1. Overview
Shigetoshi Hasebe, born on April 23, 1971, is a prominent Japanese former professional footballer and a current football manager. Throughout his playing career, primarily as a central midfielder, he represented several notable Japanese clubs, including Verdy Kawasaki, Kawasaki Frontale, Vissel Kobe, and JEF United Chiba. He achieved significant success as a player, notably winning the J1 League championship with Verdy Kawasaki in 1994. Known for his intelligence, technical skill, and strong leadership, he frequently served as a captain for his teams.
Transitioning into a coaching career after his playing retirement, Hasebe began with youth and assistant roles at Vissel Kobe and JEF United Chiba. His managerial career commenced with an interim period at JEF United Chiba, followed by head coaching stints at Mito HollyHock and Avispa Fukuoka. At Avispa Fukuoka, he notably led the club to automatic promotion to the J1 League in 2020 and secured their first major title, the J.League Cup, in 2023, earning him the J.League Manager of the Year award. He is currently the manager of J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale, a role he commenced in 2025.
2. Early life and playing career
Shigetoshi Hasebe's journey in football began in his early life, progressing through youth and university levels before embarking on a distinguished professional career as a midfielder.
2.1. Childhood and youth football
Hasebe was born on April 23, 1971, in Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He started his youth football development at FC Hongo in Yokohama, where Kenji Arima was a year his junior. He then attended Toin Gakuen High School, becoming part of the first generation of players under coach Lee Guk-su. During his third year, Hasebe captained the team and wore the number 10 shirt, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 68th National High School Soccer Championship, where they were defeated in a penalty shootout by Maebashi Commercial High School. His high school contemporaries included Kenichiro Tokura, Kentaro Hayashi, and Yasushi Fukunaga, with Keisuke Kurihara and Tomoaki Matsukawa being two years his junior.
Following high school, Hasebe, advised by Lee, chose to attend Chuo University and joined its football club, rather than the highly-regarded University of Tsukuba. At Chuo University, his teammates included Kiyonobu Okajima, Kentaro Sawada, Takashi Okuhara, and Takeshi Watanabe. In 1992, during his third year, the team won the 41st All Japan University Soccer Championship. Hasebe also represented Japan as part of the team for the Barcelona Olympics qualifiers in 1992.
2.2. Professional playing career
After graduating from Chuo University, Shigetoshi Hasebe began his professional playing career in 1994, joining Verdy Kawasaki. Despite strong competition in the midfield from established players like Ruy Ramos, Bismarck, and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Hasebe, playing as a central midfielder, earned significant playing opportunities. In his debut year, Verdy Kawasaki won the J1 League championship in the 1994 season. Legendary Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura described Hasebe as a "clever and technically sound player who also possessed captaincy."
His playing opportunities at Verdy Kawasaki began to decrease from 1996. In August 1997, he was loaned to Kawasaki Frontale, then playing in the Japan Football League, where he played in many matches. Following his loan spell, Hasebe made a permanent move to Vissel Kobe in 1998. At Vissel Kobe, he was given the number 10 shirt and became a central figure in both attack and defense, leading the team as captain. His leadership contributed to Vissel Kobe achieving their then-highest league finish of seventh place in the 1999 second stage.
In 2001, Hasebe transferred to JEF United Ichihara. There, he once again took on a captaincy role, leading a relatively young team and contributing to the club's record-high third-place finish in the league in both 2001 and 2003. He struggled to make the first team in 2003, and his contract with JEF United Ichihara expired at the end of July 2003, concluding his playing career.
3. Coaching career
Upon retiring as a player, Shigetoshi Hasebe transitioned into coaching, taking on various roles from youth teams to assistant positions before establishing himself as a prominent manager in the J.League.
3.1. Early coaching roles
Shigetoshi Hasebe began his coaching career in 2006, returning to his former club Vissel Kobe to coach their youth team. His initial role was as a scout and assistant coach for the U-21 team. From 2007 to 2008, he served as a coach for the Junior Youth (U-15) team, followed by a stint as the Youth (U-18) team coach from 2009 to 2010. In 2011, he was promoted to the first team as a coach, a position he held until 2014, eventually becoming the head coach for the top team in 2015.
In 2016, Hasebe moved to JEF United Chiba, another of his former clubs, to serve as a coach for their senior team in the J2 League.
3.2. Managerial career
Shigetoshi Hasebe's managerial journey has seen him take the helm at several J.League clubs, leading them to notable achievements and earning recognition for his coaching prowess.
3.2.1. JEF United Chiba
On July 25, 2016, Shigetoshi Hasebe was appointed interim manager of JEF United Chiba, stepping in after the dismissal of manager Takashi Sekizuka. He managed the team until the end of the 2016 season, concluding his interim tenure on December 31, 2016. Following the appointment of Argentine manager Juan Esnáider on November 25, 2016, Hasebe returned to his previous role as an assistant coach for the 2017 season.
3.2.2. Mito HollyHock
On December 11, 2017, Hasebe was named the manager of Mito HollyHock, a J2 League club, for the 2018 season. During his tenure, particularly in the 2019 season, Mito HollyHock maintained strong form throughout the campaign, remaining in contention for a J1 promotion playoff spot until the final matchday. On November 26, 2019, it was announced that Hasebe would be resigning from his position at the end of the season.
3.2.3. Avispa Fukuoka
Shigetoshi Hasebe took over as manager of Avispa Fukuoka on February 1, 2020. His initial season was marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced league interruption. Despite this, Avispa Fukuoka experienced a remarkable surge in performance during the latter half of the season, recording an unprecedented 12 consecutive wins. They finished the 2020 J2 League season in second place with 84 points, matching the champions Tokushima Vortis in points but trailing on goal difference, thereby achieving automatic promotion to the J1 League.
In 2023, under Hasebe's leadership, Avispa Fukuoka continued their impressive trajectory. The team remained competitive in the league and reached the semi-finals of both the Emperor's Cup and the J.League Cup. After defeating Nagoya Grampus in the semi-finals, they advanced to the J.League Cup final, where they triumphed over Urawa Red Diamonds, securing the club's first major title. On October 31, 2024, Hasebe announced his resignation from Avispa Fukuoka, effective at the end of the 2024 season.
3.2.4. Kawasaki Frontale
On December 12, 2024, it was officially announced that Shigetoshi Hasebe would be returning to another of his former clubs, Kawasaki Frontale, as their new manager for the 2025 season. This marks his current managerial role in the J1 League.
4. Statistics
This section provides detailed statistical data regarding Shigetoshi Hasebe's professional playing and managerial careers.
4.1. Player statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | Number | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | |||||||
| 1993 | Chuo University | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | Verdy Kawasaki | - | J1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| 1995 | 29 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |||
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| 1997 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 2 | ||
| 1997 | Kawasaki Frontale | 35 | Football League | 15 | 6 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 18 | 6 |
| 1998 | Vissel Kobe | 10 | J1 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 2 |
| 1999 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |||
| 2000 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2001 | JEF United Ichihara | 8 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| J1 League Total | 183 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 221 | 9 | |||
| Japan Football League Total | 15 | 6 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 18 | 6 | |||
| Other Official Matches Total | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career Total | 198 | 12 | 25 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 241 | 15 | |||
Other official matches:
- 1995: Super Cup 1 appearance, 0 goals
- 1998: J1/J2 Play-off 2 appearances, 0 goals
4.2. Managerial statistics
Updated through March 1, 2025
| Club | From | To | League Performance | Cup Performance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Points | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Levain Cup | Emperor's Cup | |||
| JEF United Chiba | 25 July 2016 | 31 December 2016 | 11th | 20 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | - | 3rd Round |
| Mito HollyHock | 1 February 2018 | 31 January 2020 | 10th | 57 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | - | 3rd Round |
| Mito HollyHock | 1 February 2018 | 31 January 2020 | 7th | 70 | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | - | 3rd Round |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 February 2020 | 11 December 2024 | 2nd | 84 | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | - | - |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 February 2020 | 11 December 2024 | 8th | 54 | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | Group Stage | 3rd Round |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 February 2020 | 11 December 2024 | 14th | 38 | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 February 2020 | 11 December 2024 | 7th | 51 | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | Champions | Semi-finals |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 February 2020 | 11 December 2024 | 12th | 50 | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 3rd Round | 3rd Round |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 12 December 2024 | present | - | 38 | ||||||
| Overall Managerial Total | 344 | 149 | 85 | 110 | ||||||
- For 2016, Hasebe managed from the 26th matchday onwards.
5. Honours
Shigetoshi Hasebe has accumulated numerous titles and individual accolades throughout both his playing and managerial careers.
5.1. Player honours
During his professional playing career, Shigetoshi Hasebe earned several championship titles and individual awards:
- J1 League
- Champions: 1994 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- 2nd Stage Champions: 1994, 1995 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- 3rd Place: 2001, 2003 (with JEF United Chiba)
- J.League Cup
- Champions: 1994 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- Runner-up: 1996 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- Emperor's Cup
- Champions: 1996 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- Semi-finals: 2000 (with Vissel Kobe), 2002 (with JEF United Chiba)
- Super Cup
- Champions: 1994, 1995 (with Verdy Kawasaki)
- Japan Football League
- 3rd Place: 1997 (with Kawasaki Frontale)
5.2. Managerial honours
As a football manager, Shigetoshi Hasebe has achieved significant success, including major titles and individual coaching recognition:
- J2 League
- Runner-up: 2020 (with Avispa Fukuoka)
- J.League Cup
- Champions: 2023 (with Avispa Fukuoka)
- Semi-finals: 2022 (with Avispa Fukuoka)
- Emperor's Cup
- Semi-finals: 2023 (with Avispa Fukuoka)
- Individual
- J.League Manager of the Year: 2023 (with Avispa Fukuoka)
- J1 League Monthly Best Manager: July 2023, September 2023, June 2024
6. Legacy and reception
Shigetoshi Hasebe is highly regarded within Japanese football for his leadership, technical acumen, and strategic capabilities, both as a player and as a manager. During his playing career, he was consistently entrusted with captaincy roles at various clubs, including Vissel Kobe and JEF United Chiba, where his leadership was instrumental in improving team performance and achieving record-high league finishes. His former teammate, the legendary Kazuyoshi Miura, praised Hasebe as a "clever and technically sound player" who possessed significant "captaincy."
In his transition to management, Hasebe quickly established a reputation for developing teams and achieving remarkable results. His tenure at Avispa Fukuoka stands as a testament to his impact, where he not only secured automatic promotion to the J1 League but also guided the club to its historic first major trophy, the J.League Cup. This achievement, coupled with consistent competitive performances, solidified his standing as one of the most successful managers in recent J.League history, culminating in his recognition as the J.League Manager of the Year in 2023. His appointments to prominent clubs like Kawasaki Frontale further underscore the high regard in which he is held.