# Gō Ōiwa

Gō Ōiwa (大岩 剛, Ōiwa Gō, born 23 June 1972) is a Japanese manager and former footballer, who is the current manager of the Japan U23 national football team.

## Playing career

Ōiwa was born in Shizuoka on June 23, 1972. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba, he joined Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1995. From his first season, he established a centre-back partnership with Alexandre Torres. The club won the 1995 and 1999 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club were runners-up in the 1996–97 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. He moved to Júbilo Iwata in September 2000. The club won the 2002 J1 League and were runners-up in the 2000–01 Asian Club Championship. In 2003, he moved to rival club Kashima Antlers, who had competed for the title with Júbilo. He played as a centre-back with Yutaka Akita or Daiki Iwamasa. Although his opportunity to play decreased from 2007, the club were champions for three years in a row (2007–2009). The club also won the 2007 and 2010 Emperor's Cup. He retired at the end of the 2010 season.
On February 5, 2000, Ōiwa debuted for Japan national team against Mexico. He played three games for Japan in 2000.

### Club statistics

| Club performance | Club performance | Club performance | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | Japan | Japan | League | League | Emperor's Cup | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | J.League Cup | Asia | Asia | Total | Total |
| 1995 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 42 | 0 |
| 1996 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 1 |
| 1997 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 1 |
| 1998 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 2 |
| 1999 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 26 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 2 |
| 2000 | Nagoya Grampus Eight | J1 League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 |
| 2000 | Júbilo Iwata | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | Júbilo Iwata | J1 League | 28 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 36 | 3 |
| 2002 | Júbilo Iwata | J1 League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 0 |
| 2003 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| 2004 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 38 | 1 |
| 2005 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 0 |
| 2006 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 1 |
| 2007 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 31 | 1 |
| 2008 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2009 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
| 2010 | Kashima Antlers | J1 League | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 386 | 10 | 35 | 1 | 71 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 505 | 14 |

### National team statistics

Japan national team :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 |

## Coaching career

After retirement, Ōiwa became a coach for Kashima Antlers in 2011. In May 2017, he became the new manager, succeeding Masatada Ishii. In the 2018 AFC Champions League, he led the team to the final against Persepolis. Ōiwa overcame the absence of five injured players, in addition to the fatigue at the end of the season after playing 52 matches, Kashima Antlers beat Persepolis with two goals in the first leg. After a goalless draw in the second leg, the club won the AFC Champions League.

## Managerial statistics

    As of 1 January 2020
| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | From | To | G | W | D | L | Win % |
| Kashima Antlers | 31 May 2017 | 1 January 2020 | 143 | 78 | 32 | 33 | 054.55 |
| Total | Total | Total | 143 | 78 | 32 | 33 | 054.55 |

## Honours
### Player
#### Nagoya Grampus Eight

* Emperor's Cup: 1995, 1999

#### Kashima Antlers

* J1 League: 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009
* Emperor's Cup: 2007, 2010
* A3 Champions Cup: 2003

### Manager
#### Kashima Antlers

* Japanese Super Cup: 2017
* AFC Champions League: 2018

#### Japan U23

* AFC U-23 Asian Cup: 2024

### Individual

* J.League Best Eleven: 2001
* Asian Coach of the Year: 2018, 2023