omiya Ardija | 78 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Consadole Sapporo | 85 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 342 | (17) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Ventforet Kofu | |||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Shinji Otsuka (大塚 真司, Otsuka Shinji, born December 29, 1975) is a Japanese football expert. He used to be a professional football player. Now, he is a manager for the J2 League club Ventforet Kofu.
Contents
Playing Career: Shinji Otsuka's Club Journey
Shinji Otsuka was born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on December 29, 1975. After finishing high school, he started his professional football career. He joined his hometown club, JEF United Ichihara, in 1994.
Early Days and New Teams
Shinji did not play much in his first club. So, in 1997, he moved to Kawasaki Frontale. This team was part of the Japan Football League at the time. He played many games there as a defensive midfielder. A defensive midfielder helps protect the team's goal.
Climbing the Leagues
Kawasaki Frontale did very well with Shinji. The team moved up to the J2 League in 1999. Then, they were promoted again to the top league, the J1 League, in 2000. This was a big achievement for the club.
In 2001, Shinji moved to Omiya Ardija. He played regularly in his first year there. However, his playing time became less from 2002 onwards.
Later Clubs and Retirement
Shinji then joined Montedio Yamagata in 2004. After that, he moved to Consadole Sapporo in 2006. He was a regular player for both these clubs until 2007.
Sadly, Shinji got injured in October 2007. This injury made it hard for him to play in 2008. He decided to retire from playing football at the end of the 2008 season.
International Experience: Playing for Japan U-20
In April 1995, Shinji Otsuka was chosen to join the Japan U-20 national team. This team played in the 1995 World Youth Championship. This is a big tournament for young football players from around the world. Even though he was selected, Shinji did not get to play in any matches during the championship.
Coaching and Managing: A New Role
After retiring as a player, Shinji Otsuka started a new career in football. He became a coach. He worked with different clubs since 2009.
Becoming a Manager
In July 2024, Shinji Otsuka took on a very important job. He was named the manager of Ventforet Kofu. This club plays in the J2 League. Before becoming manager, he had been the head coach for Ventforet Kofu since 2022. This new role as manager is his first time leading a team.
See also
In Spanish: Shinji Otsuka para niños
