Naoki Sōma

Naoki Soma

Personal information
Full name	Naoki Soma
Date of birth	(1971-07-19) July 19, 1971
Place of birth	Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
Height
Position(s)	Left back
Youth career
1987–1989	Shimizu Higashi High School
1990–1993	Waseda University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–2003	Kashima Antlers	250	(10)
2002	→ Tokyo Verdy (loan)	27	(0)
2004–2005	Kawasaki Frontale	27	(0)
International career
1995–1999	Japan	58	(4)
Managerial career
2010	Machida Zelvia
2011–2012	Kawasaki Frontale
2013	Montedio Yamagata (asst.)
2014–	Machida Zelvia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Naoki Soma (相馬 直樹, Sōma Naoki, born 19 July 1971 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka) is a Japanese former football defender (Left back).

He was capped 58 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1995 and 1999, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played 289 games and scored 15 goals in J. League Division 1, and became one of the main player in glorious era of Kashima Antlers.

He retired at the end of the 2005 season. After working as a TV pundit, Soma managed the Japan Football League side F.C. Machida Zelvia in 2010. He held a managerial post in charge of J. League Division 1 side Kawasaki Frontale prior to the 2011 season.

On April 12, 2012, Kawasaki dismiss coach Naoki Soma after performing 'far below expectations'. The 40-year-old coach was sacked with the club's president stating the team were performing 'far below expectations' having aimed to win the title this term.

Career statistics

Club

Club	Season	League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Continental		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kashima Antlers	1994	28	0	1	0	1	0	–		30	0
	1995	50	3	4	0	–		–		54	3
	1996	30	2	3	0	14	0	–		47	2
	1997	21	0	5	0	2	1	–		28	1
	1998	34	1	4	0	1	0	–		39	1
	1999	30	0	2	0	7	1	–		39	1
	2000	30	2	4	0	7	0	–		41	2
	2001	7	0	3	0	1	0	–		11	0
Tokyo Verdy	2002	27	0	0	0	6	0	–		33	0
Kashima Antlers	2003	20	2	0	0	3	1	3	0	26	3
Kawasaki Frontale	2004	15	0	1	0	–		–		16	0
	2005	12	0	2	0	3	0	–		17	0
Total		304	10	29	0	45	3	3	0	381	13

National team

• 1996 Asian Cup
• 1998 FIFA World Cup

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1995	9	0
1996	13	2
1997	21	1
1998	10	1
1999	5	0
Total	58	4

Individual Honors

• J-League Best Eleven: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
• Selected to AFC All Star Team: 1997
• J-League Fair Play Individual: 1998

External links

• Naoki Sōma at National-Football-Teams.com