Akira Ito (footballer)

Akira Ito (伊藤 彰, Ito Akira, born September 19, 1972) is a former Japanese football player and manager.

Akira Ito
伊藤 彰
Personal information
Full name Akira Ito
Date of birth (1972-09-19) September 19, 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Niiza, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1988–1990 Bunan High School
1991–1994 Kokushikan University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2001 Kawasaki Frontale 161 (35)
2002–2003 Omiya Ardija 81 (11)
2004 Sagan Tosu 41 (4)
2005–2006 Tokushima Vortis 82 (10)
Total 365 (60)
Managerial career
2017 Omiya Ardija
2019–2021 Ventforet Kofu
2022 Júbilo Iwata
2022–2023 Vegalta Sendai
2024- Zweigen Kanazawa
Medal record
Kawasaki Frontale
Runner-up J.League Cup 2000
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Ito was born in Niiza on September 19, 1972. After graduating from Kokushikan University, he joined Japan Football League club Fujitsu (later Kawasaki Frontale) in 1995. He played many matches as offensive midfielder and forward from first season. Although his opportunity to play decreased in 1997, he became a regular player in 1998 and the club was promoted to J2 League from 1999. In 1999, the club won the champions and was promoted to J1 League from 2000. In 2000, although the club gained many players and his opportunity to play decreased, the club won the 2nd place J.League Cup. However the club results were bad in league competition and the club was relegated to J2 in a year. Although he played many matches as regular player in 2001, he was released from the club end of 2001 season. In 2002, he moved to J2 club Omiya Ardija in based in his local Saitama Prefecture. He played many matches as regular player in 2 seasons. In 2004, he moved to J2 club Sagan Tosu and played many matches as side midfielder. In 2005, he moved to newly was promoted to J2 League club, Tokushima Vortis. He played many matches as side midfielder in 2 seasons and retired end of 2006 season.

Coaching career

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After retirement, Ito started coaching career at Omiya Ardija in 2007. He coached for youth team until 2015. In 2016, he became a top team coach under manager Hiroki Shibuya. In May 2017, the club results were bad and Shibuya was sacked and Ito became a new manager as Shibuya successor. However the club result did not improve and Ito was sacked in November. In 2018, he signed with Ventforet Kofu and became a coach. In 2019, he became a manager.

Club statistics

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Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
1995 Fujitsu JFL 26 4 0 0 - 26 4
1996 25 9 4 3 - 29 12
1997 Kawasaki Frontale 8 0 0 0 - 8 0
1998 25 11 3 2 3 0 31 13
1999 J2 League 31 7 3 4 2 0 36 11
2000 J1 League 13 2 0 0 5 1 18 3
2001 J2 League 33 2 4 3 3 0 40 5
2002 Omiya Ardija 43 4 4 2 - 47 6
2003 38 7 2 1 - 40 8
2004 Sagan Tosu 41 4 2 0 - 43 4
2005 Tokushima Vortis 40 9 0 0 - 40 9
2006 42 1 1 0 - 43 1
Career total 365 60 23 15 13 1 401 76

Managerial statistics

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Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Omiya Ardija 2017 2017 23 7 8 8 030.43
Ventforet Kofu 2019 2021 132 61 41 30 046.21
Júbilo Iwata 2022 2022 28 7 7 14 025.00
Vegalta Sendai 2022 present 8 2 2 4 025.00
Total 191 77 58 56 040.31

• Statistics including J1 and J2 Leagues, J. League Cup and The Emperor's Cup results.

References

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