JFA Hall of Fame Inductee

OSAWA Hideo

Special Selection: 19th Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2023

Born in Hokkaido on 22 January 1936

Played for Kokushikan University football club since its inception and served as the club’s coach and manger after graduation. In his more than 60 years of coaching, he has led Kokushikan University to become one of the national powerhouses and has trained many professional footballers.

He has also devoted himself to the education of coaches and has produced many talented managers and coaches, as well as staff members of JFA and clubs, from Kokushikan University. Youth (U-12) development was another area of focus for him, as he played a key role in the founding of the Japan U-12 Football Championship, which is now known as the JFA U-12 Japan Football Championship. As JFA’s Member of Executive Committee in charge of Class 4(U-12) and Co-opted Member of Executive Committee, he paved the way for the introduction of eight-a-side Football.
In 2003, he helped found the “Independence League (I-League)” to provide opportunities for all players in university football teams across the country. Along with his contribution to expand the player base for university football, he has also helped strengthen the pool of elite players. This is due to that fact that many of the players who were given the opportunity to compete in the I-League made tremendous strides, including those who were eventually selected to the national team.

He also served as the first chairman of the Japan Football Coaches Association (JFCA) and was instrumental in institutionalising coaching.

He currently serves as the Chairperson of Executive Board for Educatinal Foundation of Kokushikan.

Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2019.

• 
  AYABE Michie
• DAINI Kuniya