Norio Sasaki

Norio Sasaki
佐々木 則夫
Sasaki in 2015
Personal information
Full name Norio Sasaki
Date of birth (1958-05-24) 24 May 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Obanazawa, Yamagata, Japan
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Omiya Ardija Ventus (general manager)
Youth career
1974–1976 Teikyo High School
1977–1980 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1991 NTT Kanto 25 (2)
Total 25 (2)
Managerial career
1997–1998 Omiya Ardija
2006 Japan Women U-17
2007–2010 Japan Women U-20
2008–2016 Japan Women
2021 Omiya Ardija
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Team
FIFA Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2011 Germany
Silver medal – second place 2015 Canada
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Vietnam
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Vietnam
Bronze medal – third place 2010 China
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Team
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2009 China
Silver medal – second place 2007 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Norio Sasaki (佐々木 則夫, Sasaki Norio, born 24 May 1958) is a Japanese football coach and former player who is currently the general manager of Omiya Ardija Ventus.[1] He is best known for leading the Japan women's national team to their first and only FIFA Women's World Cup win in 2011 over the United States on penalty kicks.[2] He retired as head coach in March 2016 after eight years.[3] Sasaki also coached the Japan women's U-20 national team starting in 2007.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "女子の新チーム名は「大宮アルディージャVENTUS」。佐々木総監督、岡本監督、大野コーチ、平井フィジカルコーチの就任決定！". Omiya Ardija. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ なでしこジャパン（日本女子代表チーム）新監督に佐々木 則夫氏が就任！ (in Japanese). Japan Football Association (jfa.or.jp). 7 December 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Sasaki steps down as Japan coach after Rio failure". Equalizer Soccer. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.