Takuma Koga facts for kids

Takuma Koga (古賀 琢磨, Koga Takuma, born April 30, 1969) is a former Japanese football player. He was a defender, meaning he helped protect his team's goal. His younger brother, Masato Koga, also played football professionally.

Takuma Koga's Football Journey

Early Career and University Days

Takuma Koga was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on April 30, 1969. He loved football from a young age. After finishing high school, he went to Juntendo University. There, he continued to play football and improve his skills.

Playing for Júbilo Iwata

In 1992, after university, Koga joined a football club called Yamaha Motors. This club later became known as Júbilo Iwata. In his first year, he played in many games. His team won the championship in 1992 and came in second place in 1993.

In 1994, Júbilo Iwata moved up to the J1 League, which is Japan's top football league. Takuma Koga became a regular player, usually playing as a right-side defender. He helped his team win the J1 League championship in 1997. They also won the 1998 J.League Cup in 1998.

Júbilo Iwata also did well in Asia. They won the 1998–99 Asian Club Championship in 1999. In the same year, the club won the J1 League championship again. However, Takuma Koga played less often that year.

Moving to Shimizu S-Pulse

In 2000, Takuma Koga moved to Shimizu S-Pulse. This team was a big rival of Júbilo Iwata. From 2001, he became a regular player again, this time as a left defender. He helped Shimizu S-Pulse win the 2001 Emperor's Cup in 2001.

In Asian competitions, Shimizu S-Pulse won the 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2000. They also finished third in the 2000–01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2001. In the match for third place, Takuma Koga scored the first goal!

Final Club and Retirement

In 2003, Koga moved to Cerezo Osaka. He played for one season there. At the end of the 2003 season, he decided to retire from playing professional football.

Coaching Football Teams

After he stopped playing, Takuma Koga started a new career as a coach.

Coaching at Cerezo Osaka

In 2004, he began coaching at his last club, Cerezo Osaka. He helped train younger players and share his experience.

Coaching in Singapore

In 2011, Takuma Koga moved to Singapore. He became the Head Coach for the National Football Academy U-17 team. This team was for players under 17 years old. His team played in the Lion City Cup. They also represented Singapore and won a bronze medal at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games. This was a big achievement for the young players he coached.

Takuma Koga's Club Statistics

This table shows how many games Takuma Koga played and how many goals he scored for each club.

See also

In Spanish: Takuma Koga para niños