Win with good soccer. Backward calculation from victory and goals
The 2025 season is finally starting. Tokyo will fight alongside the new head coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI in this new season. This first interview covers a wide range of topics, from the circumstances of his appointment to his experiences as a player, his pride as a coach, his personality, his approach to players, and the soccer style he aims for with the team. He passionately spoke about his dedication to soccer and his philosophy. Born in Chofu City, which can be said to be the home of Ajinomoto Stadium, the new coach is natural and full of humanity. With the new team's launch just around the corner, the vision for “Rikizo Tokyo” is beginning to take shape with various keywords.
Born in Chofu
──First of all, congratulations on your appointment as manager. What were your thoughts when making this decision?
It was truly an appreciated story, and half of me felt "No way." My career as a manager is not that long, and even though I have the achievement of being promoted to the J1 League, it was not just me but the power of everyone I worked with. Therefore, regarding the evaluation from those around me, when compared to what I envisioned and the growth speed of my career as a manager, I actually felt a bit of an imbalance. Even so, I was very happy to be evaluated and to receive the offer at an early stage.
By the way, Coach Matsuhashi was born in Chofu City, where Ajinomoto Stadium is located.
I am often asked, but my "place of birth" is Kokuryo, Chofu City, and I was raised in Chiba Prefecture.
──That said, returning as a coach to the place where it all began. It feels like the beginning of a wonderful story.
That's right. I also feel that this is a kind of "connection." When it was decided that I would become the manager of Tokyo, I received a message from my mother saying, "It's fate, isn't it?" It's interesting, isn't it? I sometimes wonder if there's something behind it, and I truly want to make it something meaningful.
──What would you like the fans and supporters, who walk alongside a locally born coach, to call you?
There isn't anything in particular, but I am often called "Riki-san." One nickname from a player that I thought was clever was "Powerzo-san." Only the "power" part was in English (laughs). Teruhito NAKAGAWA, who I had the chance to work with at Yokohama F.Marinos, further shortened it to "Pawa-san." They really think these things through (laughs).
Value Communication
──Looking back briefly at Coach Matsuhashi's career, he played for Nissan Motor, Yokohama Marinos (at the time), Kyoto Purple Sanga (at the time), and Jatco, and then pursued a path as a coach.
It was significant to be able to interact with many wonderful players and coaches. Although it was truly little by little, various clubs gave me opportunities, allowing me to grow. I am still far from complete, but by looking at soccer from various angles, I have been able to build my own identity. Among these experiences, my time as a staff member at the Yokohama FM Academy was especially important. The interactions with coaches and teammates have truly been fruitful. We seriously faced soccer and discussed in detail, day and night, themes such as how to advance players to the next stage. This applies not only to coaches but also to conversations and collaborations with staff from various clubs. I believe those times laid the foundation for me. Of course, there were naturally conflicts as well. Including those, it was a place where I felt I was shaped through the ups and downs.
──As a character, he is said to be "serious and passionate." During the season when Albirex Niigata achieved promotion to J1 League, it was impressive that all the players seriously claimed, "The MVP is Muriqui." I believe this is the best proof that the coach's passion became the foundation of the team.
Passion is necessary, but I also believe it is not a methodology. My thoughts and words are exactly what I truly think. How one conducts oneself as a person is important when moving things forward, but if you treat that as just a "decoration," it becomes dishonest. I am who I am, and I do not create an image to show certain parts of myself; if I don't understand something, I say so. I ask when I want to learn something. No one is perfect in everything, and it is natural to seek guidance from coaches and teammates for areas where you fall short. I also learn from the players. It is important to communicate properly, but that is not some special personal style—I simply want to sincerely face the players myself.
──The "words" that express that feeling are very impressive. During his time in Niigata, he shared many resonant phrases such as "the strongest enemy is the one in front of you" and "the philosophy doesn't change, but the methods do." The most striking was "detach with technique." When the opponent came at us with high pressing, instead of escaping, it felt like a positive and strong policy was shown to confront them with our strengths and win. His commitment to words is quite strong, isn't it?
I believe there are words that have deeply ingrained themselves in my heart through various stimuli, including reading. I used to jot down good words, but recently I have stopped doing that actively. I started to think, "Isn't that a bit superficial?" I believe that the words that truly stick in your heart are those that come out of your mouth when a powerful impact within you matches the scenery in front of you. Important words should be set aside until they firmly settle in your heart, and they naturally come out when needed.
──Serious and passionate. On the other hand, he is also lightly teased by the players; for example, he is called "Rikizo MATSUHASHI, handsome!" by both the players and the supporters, showing a lovable character side as well.
I really appreciate it. I also think being too serious might not be ideal, and I'm not so "overly serious" either; I take things as they come. I always have this thought somewhere that things will work out somehow, and I've even told the players, "I don't know, so I'm counting on you guys" (laughs). If everything were rigid, I think it would be really hard to rely on anyone. Some unconventional ideas probably wouldn't come up if you were too serious, so it's good to relax and take it easy. I understand both the good and bad sides of my emotions, so when I feel emotional ups and downs, I consciously try to stay neutral no matter the situation and keep my balance centered.
I've grown tired of hearing about 'good soccer'
──How have you viewed the team and club in Tokyo so far?
I saw that it is steadily growing into a big club. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, a truly large city known worldwide. I believe the club is also moving toward becoming one of those "big places."
──What kind of persuasive words were used when you were appointed as the coach?
It was the first team to approach me with a proposal, and they explained why it was me, including the club's vision.
──What were those visions and projects like?
As a club, in terms of how to establish our style of football, I have been entrusted with an important role amid the gradually changing flow. First, I am thinking about how to incorporate what I have into the current strengths of the team, and I believe there are areas that align with what I have in mind. In Niigata, we carefully built up play, and the phrase "number one ball possession rate" was often used as a synonym, but that is not what we are aiming for. The players in Niigata understood that well. So, I told the players, "I'm glad that our football is evaluated as good, but I'm tired of hearing that." What we aim for is not "good football" but "winning with good football." Therefore, it goes without saying that we must work backward from victory and goals. Tokyo has players with speed up front, and not only in counterattacks but also fast attacks are attractive. We can attack without many steps, and there are players who can break through individually. It's just a matter of how to make the most of those characteristics.
──How was that way of thinking cultivated?
I believe this idea is most influenced by my career as a player during the Nissan.S era. Rather than playing recklessly, it was more like a bit of playfulness or technical skills that were demanded by the seniors, and I was trained from various angles. That's why I think the phrase "break through with technique" came about. There is definitely a focus on that. When under pressure from the opponent, instead of just casually passing the ball backward, by trying things out one by one, drawing the opponent out, and breaking their formation, many goals and chances are created through this accumulation. If that happens, controlling the ball becomes a basic premise, and not only that, attacking quickly is also important, and for that, how to defend is also crucial. First, I want to work together with the players to determine what is best and what is better. I try not to be overly theoretical and avoid having preconceived notions.
──Indeed, "technique" seems to be a major keyword. The episode requested by the superstar Kazushi KIMURA from the Nissan era is well known.
This is something that has really become ingrained. Kazushi-san always says, "Soccer is a constant pursuit!" Since it comes from him, there's no doubt about it. Everyone at Nissan.S back then was like that. When I made a wrong decision with my pass, instead of hearing "That's not the way," I was told, "Oh, that way, I see." It felt like my lack of skill was being laughed at, and it really pierced my heart. But if you don't keep up with that level, you can't get on the field. So you have to keep striving for better skills. I think that's a very important point.
──What perspective should fans and supporters take to understand and enjoy Coach Matsuhashi's soccer?
We will definitely focus on the technical aspects. Above all, we want players to play lively and always strive to fully demonstrate their abilities. Rather than rigidly fitting it into a form, we want to make decisions while progressing with team building.
──As mentioned earlier, Nakagawa has been mentioned, and there are players in Tokyo with whom we have worked together so far.
Nakagawa and Keita ENDO experienced league championship together at Yokohama F.Marinos. I have watched ENDO since his academy days, and Kei KOIZUMI belonged to Yokohama F.Marinos' Primary (elementary school) and Junior Youth teams. Although I did not directly coach them, I have always observed their appearances. Recently, Takahiro KO was with me in Niigata.
Isn't it a joy as a leader to once again join forces with them due to fate?
That's true. Quite some time has passed, but whether you call it fate or a reunion, I think meeting again here is very meaningful. I am very happy about this and want to make it something meaningful.
──I heard you visited the MIXI, Inc. office in Shibuya for a meeting with the club. I believe you could see all of Tokyo from the high floors.
With a wonderful view, I immediately started taking pictures in silence as soon as I entered the room. Normally, I'm not the type to take photos, but it was truly amazing.
──That huge city will be the hometown of the team led by Coach Matsuhashi. Perhaps you have felt something new about "Tokyo" once again.
I thought I had come to a very challenging club (laughs). Of course, that is a joke, but looking around, I felt the greatness of the city of Tokyo and realized it is a place with great power. That made me feel even more determined.
In the announcement of his appointment, he expressed his determination by saying, "I want the stadium to be enveloped in a whirlwind of excitement." Together with the stadium, we expect Coach Matsuhashi to bring a style of football that excites the entire city of Tokyo.
That is what this club aims for, and we truly want to involve many people. The potential is tremendous, and we want to take on this important responsibility and move forward together with our fans and supporters toward a big goal.
