Atsushi Uchiyama

2.1. Youth and Collegiate Career

Uchiyama was born on June 29, 1959, in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, which is now part of Shimizu Ward in Shizuoka City. He attended Shizuoka Prefectural Shimizu Higashi High School from 1975 to 1977, where he played competitive youth football. Following high school, he continued his football development at Kokushikan University from 1978 to 1981, playing for the university's football club.

2.2. Club Career

In 1982, after graduating from Kokushikan University, Uchiyama joined Yamaha Motors (later known as Júbilo Iwata), then competing in the Japan Soccer League (JSL) Division 2. His impact was immediate, as the club won the JSL Division 2 championship in his debut year, securing promotion to Division 1. That same year, Yamaha Motors also clinched the Emperor's Cup, marking an early achievement in Uchiyama's professional career.

As a consistent presence in the midfield, Uchiyama played a crucial role in Yamaha Motors' most successful period. He contributed significantly to the club's first JSL Division 1 championship title in the 1987-88 season. He remained with Yamaha Motors for his entire playing career, retiring in 1992. Over his ten years with the club, he made 195 appearances and scored 18 goals in the league. Additionally, he participated in other official competitions, recording 6 appearances and 2 goals in the 1990 Konica Cup, 6 appearances and 1 goal in the 1991 Konica Cup, and 1 appearance in the 1992 Xerox Champions Cup.

2.3. National Team Career (Player)

Uchiyama's performances at the club level earned him a call-up to the Japan national football team. He made his international debut on September 30, 1984, in a match against South Korea. He also participated in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. His international playing career for Japan spanned from 1984 to 1985, during which he earned 2 caps.

His two international A-matches were:

• September 30, 1984, in Seoul, against South Korea (Japan won 2-1), under manager Takaji Mori. This was a regular match between Japan and South Korea.
• February 23, 1985, in Singapore, against Singapore (Japan won 3-1), under manager Takaji Mori. This match was part of the World Cup qualifiers.

3.1. Club Management Career

Uchiyama began his coaching career at his former club, Yamaha Motors (which became Júbilo Iwata), immediately after his retirement as a player in 1992. He held various coaching positions within the club over many years. From 1992 to 1993, he served as a coach for the top team. He then took on the role of youth team manager from 1994 to 1996. In 1997, he managed the satellite team, followed by a stint as top team coach in 1998. He also worked as a scout in 1999 and again in 2003, while also serving as a coach for the Home Town Promotion Office from 2000 to 2003.

From 2004 to 2006, he returned to manage the youth team, where he achieved notable success, leading the youth squad to a runner-up finish in the Prince Takamado Cup U-18 in 2004. This period saw the promotion of as many as six players from his youth team to the top squad, a testament to his developmental prowess. Uchiyama also holds a JFA S-class coaching license.

In September 2007, Uchiyama was appointed manager of the Júbilo Iwata top team, succeeding Adílson Batista. He aimed to restore the club to its "golden era." However, his tenure as top team manager was short-lived. Due to unsatisfactory results, with the team in 16th place in the J1 League, he was dismissed in August 2008.

3.2. National Team Management Career

Following his departure from Júbilo Iwata's top team, Uchiyama dedicated himself to coaching Japanese national youth teams. Starting in 2013, he served as a coach for the Japan U-18 national team. In 2014, he took on roles as manager for both the Japan U-17 and U-18 national teams, and also served as a coach for the Japan U-19 national team, participating in the U-19 Asian Championship where the team failed to qualify for the main tournament.

In 2015, Uchiyama was appointed manager of the Japan U-19 national team (which typically becomes the U-20 team in the following year), succeeding Masaichi Suzuki. Under his leadership, the team achieved significant success at the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship. They won the championship for the first time in the country's history and, by reaching the quarterfinals, secured qualification for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, marking Japan's first appearance in the tournament in ten years. Uchiyama continued to manage the team through the 2017 U-20 World Cup, after which he resigned from his post.

4.1. Club Statistics

4.2. National Team Statistics (Player)

4.3. Managerial Statistics

The following table summarizes Atsushi Uchiyama's managerial record for Júbilo Iwata.

• Note: The 2007 position reflects the final standing. The 2008 position reflects the standing at the time of his dismissal.

Overall record for Júbilo Iwata:

5.1. Positive Assessment

As a player, Uchiyama was an integral part of Yamaha Motors' success in the Japan Soccer League, contributing to their Division 2 championship, Emperor's Cup victory, and the historic 1987-88 JSL Division 1 title. His tenure as a consistent midfielder for over a decade left a lasting mark on the club.

In his coaching career, Uchiyama's strength lay particularly in youth development. His success as youth team manager for Júbilo Iwata, leading them to the Prince Takamado Cup U-18 final in 2004 and facilitating the promotion of six young talents to the top team, highlighted his ability to identify and nurture future professional footballers. This dedication to youth development continued at the national level, where he played a pivotal role with the Japanese national youth teams. His most notable achievement was guiding the Japan U-19 national team to their first-ever AFC U-19 Championship title in 2016. This victory also secured Japan's qualification for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, ending a ten-year absence from the global youth tournament and underscoring his positive impact on the next generation of Japanese football talent.

5.2. Criticism and Controversy

While Uchiyama achieved success in youth development, his only stint as a top team manager for Júbilo Iwata faced challenges. Appointed in September 2007, his goal to revive the club's "golden era" did not materialize. The team's performance under his leadership was inconsistent, leading to his dismissal in August 2008 due to poor results, with the club sitting in 16th place in the J1 League. This episode represents a less successful chapter in his otherwise impactful career, indicating that his expertise might have been more suited to developmental roles rather than direct senior team management.