Yasushi Kawakami Explained

is a Japanese former football player, coach and manager.

Playing career

Kawakami was born in Okinawa, Japan. His family emigrated to Argentina in 1968, when he was five years old.^[1] He signed with Banfield in 1982, becoming the first Japanese footballer to play in the Argentine league.^{[2] [3] [4]} He played eight matches and scored one goal in the Argentine second division.^[5] A goal scored by him against All Boys on 20 July 1985 was the first goal scored by a Japanese player in the Argentine league until Naohiro Takahara scored in 2001.^{[6] [5]}

In 1987, he returned to Japan and signed with All Nippon Airways in the Japan Soccer League. From 1989, he played for Chuo Bohan and Shimizu S-Pulse. He retired from playing in 1992.

Managerial career

After retirement, Kawakami started coaching career in Argentina. He was the technical director of the Argentina women's national team from 1999 to 2012.^{[4] [7]} He also served as the assistant coach for Argentina women's national team from 1996 to 2006.^[8] He helped the national team qualify for their first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2003 with manager Carlos Borrello.^[9] In 2008, he became a manager for Argentina U-20 women's national team and managed the team in 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: Bottesi. Luciano. Yasushi Kawakami: la increíble vida del primer japonés que jugó y metió un gol en el fútbol argentino. es. Yasushi Kawakami: the incredible life of the first Japanese to play and score a goal in Argentine soccer. 11 May 2023 . . 26 April 2022.
2. News: Jugadores asiáticos que han jugado en el Continente Americano . 11 May 2023 . ESPN Digital. es. Asian players who have played on the American Continent . 16 November 2020.
3. Web site: "Es un orgullo haber sido el 1er japonés en el fútbol argentino". Soy de Banfield. "It is a pride to have been the first Japanese in Argentine soccer". es. 8 September 2020.
4. News: Yasushi Kawakami, el primer japonés en jugar profesionalmente en Argentina, dialogó con FM10. Yasushi Kawakami, the first Japanese to play professionally in Argentina, spoke with FM10. es . 11 May 2023 . FM10 Radio Ciudad Bolivar . 10 January 2018.
5. News: Por primera vez, una japonesa jugará en el fútbol argentino . 11 May 2023 . Olé

   Fútbol Femenino

   . es. For the first time, a Japanese woman will play in Argentine soccer . 27 January 2023.
6. News: Curiosidades. es. Curiosities . 11 May 2023 . . 24 September 2001.
7. News: Forjado en los potreros del Conurbano, un particular personaje del fútbol argentino transmite sus enseñanzas en Japón . 11 May 2023 . InfoSur . 18 September 2019. Forged in the pastures of the Conurbano, a particular Argentine soccer character transmits his teachings in Japan. es.
8. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20090711051343/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/01/02/16/29/reportfwu20wcchile08_0226.pdf. 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup - Technical Report. FIFA. 38. 11 July 2009. dead.
9. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20111226232356/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/technicaldevp/50/08/02/fwwcusa2003-technicalreport_neu_081010.pdf. 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup - Technical Report. dead. 26 December 2011. FIFA. 58.