*This content was translated by AI.
As Hajime Moriyasu (58), head coach of the Japan national football team, marked his farewell home match with a victory, the struggles he faced as a leader during his eight-year tenure were revealed.
Japan defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the final of the 2026 Kirin Cup held at the National Stadium in Tokyo on the 5th. This match was Moriyasu’s last home game before leaving the team after the 2027 Asian Cup scheduled for early next year.
Japanese media outlet “Goethe Web” reported on the 6th, citing a new book titled “The Truth of Moriyasu’s Notes,” about the unstable position and steadfast attitude that head coach Moriyasu maintained during the 2026 North America World Cup.
According to the report, Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto notified him in March this year that his term would end after the North America World Cup. Although contract extension until January 2027 was confirmed only on July 23, head coach Moriyasu devoted himself entirely to the team without showing any outward signs of distress.
Ahead of the first group stage match, he stated, “We are not fighting just for the sake of my term; we are fighting with the consciousness of connecting history, inheriting the will of our predecessors, and building strength toward the future so that we can aim for a World Cup championship.”
He also said, “We do nothing special ahead of the World Cup. The World Cup exists only because of our daily efforts and activities each time; I believe the World Cup is an extension of what we have done until now. We will continue to cherish what we have done so far and ensure that we give our best in the present.”
He added, “It is not that we do something because it is a special stage; I believe there is a process we have gone through until now, and the World Cup lies at its end. Therefore, I have shared the phrase ‘hansha tetsutei’ (thoroughness in ordinary matters) with players and staff. We will continue to prepare our best and pour out all our strength, just as we have done until now.”
At the final gathering where the squad sat in a circle after their defeat to Brazil, he appeared to sense his impending departure and candidly shared his inner thoughts. Head coach Moriyasu revealed, “What I said at that final circular gathering was to engrave this frustration in our hearts and carry it forward into the next stage of growth. Almost no players will end their careers with this tournament; including staff, I hope we can utilize this frustration and the things that did not go as planned to lead to further growth, and grow to fight for Japan.”
Regarding the failure to achieve their goal, he expressed, “I am truly sorry as a coach for not being able to see the ‘best scenery’ of winning,” while adding, “However, I am truly grateful to the team, players, and staff who showed us a different kind of ‘best scenery.’ Because everyone gave their all in daily training and matches, they showed me the ‘best scenery as a coach,’ so I said ‘thank you.’”
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*This content was translated by AI.
