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▼ Football: Nadeshiko Japan Manager Ikeda Leaves Upon Contract Expiry
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Manager Futoshi Ikeda has parted ways with the Japan women's national football team upon the expiry of his contract, the Japan Football Association said Wednesday.
The 53-year-old took Nadeshiko Japan's reins in October 2021 and guided them to the quarterfinals both at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand, where they beat eventual champions Spain 4-0 in the group stage, and at the recent Paris Olympics.
"I wanted Nadeshiko Japan to rise even further and be there with the players myself to witness the scenes lying ahead," Ikeda said on the JFA website as he thanked the players, staff and supporters.
"I believe we managed to increase our output as a team and develop through competing in international tournaments, the World Cup and the Olympics."
A former defender for Urawa Reds, Ikeda coached at the club, as well as fellow men's J-League outfit Avispa Fukuoka, before steering Japan to their first Women's Under-20 World Cup title in 2018.
"I hope Nadeshiko Japan continue to play courageously, thrilling many people and being a team children dream of," he said.
JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto thanked Ikeda for his efforts, including in Paris, where Japan went out following a 1-0 extra-time defeat to the eventual gold medalists the United States, saying he hoped the manager would keep "lending his hand to Japanese football's development."
Japan will play an international friendly match against a still-unannounced opponent on Oct. 26 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
The 53-year-old took Nadeshiko Japan's reins in October 2021 and guided them to the quarterfinals both at the 2023 World Cup in New Zealand, where they beat eventual champions Spain 4-0 in the group stage, and at the recent Paris Olympics.
"I wanted Nadeshiko Japan to rise even further and be there with the players myself to witness the scenes lying ahead," Ikeda said on the JFA website as he thanked the players, staff and supporters.
"I believe we managed to increase our output as a team and develop through competing in international tournaments, the World Cup and the Olympics."
A former defender for Urawa Reds, Ikeda coached at the club, as well as fellow men's J-League outfit Avispa Fukuoka, before steering Japan to their first Women's Under-20 World Cup title in 2018.
"I hope Nadeshiko Japan continue to play courageously, thrilling many people and being a team children dream of," he said.
JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto thanked Ikeda for his efforts, including in Paris, where Japan went out following a 1-0 extra-time defeat to the eventual gold medalists the United States, saying he hoped the manager would keep "lending his hand to Japanese football's development."
Japan will play an international friendly match against a still-unannounced opponent on Oct. 26 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
- 21/8 19:10
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