Yoshikazu Nagai (永井 良和, Nagai Yoshikazu, born April 16, 1952) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. His son Shunta Nagai is also a former footballer.

Yoshikazu Nagai
永井 良和
Personal information
Full name Yoshikazu Nagai
Date of birth (1952-04-16) April 16, 1952 (age 72)
Place of birth Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 6+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1968–1970 Urawa Minami High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1988 Furukawa Electric 272 (63)
Total 272 (63)
International career
1971–1980 Japan 69 (9)
Managerial career
1989–1990 Japan U-20
1992–1993 JEF United Ichihara
1996 Fukushima FC
1998–2000 Albirex Niigata
2001 Yokohama FC
2006–2007 Urawa Reds Ladies
Medal record
Furukawa Electric
Winner Japan Soccer League 1976
Winner Japan Soccer League 1985/86
Winner JSL Cup 1977
Winner JSL Cup 1982
Winner JSL Cup 1986
Runner-up JSL Cup 1979
Winner Emperor's Cup 1976
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1984
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Nagai was born in Saitama on April 16, 1952. After graduating from high school, he joined Furukawa Electric in 1971. The club won the league champions in 1976 and 1985–86. The club also won 1976 Emperor's Cup, 1977, 1982 and 1986 JSL Cup. He retired in 1988. He played 272 games and scored 63 goals in the league. It is the record for most appearances in Japan Soccer League Division 1. In 1976, he was selected Japanese Footballer of the Year awards. He was selected Best Eleven 5 times.

National team career

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On August 13, 1971, when Nagai was 19 years old, he debuted for Japan national team against Iceland. He also played at 1972 Summer Olympics qualification in 1971. Although, he did not play for Japan in 1972, he was selected Japan for 1974 World Cup qualification in 1973. He also played at 1974, 1978 Asian Games. In 1980, he was selected Japan for 1980 Summer Olympics qualification, Japan's failure to qualify for 1980 Summer Olympics. This qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 69 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1980.[1]

Coaching career

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After retirement, Nagai became a coach for Furukawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara) in 1988. In 1989, he became a manager for Japan U-20 national team. In 1992, he returned to JEF United Ichihara and managed until 1993. In 1996, he signed with Japan Football League (JFL) club Fukushima FC and managed in 1 season. In 1998, he signed with JFL club Albirex Niigata. The club joined new league J2 League in 1999. In 2001, he moved to Yokohama FC. In 2006, he signed with his local women's league club Urawa Reds Ladies.

In 2012, Nagai was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Club statistics

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[2]

Club performance League
Season Club League Apps Goals
Japan League
1971 Furukawa Electric JSL Division 1 10 2
1972 10 0
1973 18 2
1974 18 5
1975 18 7
1976 18 5
1977 18 14
1978 18 1
1979 18 6
1980 17 3
1981 15 6
1982 10 1
1983 12 1
1984 14 5
1985/86 22 3
1986/87 14 0
1987/88 22 2
Total 272 63

National team statistics

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[1]

Japan national team
Year Apps Goals
1971 4 1
1972 0 0
1973 5 0
1974 4 1
1975 11 1
1976 17 2
1977 5 0
1978 12 1
1979 9 3
1980 2 0
Total 69 9

Managerial statistics

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[3]

Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
JEF United Ichihara 1993 1993 36 14 0 22 038.89
Albirex Niigata 1999 2000 76 35 7 34 046.05
Yokohama FC 2001 2001 31 11 1 19 035.48
Total 143 60 8 75 041.96

Personal honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b Japan National Football Team Database
  2. ^ Yoshikazu Nagai at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ J.League Data Site(in Japanese)
  4. ^ "NAGAI Yoshikazu". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
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