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July 1, 2002
Back to the Home Front:

But all good things must come to an end, and there is no reason to dwell any further on the World Cup when so much exciting football action awaits as the J.League resumes action. If anything, the success of this World Cup gives us more reason to look forward to the restart of J.League play, since it creates a plethora of new subplots, rivalries and human interest stories. The first week's matchup between Kashiwa Reysol and Kyoto Purple Sanga is just one example, since there is a strong chance that it will pit Korean ace Park Ji-Sung against his strike partners Hwang Sun-Hong and Yoo Sang-Chul. Less than two weeks remains until the resumption of first-division action, and the J2 will begin play this weekend, so there is a lot of catching up to do . . .

For those of you who might be newcomers to the Rising Sun News, the J.League is one of the few leagues in the world whose football season is already in progress. Both the J1 and the J2 seasons started in March, and were interupted in mid-season by the World Cup schedule. J1 teams have all played seven of their 15 first-stage matches, so we are effectively rejoining play at the mid-season mark. J2 teams, meanwhile, have completed 14 matches, and are thus about one-third of the way through their 44-match season.

Before going any further, then, lets take a look at the current standings in the two leagues:

As you can see, three teams are currently locked in a very close race. The undefeated Yokohama Marinos have a one-point edge on traditional powerhouse Jubilo Iwata and the surprising upstarts, Vegalta Sendai. After a long history of mediocrity, Gamba Osaka are trying to climb into the title chase, under the inspiring leadership of Akira Nishino. However, other perrennial title hopefuls, such as Shimizu S-Pulse, Nagoya Grampus and Kashima Antlers, are all well off the pace, and will need a dramatic reversal of fortunes to get back into the race. At the moment, it looks like the first-stage will boil down to a contest between three or four teams, but those who are familiar with the history of the league will know that nothing can be taken for granted, and it might turn into a closer contest than it looks, at present.

Turning our attention to the J2, Cerezo Osaka have struggled despite being widely tipped as the favorites to capture the league crown and win promotion. But the J2 season is a long and draining marathon, and one still has to consider Cerezo a strong contender considering the depth of their roster. Oita Trinita, who have fallen just barely shy of promotion in every year since the J2 was founded, were on a roll early in the season and suffered just one loss in 14 matches. The team is hungry and hard-working, though they have been carried this far on the strength of just a few players, so it will be interesting to see whether they can maintain their momentum down the stretch. Albirex Niigata also just missed promotion last year, and with a large and enthusiastic fan base, they certainly should have the support and enthusiasm to finish strongly. Kawasaki Frontale and Avispa Fukuoka, who have both experienced life in the top division, are still in the chase but must overcome internal problems if they want to have a chance for promotion.

It is still a bit too early to make any careful analysis of each team's prospects over the remainder of the season, since a number of important roster moves are likely to take place in the next week or two. In particular, several top players are being scouted by clubs in Europe, and there is a good chance that as many as a dozen Japanese players will be playing outside Japan by the time the season resumes. The one thing we can and SHOULD examine at this point in time is the roster moves that have taken place during the World Cup, as well as some of the rumours which have yet to be confirmed, but are gaining credibility with each passing day.

Major Roster Moves

Meanwhile, interest in top Japanese players among overseas clubs is higher than it has ever been before. As we discuss elsewhere on this site, several Dutch clubs have already made firm offers for Japanese players, and the rumours of interest from English and Italian clubs are too numerous to mention.

For the time being, lets just tame a look at the major moves that have been confirmed or at least reported as "credible rumours" for each J1 club. We will provide updates as more deals are announced.

Consadole Sapporo managed to win just one of their first seven matches, and there was no question that heads would roll in Hokkaido as soon as the league broke for the World Cup. All the same, it was a bit surprising that the first person out the door was coach Tetsuji Hashiratani, who was signed with much fanfare at the beginning of the season, to his first head coaching job. Anyone with an ounce of sense knew, going in, that the team would have a hard time winning many matches this season. The level of talent at Consadole simply isnt high enough to compete at this level, but after the near-miracles worked by previous coach Takeshi Okada, it seems that some in Sapporo were expecting the team to continue prevailing against all odds.

In all fairness, it does appear that Hashiratani was unprepared for the challenges of a J1 head coaching position, and perhaps he realized that fact himself, and bowed out while he had the chance. Nevertheless, the real problem with Consadole is the lack of top-notch personnel. Though the team has a few exciting offensive players such as Takafumi Ogura, Koji Yamase, Naoki Sakai and Hiromi Kojima, Consadole lacks both a top-notch finisher and a defensive enforcer. Unless the team makes some additional moves before the season restarts, new coach Ivancevic will face just as difficult a task as Hashiratani.

Consadole was one of several teams to release its foreign contingent. Both Robson Luis Pereira (Robson) and Maxsandro Barbosa de Oliveira (Maxsandro) were released after their contracts expired in early June. To replace them, the team has been trying to sign former Guarani FC defender Jadilson, and there have been rumours that Ivancevic is going to bring in a former Jugoslav national team midfielder (no names have been added to this rumour, though). Clearly, Sapporo is one of the teams that will be in the market for a quality overseas star, though their relatively small budget may prevent them from bidding for some of the top names.

Vegalta Sendai have been the surprise package of the league this year, though this comes as no surprise to The Rising Sun News. Even before the season started, we pointed out that Vegalta has several of the qualities that can take a team far in the J.League -- a clever, enthusiastic and popular head coach (Hidehiko Suzuki), many hard-working and seasoned veteran players (such as Norio Omura, Tomohiro Katanosaka, Teruo Iwamoto and Takahiro Yamada), a high-quality finisher in the front line (Marcos) and above all, a large, vocal and enthusiastic fan base. Most observers continue to feel that the team is a bit too thin on top-drawer talent to win the league, but considering their work rate and never-say-die attitude, we think that Vegalta will be in the race right to the very end.

Since Vegalta already has its engine in working order and most of the pieces in place, it is no surprise that there have been few noises about personnel changes. The one move that Vegalta did make, just after the first half of the season ended, was to sign Takehito Suzuki from Vissel Kobe. Suzuki is yet another hard-working journeyman defender who may not have much star potential, but does have plenty of experience around the league. One of his past stints was at Yokohama Marinos, alongside his new teammate Norio Omura. Though Vegalta has done a good job of holding opposing teams at bay on defense, this season, the addition of a veteran defender will certainly bolster their hopes. Vegalta could also be a contender for the services of Jose Luis Chilavert, if the big Paraguayan does decide to make a move to Japan.

After winning the league for two years in a row, Kashima Antlers got off to a sluggish start this season, tthough that is hardly unusual. The team has a history of starting slow, winning the second stage and then capturing the league crown. This year could easily follow the same pattern, particularly if the team's recent acquisition works out. In early June, Kashima signed former Brazil NT striker Elias de Carvalho Euller, from Vasco da Gama. The Antlers have a very solid midfield and a veteran defence, but have suffered this season from a lack of scoring ability. Both Atsushi Yanagisawa and Takayuki Suzuki are excellent players, as their selection to the Japan national team should indicate, but both are goal creaters, not goal scorers/finishers. Euller, on the other hand, has never shown much difficulty or reluctance about putting the ball into the net. Considering the sort of service he is likely to get from his teammates, many are already suggesting that he could win the J.League golden boot, even having missed about one-quarter of the season. In any event, the acquisition of Euller looks like a well-timed move to address the team's lack of scoring punch.

On the negative side, there have been numerous rumours about the possible overseas destinations of Yanagisawa and defensive midfielder Koji Nakata. Although Perugia reportedly submitted a firm offer to Yanagisawa in early June, that team's treatment of Anh Jung-Hwan has earned it a blacklisting from the AFC and the J.League. All teams and players that had been in negotiations with Perugia have cut their contacts over the past few days, leaving Chievo as the top contender for Yanagisawa's services. Despite his obvious talents as a creater on offense, with the signing of Euller, Yanagisawa probably will not be missed. A much bigger concern would be the loss of Koji Nakata, who has apparently received an offer from Hertha Berlin. We will provide updates on the outcome of these contract negotiations when more concrete information becomes available.

JEF United released midfielder Edin "Edo" Mujcin in early May, at the end of his one-year contract. Although Mujcin was a very effective player for the club, and was well-liked by both teammates and fans, it appears that he has decided to return to Europe, to be closer to his family. However, JEF will probably be more than satisfied with his replacement. Lubomir Moravcik, a veteran midfield playmaker who has been an integral part of the Glasgow-based club Celtic, for the past six years. Moravcik, a former Slovakia national team player, is very close to JEF coach Dr. Josef Venglos, and this was one factor in convincing the midfield maestro to end his career with a stint in Japan. Though he is getting up there in years, Moravcik still has an eagle eye and one of the finest passing touches inthe Scottish league. If these skills can be combined with the finishing prowess of Choi Yong-Soo, JEF could be a very dangerous offensive team this season.

The only question is whether Choi will be back for the rest of the season. Although he has not been one of the headline-grabbing stars of the Korean national team, Korea's performance in the World Cup will make all team members potential targets of European clubs. Choi has said that he wants to play in Europe, but so far, there have been no serious rumours of an offer.

Kashiwa Reysol stand to lose both of their Korean stars following their performance in the World Cup. Yoo Sang-Chul is almost certain to leave, although his contract runs through the end of the first stage, and he may wait until August to make the jump. Recent reports suggest that West Ham United have offered Yoo a contract, but at the moment, all we have is rumour. Hwang Sun-Hong may also be heading for Europe. Though Hwang did not attract as much of the spotlight as his teammate, he did score a goal in one of Korea's group matches, and he will probably be considered as a possible acquisition by some European clubs.

Kashiwa have not been standing idly by, however. The team reports that it held discussions with Brazilian striker Edilson Silva Ferreira (Edilson), during his World Cup visit to Japan. Edilson played for Reysol previously, in 1996 and 1997, and was one of the league's top ten scorers in both seasons. Edilson is reportedly good friends with Cesar Sampaio, who joined Reysol earlier this year (the two played together for Corinthians, and when they were younger, for Palmeiras). Certainly, the addition of a finisher like Edilson would be a big boost to Reysol, who have relied too much on their defence in recent years.

Urawa Reds are widely viewed as one of the teams most likely to sign a top foreign player before the league resumes action. Urawa released midfielder Harison da Silva after his contract ended in early June, and there have been rumours about the possible acquisition of French midfielder Gilles Grimandi, an Arsenal reserve player who wants to see more playing time. Grimandi would be a useful addition, given his experience, to what is a very young Reds team. However, Grimandi himself has talked down such rumours, saying he prefers to stay in Europe.

The Reds are also one of the most commonly mentioned clubs when discussing rumours of Jose Luis Chilavert's possible move to the J.League. Some have pointed out that Urawa already have two highly talented young keepers, in 21-year-old Yohei Nishibe and 18-year-old Kenta Tokushige. With these two budding stars on the squad, why would they sign another goalkeeper? But more careful consideration of the situation makes this move look more plausible. Chilavert says he wants to join a team where he can make a big impact, not simply as a player, but as a motivating force in the team as a whole. He has frequently referred to the role that Zico has played at Kashima Antlers when discussing a possible move to Japan. If Chilavert joins the Reds, he would have the opportunity to train and cultivate two of the most promising young keepers in the league. Thus, even if his playing time was fairly limited, his keen knowledge of the game would be extremely valuable to the team. He would be close to Tokyo, which he has mentioned as one of the factors he would prefer, and given the enthusiasm and energy of Urawa's "Red Army" of supporters, Chilavert's charismatic, telegenic character would surely become a focus of unrestrained adulation. Moreover, given his command of Portuguese, Spanish, English and French, Chilavert could be instrumental in bridging the "communication gap" between coaches Marius Johan Ooft and Wim Jansen, and the young Brazilian strike force of Tuto and Emerson. Of course, this is nothing more than speculation at the moment, but the Reds do look like a leading contender for Chilavert's services.

FC Tokyo are another club that has been closely linked with the name "Chilavert". In Tokyo's case, the need for a quality keeper is much more prominent, since veteran Yoichi Doi is not one of the leagues finest keepers, and the reserves are even less effective. Again, though, nothing more than speculaion has emerged, as of yet.

FC Tokyo did make one significant roster move in June, acquiring Yokohama Marinos' young right wing, Naohiro Ishikawa, on a six-month rental contract beginning in July. Ishikawa is a talented youngster with excellent speed and good ball skills, but he has seen relatively little action for the Marinos, playing behind former national team winger Yasuhiro Hato.

Tokyo Verdy axed head coach Yukitaka Omi even before the World Cup break, but new head coach Lori Paulo Sandri has not yet had enough time to stamp his mark on the team. Verdy needs a major shakeup, as this former league powerhouse has slipped into the relegation zone for the second year in a row. Verdy acquired a few quality players at the start of the season, but Omi did a poor job of getting the team to gel, and with ace striker Edmundo sidelined for the first few matches, the team just couldnt perform. It will be interesting to see if a new coach can get more out of the team, which is now one of the league's greatest underperformers.

In addition to their new coach, Verdy signed defender Alexandre Lopes, formerly of Fluminese. This gives the team a very Brazilian tint, and shows that the team has abandoned its earlier attempts to rely mainly on Japanese players and personnel. One final acquisition for Verdy is Yukima Tanaka, a young midfielder who has been on reserve duty for Yokohama Marinos, but seems to have good promise. Tanaka joins Verdy on a one-year rental contract.

Yokohama Marinos are in a strong position at the top of the league table, and seem to be coming together more and more as a team. Thus, it is not surprising that the Marinos have made no significant moves to acquire new players. The only transactions that the team has been involved in, recently, were a few minor moves that sent talented reserve players to another team on loan, allowing them to get more playing time. Yokohama sent midfielder Naohiro Ishikawa to FC Tokyo, midfielder Yukima Tanaka to Tokyo Verdy, and defender Jun Ideguchi to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, all on one-year loan contracts.

Prior to the World Cup, there was a lot of talk about Shunsuke Nakamura's prospective move to Europe. However, when he failed to make the final cut on the national team, a partial agreement with Real Madrid fell through, leaving Nakamura in the lurch. Since then, several other teams have expressed casual interest, but his failure to make the national team may have doomed Nakamura to another year in the J.League. If he does leave, it will probably be to a team that is looking for a chance to make a quick marketing buck, and if this is the case, both the team and the player are likely to be disappointed. Nakamura's star has fallen a long way, even in Japan, and unless he sees considerable action on an overseas club, few Japanese fans are likely to buy replica kits of the jersey he wears while sitting on the bench.

Shimizu S-Pulse could be the most seriously affected team in the wake of the World Cup. So far, there have been no reports of any acquisitions, or even rumours of acquisitions, by S-Pulse, but three key players -- Kazuyuki Toda, Alex Santos and Ryuzo Morioka -- have all been discussing possible moves to Europe. Although no convincing rumours have emerged about right wing Daisuke Ichikawa, he also could become a target of European scouts, since his performance as a sub was fairly impressive, and he is still young enough to have good potential for growth.

Jubilo Iwata has made few significant roster moves. Feyenoord indicated that they might have an interest in defensive midfielder Toshihiro Hattori, but so far this is just at the "information" stage, and the probability of a trade seems to be relatively low.

Jubilo did release one player during the World Cup, in circumstances that can only be described as "unique". Jubilo's young striker, Tomoaki Seino, was cut by the club for "financial reasons", after the club abandoned efforts to cure him of a habit of running up excessive debts. Jubilo officials revealed that the club had extended a considerable sum of money to the player after receiving numerous phone calls from "collection agencies" trying to collect on Seino's loans. The club did not give a figure, but said they had provided Seino with enough money to pay off the debts, and were hoping that he would make a new start. Unfortunately, the young player continued to borrow, and in late June, when the club received additional contacts from people trying to collect debts, they decided that they had no choice but to cut him loose.

Nagoya Grampus seem to have abandoned their efforts to develop a Brazilian connection, after the disappointing performance of its strike team of Ueslei and Marcelo earlier in the season. Perhaps the influence of the team's new technical advisor, Dragan Stojkovic, is beginning to take hold. This explanation is supported by the roster moves that have been reported in the past month.

In early June, Nagoya released striker Marcelo and midfielder Tarik Oulida. Although not confirmed yet, there are strong rumours that Ueslei also will not be back. Meanwhile, Nagoya have signed striker Ivica Vastic, a Croat who moved to Austria after the breakup of the former Jugoslavia and became a key component in the success of Sturm Graz, serving as that team's captain for several years. Another veteran Croatian, Anrej Panadic, has been acquired from Hamburg. Those who are familiar with football in the former Jugoslavia may find it surprising that "Pixy" Stojkovic has brought two Croats to Nagoya, but those who know the former midfield maestro are aware that he keeps close ties to many old acquaintances throughout the Balkan region. Pixy's near-legendary legacy could become an important factor in future team development for Grampus, since his connections can help the team attract many quality personnel -- both players and coaches -- from the region.

The only other significant roster move for Nagoya was the transfer of reserve midfielder Hiroki Mihara to Avispa Fukuoka, on a one-year rental contract.

Kyoto Purple Sanga have been putting out feelers regarding the possible acquisition of foreign players, but the team's limited budget will probably constrain their options. Unfortunately for Kyoto, they will probably lose Park Ji-Sung, a talented young striker who was just starting to emerge as a key weapon for Kyoto this season. Unfortunately for Kyoto, though not for Park, he timed his break into the limelight perfectly, scoring some key goals for Korea in the world cup, and attracting attention from Spanish clubs Valencia and Mallorca, among others. Kyoto will probably have to content themselves with getting the largest transfer fee they can manage.

Gamba Osaka are in a very unusual situation. They face the possible loss of a key player and one of the most influential players on the team, in Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. However, if luck runs their way, they might manage to keep Miyamoto for another six months, and also regain midfielder Junichi Inamoto, whose contributions to the national team in the World Cup were without equal.

After Arsenal decided not to exercise their option to sign Inamoto, the right to sign Inamoto reverted to Gamba, who formalized this process by concluding a contract with Inamoto in mid-June. Inamoto is a hot property at the moment, with inquiries coming from Spain, Italy, England and Holland. But Inamoto seems to have learned a great deal from his misfortunes at Arsenal, and is reluctant to sign for a club that is interested only in his marketing potential. Inamoto himself has stated that he got rusty during his year at Arsenal, and he may decide to play out the rest of 2002 in Japan, to prove to himself, as well as overseas bidders, that he deserves a first-team spot. Having said that, there is a good chance that a team in one of the smaller leages, particularly Holland, would be able to give Inamoto a starting spot. Following the success of Inamoto's close friend, Shinji Ono, Dutch clubs hold Japanese players in high regard. Inamoto has been approached by both Feyenoord and rival powerhouse PSV Eindhoven. If either club offers Inamoto a contract, there is a strong probability that he will accept.

Miyamoto, meanwhile, won very positive reviews for his defensive performance in the world cup. As a team defender, he certainly has the skills to play overseas, at lease in a second-tier league. On the other hand, his well-documented weaknesses in one-on-one situations will probably be examined closely by teams looking to sign him. So far, the clubs that have been linked to Miyamoto, such as Brescia and Lazio, will probably balk at such a small and unimposing central defender. If we begin to hear about offers from teams in Germany, Holland, or England Division 1, however, the probability of a move would increase considerably.

Considering their poor performance in the first seven matches of the season, one would expect Vissel Kobe to be actively looking for new personnel. However, the team went on a buying spree at the start of the year, and probably coach Kawamatsu will want to play out the string, to see if he can get the results from this team that he originally hoped for. The only transaction that Vissel has been involved in since May was the transfer of reserve defender Takehito Suzuki to Vegalta Sendai.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima lost an important player in mid-June, when attacking midfielder Chikara Fujimoto accepted an offer from Holland's NAC Breda. Although the deal has not yet been formalised, Fujimoto spent a few weeks in Holland during May, and it would seem that all the necessary discussions between player and team have been completed. The only thing that remains is for Sanfrecce and NAC to ink a contract. Fujimoto's loss will be a major blow to Sanfrecce, though it will also open up a starting slot for both of the Morisaki twins, who are gaining attention as two of the most promising youngsters in the league. Up to now, only one of the two has been able to play regularly. Usually Kazuyuki "the Younger" Morisaki has started, while his brother Koji "the Elder" comes on as a reserve for Fujimoto, or for his brother. Yet both are talented players, and they could soon bring new meaning to the saying "being two places on the field at once".

One other move that will bring yet another injection of young blood into the team was the acquisition of defender Jun Ideguchi (albeit only on a one-year rental). Ideguchi could not crack into the star-studded back line of Yokohama Marinos, but at Sanfrecce --particularly with Kenichi Uemura still recovering from a broken leg -- this promising youngster could see more first-team action.

Rumours and Rumblings

Zico Japan Makes its Debut!

This third stipulation was a key consideration, following the Troussier era. The prickly and arrogant attitude of Mad Phillippe left fans a bit dissatisfied following the World Cup. Although they were pleased that their team had made it to the round of 19, many felt that Troussier had ridden to success on the back of what most people would agree was a marvelous pool of talent, and then squandered the chance for further glory with a self-serving lineup change in the match against Turkey. Given the long-running war between Troussier and the media, one of the key qualities in a new coach will be a less abrasive attitude towards fans and the media, and a certain amount of telegenic charm.

The media was well aware that Troussier left Japan with the recommendation that they hire a French -- or at any rate, a European -- coach to succeed him. Although other leading candidates had been mentioned in press speculation, including former France boss Aime Jacquet, and Bruno Metsu, who led Senegal to the quarterfinals of the recent World Cup, the only Frenchman who fit the three qualifications mentioned by Mr. Kawabuchi was Arsene Wenger, who has repeatedly stated that he wants to remain at Arsenal.

Thus, when pictures of Zico appeared on the front page of newspapers on Wednesday, walking out of a meeting with top members of the JFA, there was little doubt in anyone's mind that he was the leading candidate for the job. An extremely charismatic and world-famous player, Zico is soft-spoken, yet determined, well-liked by his players at Kashima, and wildly popular with fans. Indeed, Antlers fans have long referred to Zico as Kashima no kami-sama ("the god-king of Kashima"). To spare themselves another ten days of frenzied media attention, the JFA cut their schedule short, and announced Zico's appointment the following day, July 4, 2002. Those familiar with United States history may consider this an appropriate day, since for Japan, this day represents our "Independence" from gallic arrogance.

Zico will have a wealth of good will as he takes over the job of head coach. In addition to his godlike status among Antlers fans, he is well regarded throughout the country, both for his playing abilities, his knowledge of the game, and his easygoing yet proud demeanour. Zico has truly "lived" football, having started playing professionally at the age of 14, for Brazil's Flamengo. After a long and illustrious career in Brazil and the Brazilian national team, Zico joined Kashima in 1991, helped the team earn selection to the initial group of J.League members, and then led the Antlers to their first championship appearance in the league's initial year. When he retired from football in 1994, Kashima did not want to let him leave. Feeling that he was unqualified to be a coach, Zico accepted the post of Technical Director -- the direct superior to the team coach. Over the past decade, although he has left day-to-day team strategy in the hands of his subordinates (who have included such coaches as Joao Carlos, Ze Mario and Toninho Cerezo), Zico has worked diligently behind the scenes, particularly in player selection, which has been one of the main reason's for Kashima's four titles in the past seven years. He also makes frequent appearances on the banch during matches, particularly when the Antlers are in a rough patch, so his views are almost certainly included in match strategy as well. Zico played a similar "advisor" role for Brazil in 1998, when he sat on the bench beside Wanderlei Luxemburgo. Thus, although he has never held the position of head coach himself, Zico has extensive experience managing a team, which was one of the big weaknesses of Troussier. Furthermore, there are few people in Japan -- Japanese or foreigner -- who know the pool of talent as intimately as Zico. Time and time again, over the past eight years, he has appeared at the new player introductions that start of the season and announced, with a knowing smile, that he has found another virtually unknown player who is going to make a name for himself in the league. And sure enough, the stream of stars continues.

We will have much more to say about Zico in the coming months, but for the time being, we sould like to say simply, congratulations Zico! Japan welcomes a new era, and we look forward to the day when you will be referred to, not as "Kashima no kami-sama", but as "Nihon no kami-sama".

Ando Gets a Cross-Town Transfer

However, this move seems perfectly reasonable to those who have been speculating about the possible acquisitions that Urawa will make to fill their third spot for a foreign player, recently vacated by Brazilian midfielder Harison. As we discussed above, there has been considerable speculation that the Reds will sign Jose Luis Chilavert, partly to appear on an occasional basis as the starting keeper, but more importantly, to cultivate and train Nishibe and Tokushige, who are viewed as two of the most promising young goalkeepers in Japan. The release of Ando lends considerable weight to this rumour, so we will be watching with great interest to see if any further announcements come out of the Reds head office in the next few days

Suzuki Selected to Head J.League

The selection of Suzuki as the league chairman could have some effect on football in Japan, since this is the first time that a person with experience running a club team has been selected to a top position in the J.League bureaucracy. In the past, J.League officials have always been selected from within the ranks of the JFA bureaucracy, and not surprisingly, they have always tended to emphasize the national team over the clubs. Suzuki beat out a challenge from another old JFA hand, Kozo Kinomoto. Though it seems highly unlikely that Japan will depart from its past practice of adjusting league schedules to suit the demands of the national team (rather than vice-versa), Mr. Suzuki may have a better understanding of the pressures and difficulties faced by the J.League clubs than his predecessors. One certainly hopes that this will have a positive influence on the league.

Meanwhile, there are strong rumours that Mr. Kawabuchi will now move on to become chairman of the JFA, taking over from current chairman Shunichiro Okano, who will retire this year at age 70

Film clips courtesy of Internet Soccer Program J-Ole. Visit their web site at http://www.j-ole.com/ for results and highlights of all J.League matches.

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