Yoshikazu Nagai

Yoshikazu Nagai
Personal information
Full name	Yoshikazu Nagai
Date of birth	April 16, 1952 (age 72)
Place of birth	Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1968–1970	Saitama Urawa Minami High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1971–1988	Furukawa Electric
Total
National team
1971–1980	Japan
Teams managed
1989–1990	Japan U-20
1992–1993	JEF United Ichihara
1996	Fukushima FC
1998–2000	Albirex Niigata
2001	Yokohama FC
2006–2007	Urawa Reds Ladies
Honours
Furukawa Electric
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Yoshikazu Nagai (永井良和, Nagai Yoshikazu, born April 16, 1952) is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Nagai was born in Saitama on April 16, 1952. After graduating from Saitama Urawa Minami High School, he joined Japan Soccer League club Furukawa Electric in 1971. The club won the league champions in 1976 and 1985/86. The club also won 1976 Emperor's Cup, 1977, 1982 and 1986 JSL Cup. He retired in 1988. He played 272 games and scored 63 goals in the league. It is the record for most appearances in Japan Soccer League Division 1. In 1976, he was selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year" awards. He was selected Best Eleven 5 times.

On August 13, 1971, when Nagai was 19 years old, he debuted for the Japan national team against Iceland. He also played at 1972 Summer Olympics qualification in 1971. Although he did not play for Japan in 1972, he was selected Japan for 1974 World Cup qualification in 1973. He also played at 1974, 1978 Asian Games. In 1980, he was selected Japan for 1980 Summer Olympics qualification, Japan's failure to qualify for 1980 Summer Olympics. This qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 69 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1980.

After retirement, Nagai became an assistant coach for Furukawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara) in 1988. In 1989, he became a manager for Japan U-20 national team. In 1992, he returned to JEF United Ichihara and managed until 1993. In 1996, he signed with Japan Football League (JFL) club Fukushima FC and managed in 1 season. In 1998, he signed with JFL club Albirex Niigata. The club joined new league J2 League in 1999. In 2001, he moved to Yokohama FC. In 2006, he signed with his local Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds Ladies.

In 2012, Nagai was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics

^[1]

Club statistics			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Japan			League
1971	Furukawa Electric	JSL Division 1	10	2
1972			10	0
1973			18	2
1974			18	5
1975			18	7
1976			18	5
1977			18	14
1978			18	1
1979			18	6
1980			17	3
1981			15	6
1982			10	1
1983			12	1
1984			14	5
1985/86			22	3
1986/87			14	0
1987/88			22	2
Country	Japan		272	63
Total			272	63