Yahiro Kazama


Yahiro Kazama is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He is the first Japanese player to score in J1 League. His son Koki Kazama and Koya Kazama are also footballer.

Club career

Kazama was born in Shizuoka on October 16, 1961. After graduating from University of Tsukuba, he moved to Germany in 1984. He played for several clubs, including Remscheid and Eintracht Braunschweig. In 1989, he returned to Japan and joined Japan Soccer League Division 2 club Mazda. The club was promoted to Division 1 in 1991. In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and founded new league J1 League. J1 League first season in 1993, he played opening match and scored a goal. This is the first goal by Japanese player in J1 League. He left Sanfrecce Hiroshima end of 1995 season and moved to Germany club Remscheid again. He retired in 1998.

National team career

In August 1979, when Kazama was a Shimizu Commercial High School student, he was selected Japan U-20 national team for 1979 World Youth Championship and he played 3 games. In December 1980, when he was a University of Tsukuba student, he was selected Japan national team for 1982 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on December 22, he debuted against Singapore. He also played at 1982 Asian Games and 1984 Summer Olympics qualification. He played 19 games for Japan until 1983. After he moved to Germany in 1984, he was not selected Japan.

Coaching career

After retirement, Kazama became a manager for Toin University of Yokohama in 1998. He resigned in 2003. In 2008, he became a manager for his alma mater University of Tsukuba and managed until April 2012.
On April 23, 2012, Kawasaki Frontale announce appointment of their new manager Kazama. The former Sanfrecce Hiroshima and national team player begins his first professional managerial stint two weeks after the firing of former boss Naoki Soma for poor results. Kazama led the club to won the 3rd place 2 times and 2nd place 2016 Emperor's Cup. He resigned in end of 2016 season.
In 2017, Kazama moved to J2 League club Nagoya Grampus. He led the club to a 3rd place finish at the end of the season and hence gained promotion to 2018 J1 League. In 2018 season, although Grampus results were bad, Grampus finished at the 15th place and remained in J1. On 23 September 2019, it was announced Kazama would be leaving Grampus after an underwhelming season.

Club statistics

National team statistics

Managerial statistics