Masami Ihara

Masami Ihara

Personal information
Full name	Masami Ihara
Date of birth	September 18, 1967 (1967-09-18) (age 44)
Place of birth	Minakuchi, Shiga, Japan
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender (retired)
Youth career
1983–1986	Moriyama High School
1986–1990	University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1990–1999	Nissan Motors Yokohama Marinos Yokohama F. Marinos	267	(5)
2000	Júbilo Iwata	20	(1)
2001–2002	Urawa Red Diamonds	54	(1)
National team
1988–1999	Japan	122	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Masami Ihara (井原 正巳, Ihara Masami^?, born September 18, 1967 in Minakuchi, Shiga) is a former Japanese football player. The influential defender was captain of the Japan national football team for more than a decade in the 1990s, together with striker Kazuyoshi Miura and Brazilian-born midfielder Ruy Ramos. Ihara's record of 122 national team appearances has yet to be equalled by another Japanese man (Homare Sawa has surpassed that total among Japanese women).

Career

Ihara was rarely out of the spotlight in the emerging J. League throughout the 1990s. He spent most of his career with Yokohama Marinos and formed a key defensive partnership with the flamboyant Tsuyoshi Kitazawa at club level. After graduating from Tsukuba University, Ihara joined Nissan Motors SC (now known as Yokohama F. Marinos) and rapidly rose through the Marinos youth ranks to become a key player. The long-serving Ihara was so important to his club that he was nicknamed Mister Marinos by many Japanese fans.^[1] He formed the backbone of the club and also helped to bring on talented youngsters like Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and Shunsuke Nakamura.

During the 1998 World Cup in France, the veteran sweeper's experience was crucial to Japan's survival in their very first World Cup appearance, forming a flat back four defence with strong centre-back Yutaka Akita as well as speedy fullbacks Naoki Soma and Akira Narahashi (all from Kashima Antlers). Young Marinos goalkeeper, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was Japan's first choice goalkeeper at the time.

After leaving Marinos, Ihara also spent a season with Júbilo Iwata and his last 2 seasons with Urawa Red Diamonds prior to becoming a coach.

Club career statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Total
1990/91	Nissan Motors	JSL Division 1	22	2			4	0	26	2
1991/92			22	0			3	0	25	0
1992	Yokohama Marinos	J. League 1	-		5	0	8	0	13	0
1993			32	0	1	0	0	0	33	0
1994			41	1	4	0	2	0	47	1
1995			47	1	2	0	-		49	1
1996			29	1	1	0	13	0	43	1
1997			22	0	2	0	0	0	24	0
1998			27	0	1	0	0	0	28	0
1999	Yokohama F. Marinos	J. League 1	25	0	3	0	6	0	34	0
2000	Júbilo Iwata	J. League 1	20	1	0	0	3	0	23	1
2001	Urawa Red Diamonds	J. League 1	26	1	4	0	6	0	36	1
2002			28	0	0	0	9	1	37	1
Country	Japan		341	7	23	0	54	1	418	8
Total			341	7	23	0	54	1	418	8

International career statistics

^[2]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1988	5	0
1989	11	0
1990	6	0
1991	2	0
1992	11	0
1993	15	2
1994	9	1
1995	16	1
1996	13	0
1997	21	1
1998	10	0
1999	3	0
Total	122	5

Coach career

• Japan U-23 national football team Assistant coach : 2006-2008
• Kashiwa Reysol Assistant coach : 2009-

Honors and awards

• Asian Footballer of the Year: 1995
• J. League Best Eleven: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997

National team

• 1992 Asian Cup (Champions)
• 1996 Asian Cup
• 1998 FIFA World Cup

See also

• List of football (soccer) players with 100 or more caps

References

1. ^ "Masami Ihara". J-League Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2007-03-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20070322195129/http://www.wldcup.com/Asia/fame/ihara.html. Retrieved 2007-09-07. 
2. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ihara-intl.html

External links

• Official website
• Hall of Fame
• Masami Ihara at National-Football-Teams.com

Persondata
Name	Ihara, Masami
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1967-09-18
Place of birth	Kazuno, Shiga, Japan
Date of death
Place of death