JFA Hall of Fame Inductee

NISHINO Akira

Special Selection: 16th Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2019

Born in Saitama on 7 April 1955

In 1994, Nishino was appointed as the coach of Japan National Olympics Team and led the team to their first Olympic games in 28 years. At the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, his squad earned a historic victory over Brazil at the group stage, which later became known as the “Miracle of Miami." He served as the coach of four different clubs at the J1 level and holds the league record for most wins with 270th career wins. He coached Gamba Osaka from 2002 and led the team to win the AFC Champions League title in 2008. In the same year, his team participated in the FIFA Club World Cup as the AFC champion and finished in third place. In 2016, he was appointed as the JFA Technical Director. At the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, he was suddenly named as the coach of Japan National Team just two months prior to the tournament and led the team to the round of 16 for the third time in Japanese football history. He was named as the J.League Manager of the Year in 2000 and 2005, while receiving the AFC Coach of the Year award in 2008.

• 
  Philippe TROUSSIER
• KATO Hisashi