Hiroshi Jofuku

1.1. Early life and education

Hiroshi Jofuku was born in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, on March 21, 1961. He began playing football at the age of eight, influenced by his older brother, Kei Jofuku, who later became a football coach at Sendai Ikuei High School. Unlike many of his peers who chose powerhouse high schools for football, Jofuku opted for Tokushima Prefectural Johoku High School with the intention of pursuing a university education. During his time at Johoku High School (1976-1978), he participated in the National Sports Festival of Japan (football) twice. His performances in the national selection caught the eye of Ikuo Matsumoto, leading to his selection as a candidate for the Japan national team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup during his third year of high school.
In 1979, he enrolled at Waseda University and joined its football club, known as Waseda University Association Football Club, where he played until 1982. While at Waseda, Jofuku was known for his unconventional and tricky passes but was highly valued by coach Masakatsu Miyamoto. He contributed to the team's runner-up finish in the All Japan University Football Championship. Notable teammates during his university years included Yasushi Yoshida and Takashi Sekizuka.

1.2. Club playing career

After graduating from Waseda University, Jofuku joined Fujitsu SC (the predecessor of Kawasaki Frontale) in 1983. He spent six years with the club, primarily playing as a midfielder in the Japan Soccer League (JSL) Division 2, until 1989. He played alongside Toshihiko Okimune, a former Japan national team defender, and Hiroki Iwabuchi, a key goalscorer. Jofuku was regarded as a theoretician during both his university and professional playing days. He captained the team during the 1988-1989 JSL season, where Fujitsu lost to Hitachi Ltd. SC (led by Akira Nishino) and missed out on promotion to JSL Division 1. Following this, he retired from professional football at the age of 28 in 1989. After his professional career, he continued to play for amateur club teams, including Eries FC Tokyo from 1989 to 1993. He is noted for being right-footed, with a height of 66 in ^{(167 cm)} and a weight of 141 lb ^{(64 kg)}.

2.1. Early coaching roles

After retiring as a player, Hiroshi Jofuku initially worked in a general administrative role at Fujitsu. However, at the request of his former teammate Shen Xiangfu, who remained with Fujitsu's football club as a coach, Jofuku was reassigned to the club as a coach in 1993. At that time, the club's activities were considered part of employee welfare, so Jofuku also handled equipment preparation and managerial duties. By the end of 1995, he was appointed manager of Fujitsu Kawasaki Football Club. In the fall of 1996, the team announced its intention to join the J.League. Although Jofuku wished to remain manager, the club decided to bring in a professional coach, leading him to return to a general company position in 1997.
Despite having decided to part ways with football and finding satisfaction in his new role, he was scouted by Tokuhiko Suzuki, the strengthening manager for Tokyo Gas Football Club (now FC Tokyo), in August of the same year. After much deliberation, he resigned from Fujitsu in 1998, driven by a desire to contribute to the development of the J.League and give back to the football world. He joined the preparatory organization for FC Tokyo's establishment and participated in the JFA S-Class Coach training, obtaining the certification in the same year.
From 1999, he took charge of FC Tokyo's youth development department, focusing on creating a robust environment for young players. He emphasized strengthening the U-15 and U-18 teams and fostering cooperation with local elementary school teams (as FC Tokyo did not have its own elementary school teams). While at FC Tokyo, he was also seconded to the Japan Football Association (JFA), where he served as a National Training Center coach, a technical staff member for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup), and managed various national youth teams, primarily focusing on the junior youth and youth age groups. In 2007, he became an S-class license instructor for the JFA.

2.2. Japan national youth team

In 2004, Jofuku temporarily left the JFA to help establish the FC Tokyo U-15 Musashi team. However, he was then invited to manage the Japan U-17 national team, which was preparing for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He took on the role of manager for the U-15 (later U-16 and U-17) national team in 2005. Under his guidance, the Japan U-17 team achieved a significant victory at the 2006 AFC U-17 Championship, securing their first title in 12 years and qualifying for the U-17 World Cup. However, the team was eliminated in the group stage at the 2007 U-17 World Cup. For Jofuku, his two-and-a-half-year tenure as the U-17 national team coach was a crucial period for establishing his own coaching philosophy and football style.

2.3. FC Tokyo (first stint)

In 2007, Hiroshi Jofuku transitioned to the strengthening department of FC Tokyo's first team, and in 2008, he was appointed as the head coach of the senior team. He introduced "Moving Football" as an attacking tactic, meticulously instilling a style focused on passing and maintaining ball possession, a shift from the team's previous vertical and fast-paced approach. In his first season, the team remained in contention for the title until the late stages, ultimately finishing 6th in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the Emperor's Cup. The following year, in 2009, the team continued its strong performance, finishing 5th in the league and clinching the 2009 J.League Cup, marking Jofuku's first J.League title and the club's first in five years.

However, the 2010 season proved challenging, with the team struggling due to player departures and injuries. By September, FC Tokyo had dropped to 16th place in the 18-team league, leading to Jofuku's dismissal on September 19. After his departure from FC Tokyo, Jofuku worked as a commentator for Tokyo Chunichi Sports and a football analyst for Sky PerfecTV! in 2011.

2.4. Ventforet Kofu

In late November 2011, Hiroshi Jofuku was appointed manager of Ventforet Kofu, beginning his tenure in 2012. Despite losing several key players during the off-season, he led the team to an impressive season, establishing a J2 League record of 24 consecutive matches without a loss. This remarkable run culminated in Ventforet Kofu winning the 2012 J.League Division 2 championship and securing promotion to the J1 League.
In 2013, during a J1 match against Omiya Ardija, Jofuku received his first-ever dismissal as a manager for protesting Yu Matsuhashi's red card. The team initially struggled in the first half of the 2013 season but significantly improved after Jofuku implemented a three-back defensive formation, which fortified the team's defense. In 2014, he successfully guided Ventforet Kofu to their highest-ever J1 League finish, placing 13th, thereby securing their top-flight status. Despite receiving an offer for a contract extension, Jofuku declined and stepped down as manager at the end of the 2014 season. In 2015, he took a break from active management, aiming to secure a top-tier coaching offer.

2.5. FC Tokyo (second stint)

Following a year away from management, Hiroshi Jofuku returned to FC Tokyo for his second stint as head coach in 2016, accepting multiple offers. The club had high expectations for him, particularly in his ability to integrate the newly established second team into the first team's development. Jofuku faced the complex challenge of managing three groups of players (first team, second team, and those not registered for either) while aiming for strong results. He sought to instill a proactive style of play, emphasizing possession and offensive and defensive control, building upon the team's strong defense from the previous year. However, the team struggled to score goals, finishing 9th in the first stage of the season. In the second stage, their performance declined further, with two comeback losses and two shutout losses in the first five matches. This poor run led to his dismissal in late July 2016.

2.6. Sanfrecce Hiroshima

In December 2017, Hiroshi Jofuku was appointed manager of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, marking his return to the J.League after his second departure from FC Tokyo. He remained at the helm for approximately four years. In the 2018 season, his first full year with the club, Sanfrecce Hiroshima achieved a strong second-place finish in the J1 League. His tenure ended in October 2021, with five matches remaining in the season, when he stepped down from his position. While officially a resignation, the circumstances suggested it was effectively a dismissal.

2.7. Tokyo Verdy

On June 13, 2022, Hiroshi Jofuku was appointed manager of Tokyo Verdy. In the 2023 J2 League season, he led the team to a third-place finish, just one spot shy of automatic promotion to the J1 League. Tokyo Verdy then entered the promotion playoffs. In the first round, they defeated JEF United Chiba 2-1. In the second round, they faced Shimizu S-Pulse and drew 1-1. Due to Tokyo Verdy's higher league position, the draw was sufficient for them to secure promotion to the J1 League after a 16-year absence.

5.1. Personality and coaching philosophy

Hiroshi Jofuku is generally known for his gentle demeanor, polite manner, and gentlemanly conduct in everyday interactions. However, during matches, he is known for his intense presence on the pitch, often standing to give instructions, celebrating goals with passionate fist pumps and hugs with his coaches, and vociferously protesting fouls against his players or unjust referee decisions, sometimes to the point of being dismissed. He is frequently interviewed after matches with a hoarse voice due to his vocal engagement during play, a characteristic particularly noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic. His coaching philosophy emphasizes what he calls "Moving Football," focusing on ball possession and passing to establish control over the game, a style he meticulously instilled in teams like FC Tokyo.

5.2. Notable anecdotes

A notable anecdote involves Jofuku's first meeting with actor Ren Osugi. Despite Osugi being nine years his senior and a fellow alumnus of the same high school football club, their first encounter was for an interview feature in the 2010 FC Tokyo fanbook. Jofuku also experienced a challenging period in his earlier career at Fujitsu, where he served as the manager of general affairs and labor relations at the Aizu-Wakamatsu factory. In this difficult role, he was responsible for overseeing the factory's integration and managing employee restructuring. His nickname, "JFK," is derived from the Romanized initials of his surname (Jofuku). This nickname has gained official recognition, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, for instance, releasing "JFK T-shirts" with his official approval in July 2018.

5.3. Published works

Hiroshi Jofuku has authored significant works contributing to the understanding of football coaching.

• J.League Soccer Coaches: The Professional's Way of Thinking (2012), published by Kanzen. This book delves into his insights and methodologies as a professional football coach.

A related book, The Portrait of a Professional Footballer's Family (2013) by Yamane Ito, also features discussions related to him.