# Naohiro Takahara

Naohiro Takahara (高原 直泰, Takahara Naohiro, born 4 June 1979) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer. He also played for Japan's national football team. Currently, he is working as president for Okinawa SV.

## Club career

Takahara was born in Mishima on 4 June 1979. After graduating from high school, he joined Júbilo Iwata in 1998. In 1998, the club won J.League Cup and he was selected New Hero awards. In 1999, the club won J1 League and Asian Club Championship. The club also reached second place at the 1999–2000 and 2000–01 Asian Club Championships. In August 2001, he moved to Boca Juniors on loan. He became the first Japanese player to play in the Argentine Primera División.
In 2002, he returned to Júbilo Iwata. The club went on to win the 2002 J.League Division 1, while Takahara became the top scorer and was elected Most Valuable Player of the year.
After the 2002 season, Takahara moved to Hamburger SV. He made his Bundesliga debut on in January 2003 in a 2–2 draw against Hannover 96, thereby becoming the third Japanese footballer to play in Bundesliga after Yasuhiko Okudera and Kazuo Ozaki. On 3 December 2006, he scored his first hat-trick in the Bundesliga in a match against Alemannia Aachen.
In January 2008 he moved to Urawa Reds for a transfer fee of around ¥180 million (around $1.7 million). Due to a disagreement with the style of coach Volker Finke, who had taken over as coach of Urawa in 2009, Takahara was leased to Suwon Samsung Bluewings of the South Korean K League 1 in July of the following year. On 31 July 2010, he made his debut as a substitute for the 39th minute of the match against Gwangju FC. On 29 August, he scored a goal in the 39th minute of the second half of the game against FC Seoul. He helped victorious game 4-2 and won the MVP in this game.
In 2011, he returned to Japan and signed with Shimizu S-Pulse. After that, he played for J2 League club Tokyo Verdy (2013–14) and J3 League club SC Sagamihara (2014–15).
In December 2015, along with Japanese judoka Tadahiro Nomura, Takahara founded Okinawa SV. He served not only as club's president, but also played and captained the club. On 27 November 2022, he brought his club a first-time promotion for the Japan Football League, after a 4–0 over FC Kariya led them to finish as runners-up at the 2022 Regional Champions League. He featured in the match as a late substitution. On 31 August 2023, Takahara announced his retirement at the end of this season.

## International career

In August 1995, Takahara was selected by the Japan U17 national team for 1995 U-17 World Championship. He played all three matches and scored one goal. In April 1999, he was also selected Japan U-20 national team for 1999 World Youth Championship. He played all seven matches and scored three goals. Japan achieved second place. In February 2000, he was selected by the Japan national team for 2000 Asian Cup qualification. At this qualification, on 13 February, he debuted against Singapore. He played all three matches and three goals and Japan won the qualify for 2000 Asian Cup.
In September, he was selected Japan U23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played all four matches and scored three goals in first match and quarterfinal. In October, he played at 2000 Asian Cup. He played five matches and scored five goals. Japan won the champions. However he missed the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by his home country and South Korea, because of lung disease (venous thrombosis).
After 2002 World Cup, Takahara played at 2003 Confederations Cup. Although his convocation for Japan decreased due to the schedule, he played as regular player when he was elected Japan. In 2006, he was elected Japan for 2006 World Cup and he played all three matches. After 2006 World Cup, he played at 2007 Asian Cup. He played six matches and scored four goals, and became a top scorer. He played 57 games and scored 23 goals for Japan until 2008.

### 2007 Asian Cup

Takahara finished top scorer after an impressive performance at the 2007 Asian Cup. He scored against Qatar in the first match, who Japan tied 1–1. Japan won the next match, against United Arab Emirates and Takahara impressed coach Ivica Osim with two goals. In the quarterfinal match against rivals Australia, Takahara scored the tying goal and sent the game to penalty kicks. Although Takahara missed his spot-kick, saves from goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi sent Japan through into the semifinals, where they lost to Saudi Arabia 3–2.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 19 March 2023.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Júbilo Iwata | 1998 | J.League / J. League Division 1 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | – | – | 28 | 9 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 1999 | J.League / J. League Division 1 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 25 | 10 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 2000 | J.League / J. League Division 1 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 26 | 10 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 2001 | J.League / J. League Division 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 15 | 10 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 2002 | J.League / J. League Division 1 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 26 |
| Júbilo Iwata | Total | Total | 105 | 58 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 6 | – | – | 124 | 65 |
| Boca Juniors | 2001–02 | Argentine Primera División | 6 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Hamburger SV | 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 16 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 16 | 3 |
| Hamburger SV | 2003–04 | Bundesliga | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| Hamburger SV | 2004–05 | Bundesliga | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | *1 | 0 | 33 | 7 |
| Hamburger SV | 2005–06 | Bundesliga | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | – | *10 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| Hamburger SV | Total | Total | 97 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 119 | 16 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2006–07 | Bundesliga | 30 | 11 | 4 | 4 | – | – | 5 | 2 | 39 | 17 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 2007–08 | Bundesliga | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 10 | 1 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | Total | Total | 38 | 12 | 6 | 4 | – | – | 5 | 2 | 49 | 18 |
| Urawa Reds | 2008 | J.League Division 1 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 8 |
| Urawa Reds | 2009 | J.League Division 1 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | – | – | 40 | 6 |
| Urawa Reds | 2010 | J.League Division 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 5 | 1 |
| Urawa Reds | Total | Total | 63 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 80 | 15 |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2010 | K-League | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2011 | J.League Division 1 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 25 | 9 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2012 | J.League Division 1 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 1 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Total | Total | 46 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 53 | 10 |
| Tokyo Verdy | 2013 | J. League Division 2 | 41 | 11 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 41 | 11 |
| Tokyo Verdy | 2014 | J. League Division 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Tokyo Verdy | Total | Total | 41 | 11 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 41 | 11 |
| SC Sagamihara | 2014 | J3 League | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 5 |
| SC Sagamihara | 2015 | J3 League | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 33 | 6 |
| SC Sagamihara | Total | Total | 54 | 11 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 54 | 11 |
| Okinawa SV | 2018 | Kyushu Soccer League | 17 | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 | 11 |
| Okinawa SV | 2019 | Kyushu Soccer League | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 19 | 8 |
| Okinawa SV | 2020 | Kyushu Soccer League | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 5 | 5 |
| Okinawa SV | 2021 | Kyushu Soccer League | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 16 | 5 |
| Okinawa SV | 2022 | Kyushu Soccer League | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 14 | 2 |
| Okinawa SV | 2023 | Japan Football League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Okinawa SV | Total | Total | 68 | 30 | 5 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 73 | 31 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 530 | 159 | 28 | 8 | 32 | 12 | 24 | 3 | 614 | 182 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2000 | 11 | 8 |
| Japan | 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| Japan | 2002 | 4 | 1 |
| Japan | 2003 | 8 | 2 |
| Japan | 2004 | 5 | 1 |
| Japan | 2005 | 7 | 2 |
| Japan | 2006 | 5 | 3 |
| Japan | 2007 | 9 | 6 |
| Japan | 2008 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 57 | 23 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takahara goal.
List of international goals scored by Naohiro Takahara :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 16 February 2000 | Macau, China | Brunei | 9–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2 | 16 February 2000 | Macau, China | Brunei | 9–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 3 | 20 February 2000 | Macau, China | Macau | 3–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 4 | 14 October 2000 | Sidon, Lebanon | Saudi Arabia | 4–1 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup |
| 5 | 17 October 2000 | Sidon, Lebanon | Uzbekistan | 8–1 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup |
| 6 | 17 October 2000 | Sidon, Lebanon | Uzbekistan | 8–1 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7 | 17 October 2000 | Sidon, Lebanon | Uzbekistan | 8–1 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup |
| 8 | 24 October 2000 | Beirut, Lebanon | Iraq | 4–1 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup |
| 9 | 27 March 2002 | Łódź, Poland | Poland | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 10 | 20 August 2003 | Tokyo, Japan | Nigeria | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 11 | 20 August 2003 | Tokyo, Japan | Nigeria | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 12 | 31 March 2004 | Jalan Besar, Singapore | Singapore | 2–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 7 September 2005 | Rifu, Japan | Honduras | 5–4 | Friendly |
| 14 | 8 October 2005 | Riga, Latvia | Latvia | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 15 | 28 February 2006 | Dortmund, Germany | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 16 | 30 May 2006 | Leverkusen, Germany | Germany | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 17 | 30 May 2006 | Leverkusen, Germany | Germany | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 18 | 24 March 2007 | Yokohama, Japan | Peru | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 19 | 1 June 2007 | Fukuroi, Japan | Montenegro | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 20 | 9 July 2007 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Qatar | 1–1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup |
| 21 | 13 July 2007 | Hanoi, Vietnam | United Arab Emirates | 3–1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup |
| 22 | 13 July 2007 | Hanoi, Vietnam | United Arab Emirates | 3–1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup |
| 23 | 21 July 2007 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Australia | 1–1 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup |

## Managerial statistics

    As of 19 March 2023.
Managerial record by club and tenure :
| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | From | To | G | W | D | L | Win % |
| Okinawa SV | 1 February 2016 | 31 January 2020 | 44 | 37 | 0 | 7 | 084.09 |
| Okinawa SV | 29 July 2021 | present | 40 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 075.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | 84 | 67 | 6 | 11 | 079.76 |

## Honours

Júbilo Iwata
* AFC Champions League: 1998–99
* Asian Super Cup: 1999
* J.League Division 1: 1999, 2002
* J.League Cup: 1998
* Japanese Super Cup: 2000
Hamburger SV
* DFB-Ligapokal: 2003
* UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
Okinawa SV (player-manager)
* Kyushu Soccer League: 2019, 2021, 2022
* Japanese Regional Football Champions League : 2022 (Runner-up)
Japan U17
* AFC U-17 Championship: 1994
Japan U20
* FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 1999
Japan
* AFC Asian Cup: 2000
Individual
* AFC U-19 Championship top scorer: 1998
* AFC Asian Cup Best Eleven: 2000
* Selected to AFC All Star Team: 2000
* J.League Most Valuable Player: 2002
* J.League Top Scorer: 2002
* J.League Best XI: 2002
* AFC Asian Cup top scorer: 2007