1. Overview
Hidekazu Otani (大谷 秀和Otani HidekazuJapanese, born November 6, 1984) is a Japanese football manager and former professional player who primarily played as a defensive midfielder. Throughout his distinguished career, Otani became a prominent figure in Japanese football, making over 600 career appearances for Kashiwa Reysol and famously remaining with the club for his entire professional playing career, earning him the nicknames タニTaniJapanese and バンディエラBanderiaJapanese, a term used to describe a loyal "one-club man." Following his retirement as a player, Otani transitioned into coaching and currently serves as a coach for J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol. He also holds the position of Vice President of the Japan Professional Football Players Association.
2. Early life and youth career
Hidekazu Otani was born on November 6, 1984, in Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. His journey in football began at an early age; he started playing in the first grade of elementary school with the Hatsuishi Boys Soccer Club. By the fourth grade, he was also selected to play for Nagareyama FC, an elite team for the city. During his elementary school years, Otani primarily played as a forward.
Upon entering junior high school, Otani joined the youth academy of Kashiwa Reysol, a significant step in his development. It was during this period that he transitioned from a forward to an attacking midfielder. By his third year of high school, his talent was widely recognized, leading to his selection as the only club youth player to represent Chiba Prefecture in the 57th National Sports Festival. Alongside notable players such as Kazuki Hara and Yuki Okubo from Funabashi Municipal High School and Yusuke Kondo from Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School, Otani contributed significantly to the Chiba Prefecture team's victory, securing a national championship.
3. Professional playing career
Hidekazu Otani's professional playing career was exclusively with Kashiwa Reysol, where he became an emblem of loyalty and versatility, contributing significantly to the club's fortunes through various periods of promotion, relegation, and major title victories.
3.1. Club debut and early development
Otani was promoted to Kashiwa Reysol's top team in 2003, alongside fellow promising talents such as Kishu Yano and Tatsuya Yazawa. His talent was evident from the start, as he debuted as a rookie in the pre-season Chibagin Cup, starting in a defensive midfielder position. His performance garnered praise from Eduardo, who was then the technical advisor for the Japan national team, highlighting his early potential. Otani made his professional debut in a league match on March 22, 2003, during the J1 First Stage opening match against FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium. He scored his first professional goal on October 17, 2004, in a J1 Second Stage match against Nagoya Grampus at Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium.
In 2005, Otani solidified his role, frequently playing as a double pivot alongside Tomokazu Myojin and appearing in 20 league matches. However, despite his contributions, Kashiwa Reysol experienced a difficult season, culminating in their relegation to the J2 League after a defeat to Ventforet Kofu in the J1/J2 Play-offs.
The 2006 season marked a new chapter for Otani and the club under new manager Nobuhiro Ishizaki. Otani was appointed player chairman and inherited the prestigious number 7 jersey following Myojin's departure. With many key players leaving the club, Otani's versatility became crucial. He played in various positions across the midfield and defense, contributing to the club's rapid return to the J1 League within a year. From 2007, he became a regular left-back.
3.2. Role as captain and key player
In 2008, Hidekazu Otani was appointed team captain, a role he would hold consistently for the remainder of his career, becoming a steadfast leader for Kashiwa Reysol. From the summer of 2009, with the arrival of new manager Nelsinho Baptista, Otani returned to his original position as a defensive midfielder and became an indispensable core player. Under Baptista's guidance, Reysol achieved remarkable success, including a second-place finish in the 2008 Emperor's Cup. Although the club faced another relegation to J2 at the end of the 2009 season, they quickly bounced back, winning the J2 League championship in 2010 and returning to J1.
The year 2011 was historic for Kashiwa Reysol and Otani, as the club won the J1 League championship for the first time in its history. This achievement was a testament to Otani's leadership and consistent performance. His contributions were recognized with the J.League Excellent Player Award in 2011. Following this success, Otani continued to lead the team to further triumphs, securing the 2012 Emperor's Cup and the 2013 J.League Cup. In 2015, under new manager Tatsuma Yoshida, Otani was often deployed in a more advanced role as an inside half. On April 8, 2017, Otani achieved a significant individual milestone, becoming the first player in Kashiwa Reysol's history to reach 300 J1 League appearances in a match against Shimizu S-Pulse. In the same year, he recorded a career-high of five goals in the league. On December 16, 2020, Otani started in a J1 match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, breaking the club's record for the oldest player to appear in a league match (36 years and 1 month and 4 days), previously held by Careca, by six days.
3.3. Playing style and versatility
Hidekazu Otani's primary position was a defensive midfielder, where he excelled due to his exceptional tactical awareness and ability to balance offensive and defensive duties. Standing at 69 in (174 cm) and weighing 148 lb (67 kg), he was right-footed. He was often referred to as a "commander on the pitch" for his role in organizing the team. Despite his main position, Otani was a highly versatile player who had played in almost every position on the field except goalkeeper throughout his career.
His versatility developed from his youth days, where he played as a forward and later an attacking midfielder. However, after witnessing the extraordinary talent of top-team ace Keiji Tamada during his Kashiwa Reysol youth days, Otani felt a significant difference in skill and, upon a coach's recommendation, decided to transition to a defensive midfielder position after turning professional. This strategic shift allowed him to maximize his vision and leadership qualities from a deeper role.
4. National team career
While Hidekazu Otani never made a full debut for the Japan national football team, he was recognized for his consistent performance and leadership qualities by being named as a candidate or included in preliminary squads on several occasions. In July 2015, at the age of 30, he was named in the preliminary squad for the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup, marking his first selection as a potential national team player. He was also named to the preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asia Third Qualifying Round in both 2016 and 2017.
5. Retirement and coaching career
On October 31, 2022, Hidekazu Otani officially announced his retirement as a professional football player at the end of the 2022 season. His retirement marked the end of a remarkable two-decade-long playing career exclusively with Kashiwa Reysol. Following his retirement from playing, Otani quickly transitioned into a coaching role, returning to his beloved club. Since 2023, he has been serving as a coach for Kashiwa Reysol, continuing his dedication to the team he represented throughout his playing days.
6. Personal life
Hidekazu Otani's personal life is rooted in Chiba Prefecture, where he was born and built his professional career. On March 19, 2012, he married a woman from Chiba. The couple has three sons: their first son was born in July 2015, followed by their second son in May 2019, and their third son in October 2021.
7. Career statistics
7.1. Club statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Asia | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | AFC | Total | |||||||||
| 2003 | Kashiwa Reysol | J1 League | 4 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2004 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 21 | 2 | ||||
| 2005 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 26 | 5 | |||
| 2006 | J2 League | 29 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 29 | 1 | |||||
| 2007 | J1 League | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | 33 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 42 | 3 | ||||
| 2009 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 1 | ||||
| 2010 | J2 League | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 38 | 2 | ||||
| 2011 | J1 League | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |||
| 2015 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 3 | |||
| 2016 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2017 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 35 | 5 | |||||
| 2018 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | - | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2019 | J2 League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | J1 League | 23 | 2 | - | 3 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 478 | 23 | 38 | 3 | 56 | 2 | 30 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 610 | 29 | ||
7.2. Records
Hidekazu Otani holds several significant individual records from his playing career, primarily with Kashiwa Reysol:
- Official and J.League debut: March 22, 2003, in the J1 First Stage opening match against FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium.
- Official and J.League first goal: October 17, 2004, in the J1 Second Stage match against Nagoya Grampus at Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium.
- First player in Kashiwa Reysol's history to reach 300 J1 League appearances (achieved on April 8, 2017, against Shimizu S-Pulse).
- Club record for the oldest player to appear in a league match (36 years, 1 month, and 10 days, breaking Careca's record by six days on December 16, 2020, against Sanfrecce Hiroshima).
8. Honours
Hidekazu Otani accumulated numerous honours throughout his career, reflecting his consistent success and leadership with Kashiwa Reysol, as well as his early achievements in youth football.
8.1. Club honours
With Kashiwa Reysol, Otani contributed to the following major titles:
- J2 League: 2010, 2019
- J1 League: 2011
- Japanese Super Cup: 2012
- Emperor's Cup: 2012
- J.League Cup: 2013
- Suruga Bank Championship: 2014
8.2. Individual honours
Otani also received individual recognition for his performance:
- J.League Excellent Player Award: 2011
Additionally, in his youth career:
- National Sports Festival Football (representing Chiba Prefecture): 2002
9. Legacy and reception
Hidekazu Otani is highly regarded as a true バンディエラBanderiaJapanese (one-club man) for Kashiwa Reysol, symbolizing unwavering loyalty and dedication. His impact extended beyond his on-field performance, as he was a commanding presence and an exemplary leader both on and off the pitch. As team captain since 2008, he was often referred to as a "commander on the pitch" due to his exceptional tactical vision and ability to orchestrate the team's balance between offense and defense.
His leadership qualities were not limited to strategy; Otani was known for his firm yet guiding influence on his teammates. Kaoru Takayama, a former teammate at Kashiwa Reysol in 2014, recounted Otani's strong leadership, noting that he would actively correct teammates' habits, such as eating unhealthy food or showing laziness, demonstrating a commitment to professional standards.
A notable anecdote illustrating Otani's character and integrity occurred on May 20, 2017, during a J1 League match against Júbilo Iwata. The referee initially awarded a penalty kick to Kashiwa Reysol but, after consulting with the assistant referee, controversially reversed the decision to a drop-ball. Despite the potential for a scoring opportunity and the immediate protests from his teammates, Otani, as captain, calmly directed his teammates to back away, demonstrating respect for the referee's final decision and cooperating with the restart of play. This act of sportsmanship was lauded by Toru Kamikawa, Vice Chairman of the Japan Football Association's Referee Committee, who expressed gratitude for Otani's "very respectful response" and his actions as a team leader. This incident further solidified Otani's reputation as a principled and respected figure in Japanese football.