1. Overview
Yushi Ozaki, born on March 24, 1969, in Mie Prefecture, Japan, is a former Japanese professional footballer who primarily played as a goalkeeper. He spent the majority of his playing career with Júbilo Iwata (formerly Yamaha Motors), where he notably contributed to their 1999 J1 League championship. After retiring from playing in 2003, Ozaki transitioned into a coaching role, focusing on youth development and serving at educational institutions.
2. Playing Career
Ozaki's playing career began in his youth, progressing through professional clubs like Yamaha Motors/Júbilo Iwata, Avispa Fukuoka, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima, marked by significant achievements including a J1 League championship and notable penalty saves, with his club statistics detailed below.
2.1. Early Life and Youth Career
Yushi Ozaki was born on March 24, 1969, in Mie Prefecture, Japan. He attended Yokkaichi Chuo Kogyo High School from 1984 to 1986, where he developed his football skills as a goalkeeper during his youth career.
2.2. Professional Club Career
Ozaki's professional club career spanned from 1987 to 2003, during which he played for three prominent Japanese clubs.
2.2.1. Yamaha Motors / Júbilo Iwata
After graduating from high school, Ozaki joined Yamaha Motors in 1987, which later became Júbilo Iwata. He was considered a homegrown player for the club, having started his professional career there. During his early years and throughout the 1990s, Ozaki found playing time challenging due to the presence of established goalkeepers such as Shinichi Morishita in the early 1990s and Tomoaki Ogami in the late 1990s. Despite this, he managed to gain considerable opportunities due to the inconsistent performance of other goalkeepers. From late 1999, Ozaki became a regular starting goalkeeper. His tenure with Júbilo Iwata concluded in June 2000 when the club acquired Arno van Zwam, which led to Ozaki losing his regular position. He departed Júbilo Iwata in November 2000, having made 41 league appearances for the club.
2.2.2. Avispa Fukuoka
In November 2000, Ozaki moved to Avispa Fukuoka on a loan deal, which was made permanent in 2001. During his time at Avispa Fukuoka, he competed for the goalkeeper position with Nobuyuki Kojima and Hideki Tsukamoto. He played in 10 league matches for the club during the 2001 season.
2.2.3. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
In 2002, Ozaki transferred to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. His role at the club was primarily as a backup to Takashi Shimoda. Consequently, his playing time was very limited, and he appeared in only two league matches over his two seasons with the team. Ozaki retired from professional football at the end of the 2003 season.
2.3. Key Achievements and Notable Performances
Yushi Ozaki's playing career was marked by several significant moments, particularly during his time with Júbilo Iwata. He played a crucial role in the club's success in the late 1990s. In the second leg of the 1999 J.League Championship, he made a vital penalty save during the shootout, contributing to Júbilo Iwata's championship victory. The following year, in March 2000, Ozaki again showcased his penalty-saving abilities in the XEROX SUPER CUP, where he made a series of "super saves" in the penalty shootout, leaving a strong impression.
2.4. Career Statistics
The following table details Yushi Ozaki's club performance throughout his professional career in Japan.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1987/88 | Yamaha Motors | JSL Division 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1988/89 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 1989/90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1990/91 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 1991/92 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 1992 | Football League | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1993 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| 1994 | Júbilo Iwata | J1 League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | J2 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 53 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 63 | 0 | ||
Other official matches:
- 1990 Konica Cup: 2 appearances, 0 goals
- 1998 XEROX SUPER CUP: 1 appearance, 0 goals
- 1999 J.League Championship: 2 appearances, 0 goals
- 2000 XEROX SUPER CUP: 1 appearance, 0 goals
3. Coaching Career
After his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2003 season, Yushi Ozaki returned to Iwata City. In 2004, he began working as a part-time staff member at Iwata Higashi Junior High School, where he coached their football team. Concurrently, he served as a goalkeeper coach for Iwata Higashi High School and the Shizuoka Sangyo University football club. In April 2005, Ozaki transitioned to a full-time administrative staff position at Iwata Higashi High School, officially taking on the role of coach.
4. Personal Life
Yushi Ozaki stands at 73 in (186 cm) and weighs 194 lb (88 kg). He is right-footed. Information regarding other aspects of his personal life, such as family details, is not publicly available.
5. Legacy and Impact
Yushi Ozaki's contributions to Japanese football span both his playing and coaching careers. As a player, despite often serving as a backup, his consistent performance and notable penalty saves, particularly during the 1999 J.League Championship and 2000 XEROX SUPER CUP, left a strong impression and contributed to his team's successes. Following his retirement, his dedication to youth development and coaching at various educational levels has helped nurture the next generation of footballers in Japan.