Asako Takakura

Asako Takakura (高倉 麻子, Takakura Asako, born 19 April 1968) is a former Japanese football player and manager. She played for Japan national team. She is the current manager of the Japan national team. Her husband is former footballer Kazuhiko Takemoto. She is sometimes known as Asako Takakura-Takemoto or Asako Takemoto.

Asako Takakura
高倉 麻子
Personal information
Full name Asako Takakura
Date of birth (1968-04-19) 19 April 1968
Place of birth Fukushima, Fukushima, Japan
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Japan (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1984 FC Jinnan
1985–1998 Yomiuri Beleza 167 (30)
1999 Matsushita Electric Panasonic Bambina 14 (6)
2000 Silicon Valley Red Devils
2001–2004 Speranza FC Takatsuki 45 (8)
Total 226 (44)
National team
1984–1999 Japan 79 (29)
Teams managed
2013–2014 Japan U-17
2014–2016 Japan U-20
2016– Japan
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Takakura was born in Fukushima on 19 April 1968. In 1981, she joined FC Jinnan. In 1985, she moved to Yomiuri Beleza. The club won L.League title for 4 years in a row (1990-1993). She was selected MVP awards in 1992 and 1993 season. She was also selected Best Eleven 7 times (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 1998). In 1999, her husband Kazuhiko Takemoto moved to Gamba Osaka. So, she moved to Matsushita Electric Panasonic Bambina (later Speranza FC Takatsuki) based in Osaka. In 2000, she moved to Women's Premier Soccer League club Silicon Valley Red Devils. In 2001, she returned to Speranza FC Takatsuki. End of 2004 season, she retired from playing career. She played 226 games in L.League.

National team career

On 17 October 1984, when Takakura was 16 years old, she debuted for Japan national team against Italy. She played at 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999 AFC Championship, 1990 and 1994 Asian Games. She was also a member of Japan for 1991, 1995 World Cup[1] and 1996 Summer Olympics. She played 79 games and scored 29 goals for Japan until 1999.[2]

Coaching career

Takakura started her coaching career as an assistant coach of the Japan U-17 national team at the 2009 and 2011 AFC U-16 Championships. As manager of the Japan U-17 team, she led the youth team to the title of the 2013 AFC U-16 Championship by winning over North Korea in the final. Next year, she led to the title of the 2014 U-17 World Cup by winning over Spain in the final. She repeated the achievement by mentoring the Japan U-20 national team to help them win the title of the 2015 AFC U-19 Championship, again by defeating North Korea in the final.[3]

On 27 April 2016, Takakura was appointed as the manager of the Japan senior national team becoming the first female to hold the post. She was also appointed as manager of the Japan U-20 team and won 3rd place at 2016 U-20 World Cup.[1] In 2018, she led to the title of 2018 Asian Cup.

Takakura has been given the AFC Women's Coach Of The Year Award Six times; in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.[3]

National team statistics

[2]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
198430
198500
1986113
198734
198830
198963
199042
1991124
199200
199356
199472
199590
1996100
199700
199800
199965
Total7929

References
  1. "Takakura hired as first female manager of Nadeshiko Japan". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. Japan Football Association(in Japanese)
  3. "AFC Women's Coach of the Year: Asako Takakura". Asian Football Confederation. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
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