Kagawa Hiroshi, a football journalist and a Japan Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee, received the FIFA Presidential Award at FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 on Monday 12 January in Zurich, Switzerland. His long-standing contribution to Japanese football through his articles and passion was honoured as he covered 10 FIFA World Cups including the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil when he was 89 years old, which was the oldest among all the journalists. The FIFA president Blatter said of his triumph “This award is not just for this journalist but for all journalists and this award highlights the importance of the media and the importance of free speech.”

While Nadeshiko Japan’s head coach Sasaki Norio also attended the ceremony as one of the finalists for the FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year, he fell short to make the feat.

FIFA BALLON D’OR 2014

Cristiano RONALDO (Portugal/Real Madrid)

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD PLAYER 2014

Nadine KESSLER (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg)

FIFA WORLD COACH MEN'S FOOTBALL 2014

Joachim LOEW (Germany/Germany National Team)

FIFA WORLD COACH WOMEN'S FOOTBALL 2014

Ralf KELLERMANN (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg)

Puskás Award (Goal of the Year)

James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid)

The FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2014

Manuel NEUER (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
David Luiz (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
Philipp Lahm (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid)
Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Angel Di Maria (Argentina/Manchester United)
Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona)

FIFA Fair Play Award winner

All volunteers who have worked at FIFA competitions

FIFA Presidential Award winner

KAGAWA Hiroshi (Football Journalist)

Comments

Mr. KAGAWA Hiroshi
I'm very proud to attend this wonderful ceremony, and this is the greatest honour to be presented with this award. I met Mr. Blatter for the first time in 1979 when the World Youth was held in Japan, and he was part of the FIFA organising committee of the tournament. It’s been a long time since then, but unfortunately, my English has not made any progress. So I was sceptical about coming to this ceremony today. But young friends in Japan said I must come - even if only to meet Lionel Messi, Manuel Neuer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
I heard that Mr. Blatter decided to give me the award because he acclaimed the power of media that contributed to Japanese football development. I’m the oldest journalists still working, but there are a lot of football media pioneers way before me. I believe I take over their paths and received the award on behalf of them.

SASAKI Norio, Head Coach
I strongly hope that Nadeshiko Japan players come to this stage next year. Some of them have potential and have grown with the recent four-year experience. The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be at higher level in terms of football skills and tactics. After Japan won the tournament last time, women’s football popularity has been increasing in lots of regions such as Asia as they found anybody can win it whatever their race. In the midst of women’s football rapid development, we also try to get in the group of the top teams. And I hope we can attract people by showing how good world-class women football is. Starting the Algarve Cup, we will build up the team and prepare for the World Cup.