Adelaide United’s Sasa Ognenovski beats Masato Yamazaki of Gamba Osaka to the ball during the Asian Champions League final match in Adelaide, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008. AAP Image/Rob Hutchison
Congratulations to Gamba Osaka for their latest Emperor’s Cup win, which came at the expense of Josh Kennedy’s plucky Nagoya Grampus and ensured that Adelaide United will play Sanfrecce Hiroshima in this year’s AFC Champions League.
Sanfrecce might not be one of the biggest names in Japanese football, but they played some superb football in 2009 – just a year after winning promotion back to the top flight.
They’ve lost playmaker Yosuke Kashiwagi to Urawa Reds for the coming season, but in Hisato Sato they possess one of the most prolific goalscorers in the J. League.
They also have some of the best young Japanese talent around, after goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa signed on from relegated Oita Trinita to join Japan international Tomoaki Makino, the influential Ryota Moriwaki and midfield lynchpin Toshihiro Aoyama at the core of a highly talented group of youngsters.
Throw in current Bulgarian international Ilian Stoyanov and flying Croatian winger Mihael Mikic and it’s not hard to see why Mihailo Petrovic’s fearless side played some of the most impressive football in Asia last year.
I’m sure Aurelio Vidmar knows all about Sanfrecce Hiroshima and their dynamic brand of football: after all, he played for club in the late 1990’s.
Vidmar’s is just one of a growing number of links between Australia and the J. League, which Nagoya striker Kennedy, new Shimizu S-Pulse signing Eddy Bosnar and Mark Milligan will call home in 2010.
Milligan will do so in J2, after he was signed from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua as a replacement for the Shimizu-bound Bosnar, with the former Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets man set to start a new life in Chiba at recently relegated JEF United.
The trio aren’t exactly blazing a trail in the Japanese game – there was plenty of Australian talent in Japan before the turn of the century – but their presence offers a welcome glimpse into one Asia’s top leagues.
On that note, it was wonderful to see highlights of the Emperor’s Cup final on “The World Game” on Sunday, with SBS commentator Vitor Sobral providing an excellent call of the game for good measure.
It’s a pity Socceroos striker Kennedy couldn’t conjure a win for his gritty Nagoya side, although things could have been so different had he got his boot to Magnum’s cut-back with the scores still level at 1-1.
Gamba’s eventual 4-1 victory was masterminded by recently crowned Asian footballer of the year Yasuhito Endo and gave them back-to-back Emperor’s Cup trophies.
It also propelled fourth-placed J. League finishers Sanfrecce into the Champions League, as Gamba had already qualified via their own league position.
But it’s not just at the top end of the Japanese game that links are being forged, if the experiences of former A-League midfielder Naoki Imaya are anything to go by.
Imaya had a brief stint in the A-League with the doomed New Zealand Knights, although he also enjoyed spells in the National Soccer League and Swiss football in a multinational and multilingual career.
The young tactician has just been appointed head coach at Waseda United – currently based out of one Japan’s most prestigious universities, but eventually aiming to join the professional ranks.
However, the former midfielder hasn’t forgotten his Australian links, and next week he will bring his ‘Touch Of Class’ coaching academy to Sydney for a four-day clinic aimed at exposing Australian youngsters to the high technical standards that have made Japanese football renowned throughout the region.
His aim is to bridge the gap between Japanese and Australian football using his intimate knowledge of both and focusing extensively on technical skills.
Imaya’s vision is a reminder of the burgeoning links between two of the region’s powerhouses, at a time when Asian sides are increasingly looking to flex their muscle on the international stage.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Spiranovic is off to Uruwa Reds. I guess we'll found out how much of a stepping stone the J-League can be after all.
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
I see you got a mention on his blog. http://www.naocastle.com/blog/2010/01/toc_13.html I completely agree with you. There are qualities of Japanese football that need a place in Australia, just like the Japanese could do with some of Australia's footballing qualities. Imaya's idea to have a football camp in Sydney is absolutely a step in the right direction, from first-hand knowledge of youth training techniques in both countries. The fact that he actuallly has experience with Australian football makes these camps even more valuable. I'm actually quite happy we got Sanfrecce, despite it meaning Gamba retain the Emperor's Cup. Not just because they've since lost Kashiwagi, but also because Nagoya now have an even stronger teaem, with the likes of Tulio having signed for them. I doubt Adelaide could have salvaged anything from a game against them. Would have been nice to be against S-Pa, though... and I'm sure you would've made the trip to watch that, too.
BigAl
Guest
the former
Ryan Steele
Roar Pro
You're forgetting one point: Our key Socceroos all play in the major leagues of Europe, and they developed and refined their skills in those leagues. When a National Team coach says that players in the country's top flight will not get much of a look in, their best bet - if they haven't already received an offer in Europe - is to go to Asia, and develop their technical ability (something that is still lacking in Australia to a certain degree) further. This doesn't mean they're stuck in Asia for life. It probably gives them a better chance of European offers; playing in a better league will give you better chances of playing for the national team, and if you don't have an EU or UK passport, extra Socceroos/Joeys games will give you the much-elusive requirements for a visa in those European countries.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Enjoyed your time in Tokyo then?
Davstar
Guest
"Stepping stones" if you havnt noticed our national team is better then Japans and most of our 1st div players started in the old NSL a semi-professional league. Our A-league is a full time league with scouts from all over the world watching matchs to find players its just young people need to give it a chance. Our young players going to the J-league is a step backwards mark my words the J-league isnt as good as 2nd div leagues in europe such as the greek, turkish super league etc. And sooner or later they will drain all our talent if we let them and our best players will rot in the J-league and we will be terrable at football once more. Don't let it happen dont support players moving to asia if they are under the age of 25! Untill Asian leagues can match europa competing european teams i will not rate them!
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
No question you go to Milan, even Fulham I wouldn't turn down. It's more if the deal isn't their KB that Asia becomes an option. And by Asia its the K league and J league. Anything else is just for $$$. If it's 2nd division European football then it's more of an issue and I would still likely say go to Europe if your a chance of playing or it's a good team.
Australian Football
Guest
I wouldn't dismiss David's comment so readily, he has a point... If a youngster can trail with a Milan for instance and lands a contract in their reserve team he would definitely be better off... But in say that, the J-League is an ever improving standard of good technical football, but it can be very naive tactically at times... Which has been proven time and time again against top European opposition. ~~~~~ AF
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
It's a stepping stone as long as their moving up what’s the problem. You don't go from Sth Brisbane to Barcelona overnight. If there is no interest from big euro teams going to the J league is a step up or would you prefer to just re sign with you’re A league club or move to some place like Romania? Guys like Neil, Cahill and Schwarzer were able to start at modest European clubs at a young age because of their passports but not all Australian players have that luxury. If you don't have a Euro passprt your not just trying to get into the starting 11 you also have to beat out Sth Americans, Africans, Eastern Europeans for one of the 3 foreign spots. Do well in the aussie under age teams, then do well oseas in a more technique based league and a player at 19 or 20 should have a pretty immpresive resume to get a decent club (and be ready to play) in europe. Edit: Ben beat me to it.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
We are talking stepping stones, David, not destinations
David
Guest
If Australian youngstars want to move to the J-league and K-league over fighting to succeed in europe then Australia will go backward how can we be better then Teams like Germany, Spain etc when our future players are in a league that is half a step up form our A-league
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Bruce in the J-League...... thought provoking
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I wouldn't mind Tommy Oar going to Nagoya Grampus and sending crosses into big Josh ...but then if a J League club only has one AFC spot for players why would they want another short and quick midfielder, Bruce Djite would be more likely. Hopefully J leage scouts are less into sterotypes than I ;)
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I was so hoping to see Kennedy-san line up Hindmarsh (well, on TV at least). I am looking forward to the day that a promising 19 year old gets snapped up by a J-League club. It could be a great development league for promising players given its higher technical proficiency. This may become more of an issue in years hence as less and less of our players have the parent/grandparent connection to Europe which allows for an easy visa.
perryhaddock
Guest
milligan is playing in the j2 league as that is the level of his ability... i've never seen him have a significant impact on a match for the australian senior team or even in the aleague...
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
In hindsight we probably should have written Milligan off when he choose to go to China at such a young age. That showed a distinct lack of ambition to become a better player. When those European clubs were interested in him I remember he walked out on the Olyroos and SFC to go on trials. That sounds ridiculous now and was a bit strange then but I think it shows how far the A league has come. A lot of the players from overseas we sign now come on trial first and our good players aren’t expected to have to trial anymore (though I am sure their will be exceptions). Personally I can stomach a player leaving for the K league (for now) or the J league (not J2) because it’s a better standard and a lot more money. Any other Asian league and I would forget about them. Does anyone know who is Milligans agent? Whoever they are they are a shocker.
Australian Football
Guest
Do you mean Hear!!! Hear !!!.. ????? or not here or there ???
Australian Football
Guest
"On that note, it was wonderful to see highlights of the Emperor’s Cup final on “The World Game” on Sunday, with SBS commentator Vitor Sobral providing an excellent call of the game for good measure." Nice article Mike and I watched the SBS J-League Cup final too... The pitch seemed to be below par to me not their usual high standard playing surface you would expect from the Japanese ... (could have been my SBS TV reception ?) ~~~~~~~~ AF
BigAl
Guest
Here ! Here ! - Congratulations to Gamba Osaka for their latest Emperor’s Cup win . . . ??????
Davstar
Guest
Milliage what happen to him? at one stage he was training and had interest from Manchester city, Wolfsburge and Arsenal now his in J2 league he should just come back to the A-league. Personally i think how are we ever to get better then our Asian rivels if our players are mid-table players in there leagues?? If you cant make it in europe i dont think should be a socceroo or on the 1st team socceroos at least.