1. Overview
Naoki Hiraoka (平岡 直起Hiraoka NaokiJapanese) is a former Japanese football player and manager. Born on May 24, 1973, in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, he primarily played as a midfielder and defender during his professional career. Hiraoka began his professional journey with Gamba Osaka in 1992, later playing for Nagoya Grampus, Shimizu S-Pulse, and FC Gifu before retiring in 2007. Following his playing career, he transitioned into football management, notably serving as the manager for MIO Biwako Shiga. This article details his early life, extensive playing career across various Japanese leagues, and his subsequent coaching endeavors.
2. Early Life and Background
Naoki Hiraoka was born on May 24, 1973, in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. His early football development included playing for Sakai City Niwadaidai Junior High School from 1986 to 1988. He then attended Hatsushiba High School from 1989 to 1991, where he continued his youth football career before embarking on his professional journey.
3. Playing Career
Naoki Hiraoka's playing career spanned from 1992 to 2007, during which he played for several prominent Japanese clubs, primarily in the top-tier J1 League and lower divisions, contributing significantly to his teams.
3.1. Debut and Early Career
Hiraoka made his professional debut in 1992 with his local club, Gamba Osaka, after graduating from high school. Although he joined in 1992, his first appearances were in 1994. By 1995, he had established himself as a regular player, primarily featuring as a left-sided midfielder and left-sided defender. Initially, he played in more attacking roles before being converted to a left-back, a position in which he became a key player for Gamba Osaka.
3.2. Clubs
Throughout his career, Hiraoka played for four different professional clubs, contributing to their successes across various leagues.
3.2.1. Gamba Osaka
Hiraoka joined Gamba Osaka in 1992. He made his debut in 1994, playing 11 league matches. In 1995, he became a regular, appearing in 34 league matches and scoring 5 goals. He continued to be a key player for Gamba Osaka, making 24 appearances in 1996, 28 in 1997, 26 in 1998, and 29 in 1999. During his tenure, he was converted from an attacking position to a left-sided defender, where he became a crucial part of the team. By 2000, his playing time significantly decreased, with only 4 league appearances before his departure in August of that year. Overall, he played 156 league matches for Gamba Osaka, scoring 11 goals.
3.2.2. Nagoya Grampus
In August 2000, Hiraoka moved to Nagoya Grampus. He played 2 league matches in the latter half of the 2000 season. He continued to play for Nagoya Grampus in 2001 and 2002, making 12 appearances in each season. His contributions included 2 goals in 2001 and 1 goal in 2002. In total, he played 26 league matches for Nagoya Grampus, scoring 3 goals, all in the J1 League.
3.2.3. Shimizu S-Pulse
Hiraoka joined Shimizu S-Pulse in 2003 and played for two seasons. In 2003, he appeared in 8 league matches. In 2004, he played 11 league matches and scored 1 goal. His total appearances for Shimizu S-Pulse amounted to 19 league matches with 1 goal, all in the J1 League.
3.2.4. FC Gifu
In 2005, Hiraoka moved to FC Gifu, a club then competing in the Japanese Regional Leagues. He played a significant number of matches, contributing to the club's progression. In 2005, he made 4 appearances and scored 3 goals in the Tokai Adult League Division 2. In 2006, he played 12 matches and scored 2 goals in the Tokai Adult League Division 1. His efforts helped FC Gifu gain promotion to the Japan Football League (JFL) starting from the 2007 season. In 2007, FC Gifu achieved a third-place finish in the JFL, which led to their promotion to the J2 League. Hiraoka played 25 matches and scored 1 goal in the JFL season. He retired from professional football at the end of the 2007 season, having played 41 league matches and scored 6 goals for FC Gifu across various tiers.
3.3. Position
Naoki Hiraoka primarily played as a versatile player, capable of fulfilling roles as both a midfielder (MF) and a defender (DF). Early in his career at Gamba Osaka, he was initially an attacking player but later converted to a left-sided defender, specifically a left-back. He also played as a left-sided midfielder. His preferred foot was his left foot.
4. Coaching Career
After concluding his playing career, Naoki Hiraoka transitioned into football management. In 2008, he was appointed as the manager for MIO Biwako Shiga (then known as MIO Biwako Kusatsu), a club that had just been promoted to the Japan Football League (JFL). He managed the club from the beginning of the 2008 season until September 2008.
5. Career Statistics
This section provides an overview of Naoki Hiraoka's professional football statistics during his playing career, encompassing his appearances and goals in various club competitions.
5.1. Player Statistics
Naoki Hiraoka's career statistics across different clubs and competitions are summarized below:
| Club performance | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1992 | Gamba Osaka | J1 League | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 0 | - | 38 | 5 | |||
| 1996 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 1997 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 37 | 4 | ||
| 1998 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 1999 | J1 League | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 4 | |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2002 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2003 | Shimizu S-Pulse | J1 League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| 2005 | FC Gifu | Tokai Adult League Division 2 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 4 | 3 | ||
| 2006 | Tokai Adult League Division 1 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2007 | Football League | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 26 | 1 | ||
| Total | 242 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 46 | 2 | 306 | 26 | ||
5.2. International Matches
Naoki Hiraoka participated in international club competitions during his time with Nagoya Grampus. He played in the 2000-01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup, making 3 appearances without scoring any goals.