Yuji Okuma facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yuji Okuma | ||
| Date of birth | January 19, 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1984–1986 | Bunan High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1990 | Chuo University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1995 | Kashiwa Reysol | 92 | (7) |
| 1996–1997 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 50 | (1) |
| 1998 | Avispa Fukuoka | 21 | (0) |
| Total | 163 | (8) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014 | Cerezo Osaka | ||
| 2016–2019 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | ||
| 2024- | Tegevajaro Miyazaki | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Yuji Okuma (大熊 裕司, Okuma Yuji, born January 19, 1969) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He was born in Saitama, Japan. Yuji Okuma played as a midfielder during his career. His elder brother, Kiyoshi, was also a football player.
Playing Career: Yuji Okuma's Journey on the Field
Yuji Okuma was born in Saitama on January 19, 1969. After finishing his studies at Chuo University, he joined a football club called Hitachi in 1991. This club later became known as Kashiwa Reysol.
Okuma quickly became an important player for his team. He played many games as a defensive midfielder. This role means he helped protect his team's goal. In 1996, he moved to Kyoto Purple Sanga. This team had just joined Japan's top football league, the J1 League.
He continued to play many matches for Kyoto Purple Sanga. By 1997, he was a regular starter for the team. In 1998, he moved to another club, Avispa Fukuoka, where he played for one season. Yuji Okuma decided to retire from playing football at the end of the 1998 season.
Coaching Career: From Player to Manager
After he stopped playing, Yuji Okuma began a new career in coaching. He started coaching at Avispa Fukuoka in 1999, the same club where he finished his playing days. In 2005, he moved to Cerezo Osaka and worked as a coach there.
His coaching journey continued to grow. In 2007, he became a coach for the Japan U-20 national team. This team helps young, talented players develop their skills. In 2010, he returned to Cerezo Osaka. This time, he became the manager for their youth team.
In September 2014, Okuma took on a bigger role. The main team's manager, Marco Pezzaiuoli, left the club. Yuji Okuma stepped in to become the new manager for the senior Cerezo Osaka team. However, the team had a tough season. They finished 17th out of 18 clubs in the 2014 season. Because of this, Cerezo Osaka moved down to the J2 League. After the season, Okuma resigned from his manager position.
In 2015, he went back to managing the youth team at Cerezo Osaka. Then, in 2016, he became the manager for a new team called Cerezo Osaka U-23. This team helps young players from the club gain experience in professional matches. As of 2024, he is the manager for Tegevajaro Miyazaki.
See also
In Spanish: Yūji Ōkuma para niños
