Yasuhiko Okudera

1.1. Birth and Early Life

Okudera was born on March 12, 1952, in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. He has a fraternal twin sister. When he was five years old, his family relocated to Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Okudera began his football journey at Maioka Junior High School in Yokohama. He later attended Sagami Institute of Technology Affiliated High School, which is now known as Shonan Institute of Technology High School.

1.2. Furukawa Electric

After graduating from high school in 1970, Okudera joined the Japan Soccer League (JSL) club Furukawa Electric. His entry into the club was facilitated by Ken Naganuma, a former Furukawa Electric player and then head of player development for the Japan Soccer Association, who was contacted by Okudera's junior high external coach, Kakuchi Mimura. In 1976, Furukawa Electric sent Okudera to Palmeiras in Brazil for a two-month training period, which significantly accelerated his development. That same year, he was selected for the Japan national team. Okudera had a highly successful season in 1976, scoring 7 goals in the Pestabola Merdeka tournament to become the top scorer, contributing a goal in the Emperor's Cup final against Yanmar Diesel which Furukawa won, and scoring 8 goals in the JSL, making him the team's top scorer. These contributions helped Furukawa Electric achieve a domestic double by winning both the JSL and the 1976 Emperor's Cup. Okudera was also named to the JSL Best Eleven in 1976. In May 1977, Furukawa Electric also won the 1977 JSL Cup.

2.1. Move to Germany and Significance

In the summer of 1977, during a training camp in West Germany for the Japan national team, coach Hiroshi Ninomiya, who had a close relationship with Hennes Weisweiler, the manager of Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln, arranged for Okudera, Akira Nishino, and Kazuyoshi Kimura to participate in a training session with Köln. Weisweiler, who was looking for a fast left-winger, took an interest in Okudera. Three days before Okudera's return to Japan, Köln offered him a contract. Initially, Okudera hesitated due to concerns about the language barrier, but he was strongly encouraged by Weisweiler, former Furukawa coach Saburo Kawabuchi, then-Furukawa coach Mitsuo Kamata, the Japan Soccer Association, and Japan national team coach Hiroshi Ninomiya. This move was groundbreaking, as playing in Europe at the time made it nearly impossible for Japanese players to be selected for the national team due to the logistical challenges of traveling between Europe and Japan for matches. Okudera officially joined 1. FC Köln in July 1977.

2.2. 1. FC Köln

Okudera made his debut for 1. FC Köln on October 5, 1977, making him the first Japanese player to play top-flight football in Europe. His initial debut on October 22 against MSV Duisburg saw him concede an early penalty, leading to initial negative assessments despite Köln's victory. However, on December 20, in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final against Schwarz-Weiß Essen, Okudera scored two goals and provided two assists, earning the trust of his teammates. He scored his first Bundesliga goal on April 8, 1978, in a match against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Under coach Hennes Weisweiler, Okudera was instrumental in Köln's success during the 1977-78 season, contributing to their Bundesliga title win and DFB-Pokal victory, securing a historic domestic double. He scored two goals as a substitute in the decisive Bundesliga match against FC St. Pauli.

In the 1978-79 European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League), Köln reached the semi-finals, facing Nottingham Forest. In the first leg, away from home, Okudera came on as a substitute and scored a crucial equalizer just minutes later, contributing to a 3-3 draw. This goal marked a significant achievement, as he became the first Asian player to score in a European Cup match. Despite being considered favorites for the second leg at home, Köln lost 0-1 and failed to advance to the final. After Weisweiler left Köln for the New York Cosmos in 1980, Okudera found himself out of favor with the new coaches, Karl-Heinz Heddergott and later Rinus Michels, leading him to seek more playing time elsewhere.

2.3. Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen

In the latter half of the 1980-81 season, Okudera transferred to Hertha BSC, a club in the 2. Bundesliga. Although Hertha ultimately failed to gain promotion to the first division, Okudera impressed then-Hertha opponent Werder Bremen coach Otto Rehhagel with his performance, particularly when he was played as a full-back. Consequently, Okudera joined newly promoted Werder Bremen in the 1981-82 season.

Despite initially arriving in the Bundesliga as a winger, Rehhagel recognized Okudera's defensive capabilities and primarily deployed him as an attacking full-back, though he also played as a forward and midfielder. In 1982, Okudera was selected as part of the FIFA All-Star team that played against the New York Cosmos in New York, becoming the second Japanese player after Kunishige Kamamoto to be chosen for a world selection team. Under Rehhagel's guidance, Bremen consistently performed well, finishing second in the Bundesliga three times between 1981-82 and 1985-86. Okudera became a highly consistent and trusted player for the coach and was beloved by the fans. On March 15, 1986, he scored his final goal in West Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt. In the 1985-86 season, Bremen reached the final matchday leading the league by 2 points, but a missed penalty by Michael Kutzop in a direct match against Bayern Munich and a subsequent loss to VfB Stuttgart in the final match meant they finished second on goal difference, narrowly missing their second Bundesliga title.

During his nine years in the Bundesliga, Okudera set a record of 63 consecutive appearances. He concluded his German career with 234 Bundesliga appearances and 26 goals. This goal tally remained the highest for a Japanese player in the Bundesliga until Shinji Okazaki surpassed it with 28 goals in 2014. Similarly, his 234 appearances were the most by a Japanese player in the Bundesliga until Makoto Hasebe broke the record on March 5, 2017.

3.1. Second Stint at Furukawa Electric

In the summer of 1986, Okudera chose to return to his former club, Furukawa Electric, declining a contract extension offer from Werder Bremen. His decision was driven by a desire to share his extensive experience and knowledge with Japanese football before his playing abilities diminished. Before his return, he participated in the 1986 Kirin Cup as a Werder Bremen player, notably playing against the Japan national team and having intense matchups with Kazuyoshi Miura in a game against Palmeiras.

Upon his return, Okudera and Kazushi Kimura became the first players in Japan to sign "special license player" contracts, effectively making them the first recognized professional players in the JSL, with Okudera reportedly earning an annual salary of 40.00 M JPY. In the 1986-87 Asian Club Championship, Okudera played a pivotal role in Furukawa Electric's victory, scoring a hat-trick in the final round against Al Hilal.

3.2. International Career

Okudera made his debut for the Japan national football team on July 12, 1972, against Khmer. He played in the 1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification and the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification until 1977. During his nine years playing in Germany (1977 to 1986), he was not selected for the Japan national team due to the logistical difficulties of intercontinental travel for matches.

In September 1986, at the age of 34, following his return to Japan, Okudera was recalled to the national team for the 1986 Asian Games. In 1987, he also participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics qualification. This qualification campaign marked his final appearances for Japan. He played a total of 32 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1987. His last match for the national team was a friendly against SSC Napoli on August 12, 1988, where he played for 23 minutes.

3.3. Retirement from Playing

Yasuhiko Okudera officially retired from his playing career after the 1987-88 Japan Soccer League season. He was considered the biggest star in Japanese football at the time and even appeared on popular TV shows like *Beat Takeshi's Sports Grand Prix*.

4.1. Managerial and Executive Roles

Following his retirement, Okudera initially focused on coaching elementary school students while also working as a football commentator. In 1991, Furukawa Electric renamed its football club to "East Japan JR Furukawa Soccer Club" (the precursor to JEF United Ichihara) in anticipation of the upcoming J.League. Okudera was appointed as the club's General Manager. In 1996, he took on the role of manager for JEF United Ichihara but stepped down after a single season due to limited success.

In 1998, Okudera joined his former 1. FC Köln teammate Pierre Littbarski and a group of supporters from the disbanded Yokohama Flügels to establish Yokohama FC. Okudera became the club's General Manager and, from 2000, also served as its Representative Director and President. Under his leadership, Yokohama FC steadily climbed through the ranks, from the lower-tier Japan Football League to the J1 League by December 2006.

On June 20, 2008, Okudera was appointed President of the English Football League Championship club Plymouth Argyle, with the goal of serving as a global ambassador and strengthening the club's profile in Asia. However, Plymouth Argyle subsequently faced significant financial difficulties and relegation, leading to Okudera's replacement by Chris Webb in November 2011. In October 2017, after the sacking of Yokohama FC manager Hitoshi Nakata, Okudera temporarily took over as caretaker manager for one match. As of 2022, he serves as the Representative Director and Senior Advisor for Yokohama FC Sports Club.

4.2. Contributions to Japanese Football

Okudera's return to Japan was a catalyst for the professionalization of Japanese football, which had largely remained an amateur corporate league for decades. He was the first native-born Japanese player to sign a professional contract in his home league, a status previously limited to foreign players, typically Brazilians. His involvement was crucial in the lead-up to the formation of the J.League. Furthermore, his co-founding and leadership of Yokohama FC demonstrated a new model for club development, driven by fan support. Okudera was also selected as one of the Asian representatives to assist in the preliminary draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

4.3. Hall of Fame and Accolades

For his significant contributions to football, Okudera has received several prestigious recognitions:

• Japan Football Hall of Fame: 2012
• Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014 (Inaugural inductee)
• IFFHS Asian Men's Team of All Time: 2021
• Bundesliga Legend: 2017

5.1. Characteristics as a Player

Okudera was a highly versatile player, capable of playing effectively across various positions, including forward (left-winger, central forward), midfielder (left-side midfielder, left wing-back, right wing-back, defensive midfielder), and defender (left full-back). His key attributes included a strong left foot, accurate crosses, exceptional work rate, stable passing, keen tactical intelligence, and impressive speed. His comprehensive playing style, marked by his ability to control the flanks in a zone defense and his consistent performance, earned him the nickname "Oriental Computer" from German fans, a testament to his high regard in Germany. He participated in six UEFA international competitions, a record for an Asian player until it was surpassed by Shinji Ono.

5.2. Pioneering Role and Impact

Okudera's move to Germany and his successful career there established him as a true pioneer. He was the first Japanese player to play professionally in a major European league (the Bundesliga, considered the world's top league at the time). His goal in the 1978-79 European Cup semi-final made him the first Asian player to score in the competition's history; no other Asian player scored in the European Cup until Rashid Rakhimov of Tajikistan in the 1994-95 season. His sustained success over nine years in Germany, playing as a regular for three different clubs, demonstrated that Japanese and Asian players could compete at the highest level of European football. This success inspired and paved the way for numerous future generations of Japanese and Asian footballers to pursue careers abroad.

There has been some discussion regarding whether Okudera was the "first Japanese professional footballer." While he is widely credited as such, some media outlets have suggested that Shigeto Sata (brother of musician Masashi Sada) played professionally for Eastern Football Team in Hong Kong in 1975. However, there is debate over whether Sata's contract was formally professional. In light of this, Okudera is often specifically referred to as "the first Japanese professional in Europe."

7.1. Club Statistics

※ Note: Furukawa Electric withdrew from the 1986 Emperor's Cup to participate in the 1986-87 Asian Club Championship.

7.2. International Statistics

7.3. Managerial Statistics