[Official] Japan manager change confirmed! Moriyasu to serve only six months... 'New commander' Oiwa system after Asian Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

The Japanese national football team is preparing for a new era. Manager Hajime Moriyasu will lead the Japan national team only until the upcoming 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup before stepping down. After the tournament, Ko Oiwa, former U-21 national team manager, will take charge of the A-team.

The Japan Football Association announced on the 23rd (Korean time) via its official website that "Manager Moriyasu will lead the Japan national team until the conclusion of the Saudi Arabia Asian Cup in January next year."

His successor is Ko Oiwa, the U-21 national team manager. The Japan Football Association explained that "Manager Oiwa will serve as both A-team manager preparing for the 2030 World Cup and U-21 team manager preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics."

This marks the first change in the A-team manager in nine years. Manager Moriyasu is considered one of the most Oh Raet-dong-an (CEO) managers to have led Japan. He took charge as the A-team commander in 2018 and has held the position for eight years through this year.

His coaching abilities have been widely recognized. Manager Moriyasu was praised for defeating Germany and Spain consecutively at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, advancing to the Round of 16 as group winners. He later won the AFC Men's Coach of the Year award.

At the recently concluded 2026 North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) World Cup qualifiers, Japan advanced through the group stage after competing against formidable opponents such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. In the Round of 32, they engaged in a fierce battle with "eternal favorites" Brazil but narrowly lost 1-2.

As a result, Manager Moriyasu has secured his place as the first Japanese manager to lead the national team at two consecutive World Cups.

After the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers concluded, attention focused on Manager Moriyasu's future plans. At that time, he stated, "Nothing has been decided yet."

Subsequently, Manager Moriyasu accepted an unusual six-month short-term contract. His final stage will be the Saudi Arabia Asian Cup. Manager Moriyasu will leave the national team after challenging Japan to reclaim the title for the first time since 2011 at the 2027 Asian Cup.

To date, Manager Moriyasu's overall record with the Japanese A-team stands at 108 matches: 74 wins, 16 draws, and 18 losses.

Japanese media outlet 'Nikkan Sports' reported that "Manager Moriyasu accepted a six-month contract" and added that "the Japan Football Association plans not to extend the contract even if they win the Asian Cup, and will launch a new management system starting from international A-matches in March next year."

According to reports, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japan Football Association, unofficially requested Manager Moriyasu to lead the national team until the Asian Cup. It is understood that Manager Moriyasu accepted this request.

Ko Oiwa, who will succeed Manager Moriyasu, is a manager who has long led the Japanese Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team.

After retiring as a player and transitioning to coaching, Manager Oiwa managed Kashima Antlers from 2017 to 2019. In 2018, he led Kashima to win the AFC Champions League and also received the AFC Men's Coach of the Year award that same year.

He then took charge of the Japanese Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team, leading them to the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Additionally, he secured victories in both the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. In 2024, he won his second AFC Men's Coach of the Year award.

Manager Oiwa will announce a new beginning as Japan A-team commander after the 2027 Asian Cup concludes. Simultaneously, he will serve as U-21 team manager, preparing for both the 2030 World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics.

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*This content was translated by AI.