JapaneseFootballerMidfielderCoach

Hiroyuki Yoshida

Hiroyuki Yoshida (born 1969) is a Japanese former professional football midfielder and current coach.

1. Overview

Hiroyuki Yoshida (吉田 裕幸Yoshida HiroyukiJapanese, born November 25, 1969) is a Japanese former professional football player and current coach. He was born in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. During his playing career, he primarily played as a midfielder. He is 64 in (163 cm) tall and weighs 141 lb (64 kg). After his playing career concluded in 1998, Yoshida transitioned into football coaching, working with various youth and senior teams across Japan.

2. Playing career

Hiroyuki Yoshida's football career began in his youth, leading him through high school and university before he turned professional. He played for several clubs in the Japan Football League (JFL) and J1 League, primarily as an attacking midfielder.

2.1. Early life and youth career

Yoshida was born on November 25, 1969, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. He attended Kunimi High School from 1985 to 1987, where he developed his football skills. Following high school, he continued his education and football training at Kokushikan University from 1988 to 1991. During his time at Kunimi High School, he achieved significant success, including winning the National High School Soccer Championship in 1988.

2.2. Professional playing career

Yoshida began his professional playing career in 1992, joining Yamaha Motors, which later became Júbilo Iwata. In his initial seasons, he played many matches as an offensive midfielder, even wearing the number 10 jersey during the Old JFL era. However, his playing opportunities at Júbilo Iwata diminished from 1994 onwards, particularly after the arrival of foreign players like Gerald Vanenburg.

In 1995, Yoshida moved to Fukuoka Blux (now Avispa Fukuoka), but his tenure there was brief, with limited appearances. The following year, in 1996, he played for Consadole Sapporo and then Blaze Kumamoto in the Japanese Regional Leagues, though he struggled to secure regular playing time at either club. In 1997, he joined Honda, where he played more consistently for two seasons. He retired from professional football at the end of the 1998 season.

3. Club statistics

The following table details Hiroyuki Yoshida's professional club statistics for league, cup, and league cup competitions throughout his playing career.

Club performanceLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupTotal
1992Yamaha MotorsFootball League1720021193
1993Júbilo IwataFootball League1415010201
1994J1 League1600000160
1995Fukuoka BluxFootball League10000010
1996Consadole SapporoFootball League00000000
1996Blaze KumamotoRegional Leagues00000000
1997HondaFootball League2210010231
19981410040181
Career total8455081976

4. Coaching career

After concluding his professional playing career, Hiroyuki Yoshida transitioned into football coaching, focusing primarily on youth development and later moving into top team coaching roles.

4.1. Overview of coaching transition

Upon his retirement as a player, Yoshida initially took on a role as a physical education teacher at Akata Gakuen Junior and Senior High School in Shizuoka Prefecture. His return to professional football came in 2006 when he embarked on his coaching career, primarily within youth academies before progressing to senior teams.

4.2. Managerial roles

Yoshida's coaching journey began at Oita Trinita, where he spent five years from 2006 to 2010. During this period, he served in various capacities:

  • U-18 coach (2006-2007)
  • U-15 manager (2008-2009)
  • U-18 manager (2010)

In 2011, he moved to Vegalta Sendai, staying with the club until 2020. His roles at Vegalta Sendai included:

  • Junior Youth coach (2011)
  • Junior Youth manager (2012-2016)
  • Academy Scout (2017-2020)
  • Assistant School Master (concurrently, 2018-2020)

After leaving Vegalta Sendai, Yoshida joined Azul Claro Numazu as the top team coach for the 2021 season. In 2022, he returned to his former club, Júbilo Iwata, taking on the role of U-15 manager.

5. Honors

Hiroyuki Yoshida earned the following major title during his youth playing career:

  • National High School Soccer Championship: 1988 (with Kunimi High School)