FCTokyo U-18 Coach Takashi Okuhara Interview
"In the future, I want to solidify the top team with players from the academy."
In the J.League YBC Levain Cup, Kojiro YASUDA, who was promoted from U-18 this season, was appointed, and Yuki KAJIURA also scored a goal. In addition, two registered players, Renta HIGASHI and Naoki KUMATA, have also gained playing opportunities, and the performance of academy graduates in the top team has become more noticeable than ever before. This time, we will hear from Takashi OKUHARA, who served as the Academy Management Director and Academy Director for five years until last season, and became the coach of U-18 this year, about the current state of U-18 and the academy, as well as the challenges and what kind of players should become at FC Tokyo.
Q, How do you feel about returning to coaching after a 6-season hiatus since leading U-15 Fukagawa in the 2016 season?
A, I have been in charge of the overall position (Academy Director) for 5 years, so I have a deep understanding that the field is supported by various things such as the positioning of each team within the club. In addition, I have been feeling much stronger than before about how much weight the coach must have to do the job on the field.
Q, the role of the coach has also changed quite a bit in the past 6 years.
A, Yes, that's right. The club as a whole is now more focused on aligning with football than when I was in Fukagawa. As each club in the J-League begins to show their own colors, I think it's about how I can contribute to the growth of individuals while adhering to the club's philosophy. It's exciting to be able to try new things.
Q, As the coach Okuhara originally wore the number 10 at FC Tokyo, I think he understands the mindset of this club very well. How do you feel about serving as the coach of the U-18 team?
A, I think there are things to inherit and things to discard. I think there is a meaning to what I am doing in the sense of whether people who understand that can have the courage to discard it or take on new things. I feel that I can do such things precisely because I know the history from the past, and I also think that there may be times when I have to let go of things that I have cherished so much depending on the situation.
Q, How is the U-18 team doing this season? They have had a very strong start in the Premier League. How do you feel about their performance in the early stages?
A, of course we also expect results, but the most important thing is how much we can encourage the players to change and express themselves on the field. Since January, we have been working on various things. Among them, the players have said, "Let's bring back a strong U-18 team." They have seen the U-18 team, which was winning the Premier League, when they were in the junior age group or U-15, and they have joined the team with the aspiration to be like them. However, in recent years, the situation has changed and they are no longer in that position. So they are trying to bring it back, or make the team a place where U-15 and school players can look up to as the top category in the academy. I think the players are doing a good job.
Q, Has there been any change in your approach to high school players since becoming a coach from the position of director?
When I watched from a slightly distant position, I had ideals like "If I do this more", but there are difficulties when actually involved. However, honestly, I thought that it would be difficult to improve technically in the youth age, and it would take time to change the mental aspect, but as I interacted with the players, I feel that they are changing more than I expected.
Q, Specifically, what parts are starting to change?
In the midst of coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA saying "soccer that loves the ball," if he says "let's increase ball possession rate," it is necessary to acquire the skills that support it. When I was watching from the outside last year, I had a feeling of "how far can I go by training technically?" but I feel that "if I really build it up carefully, I can acquire the necessary skills to become a professional even at this age."
＜Kumada's goal, connected from the goalkeeper＞
Q, By the way, this year's U-18 is energetic, isn't it?
A, What I said first was, "It's right to cheer up and play soccer." "It's not good to be slanted or to try to be cool." So, I started with the idea of "It's a team sport, so let's work together with our teammates." As a way to improve the parts where I wanted to step forward but was crushed by the atmosphere around me, I started with "Let's speak up" and "Let's greet each other."
Q, Currently, 7 U-18 players are registered as 2nd team players. In the Levain Cup, players Renta HIGASHI and Naoki KUMATA have also played in matches. How is the current collaboration between the top team and the academy?
When coach Albert came, I was a little worried about the communication aspect because he is a foreign coach, but first of all, he called the players to camp and he values the academy very much, so we are able to share a lot of things. Specifically, we had a meeting with coach Takayoshi Amma, coach Hiroyuki Shirai, and myself and watched footage of when Tokyo participated in the Levain Cup and when they participated in the Premier League with the U-18 team. There were some differences in the defensive style between the U-18 and the top team, so I was able to learn from that and we have a close collaboration, not only with the players but also with the U-18 staff, and we are able to grow and learn many things.
Q, How do you feel about the stimulation that players who actually participate in the activities of the top team receive?
A, that area is also a difficult place, and it improves for a moment (laughs), but on the contrary, misunderstandings also come in, so "oh, I'm losing my humility." Still, it's grateful as a material for us to stimulate. Young players are shaken in various ways, so we have to work on that (laughs).
Q, it's fun to work on that spot (laughs).
A, yes. I become conceited right away (lol).
Q, Do you talk to the current academy players about the personal growth of players who have moved up from the academy to the top team?
A, "This player had this kind of approach," or "This player wasn't just skilled, but also had this kind of personality." We often talk about these things. When we actually mention names, it feels more familiar, and because I've interacted with many players, I can talk about how they behaved when they were 15 or 18 years old, for example, when they participated in top-level training.
Q, Top player Sodai HASUKAWA, also left an impression of paving the way for his professional career with his outstanding human qualities.
A, His strength lies in his grandeur. Even when he was in U-15 Fukagawa, he didn't get a chance to play until he was in his third year, and it was the same in U-18 and Meiji University. However, he embodies the idea that if you humbly accumulate various things, you can win in that category. In Tokyo, players like Sodai and Shuto (Okaniwa) have inherited the mindset of Mr. Yoshimoto (a scout), and they have been doing activities that are close to inheriting that mindset. At that time, I thought, "Is this okay?" But now that they are struggling a bit at the top level, I think they may have been lacking something, and I hope to be able to incorporate that into the current situation. Looking back, I realize that if we don't put our hands on them even further, it will be very difficult for high school or university graduates to become core members of the top team. Although the number of academy graduates who have been promoted to the top team has increased, there are still few national team players or players who go abroad, so we need to address this issue.
Q, In the recent Levain Cup match against Júbilo Iwata, 9 members of the team were academy graduates. How does Coach Okuhara envision their role in the top team moving forward?
A, one of the things to consider is where to allocate the budget in order to continue competing in the top of J1. Of course, we will spend money on key players, including foreign players, but we also want to fill the backup positions with academy players. I think we already have enough talent in our academy, and it is our responsibility to develop them. Another thing is how to create a training atmosphere throughout the year, as various things happen at the training ground in Kodaira depending on our wins and losses. Whether we are on a losing streak or a winning streak, it is the mission of academy players to create an atmosphere where training can be conducted properly even in difficult situations. This is something I have been thinking about a lot recently.
Q, Was there any reason to think so?
When I think back to the quality of training during the time when there were few academy players, even during practices where we weren't getting results, just having Yoshimoto-san there prevented the atmosphere from dropping to a minimum level. I think it's really important to develop academy players who can do that. Even though I have experience playing for the top team, there are still difficult times and there are times when the atmosphere can't be improved, but having players who have come up from the academy can give us that extra push, and I think that's really important.
Q, Yoshimoto-san is great.
A, I am intentionally increasing my opportunities to talk with Mr. Yoshimoto. There are still many "pretend" parts, but I feel like I am starting to understand the true love for the club and true humility little by little.
Q, by the way, Coach Okuhara also calls him "Yoshimoto" (laughs).
A, yes. Since I have been in management, including the coaching staff, I address everyone with "san" in business matters (laughs).
Text by Masashi Tsuchiya (Football Writer)
