Toshiaki Imai 今井 敏明 | |
Birth Date: | 29 December 1954 |
Birth Place: | Saitama, Japan |
Youthyears1: | 1970–1972 |
Youthclubs1: | Urawa Nishi High School |
Youthyears2: | 1973–1976 |
Youthclubs2: | Waseda University |
Years1: | 1977–1981 |
Clubs1: | Fujitsu |
Manageryears1: | 1993–1994 |
Managerclubs1: | Tokyo Gas |
Manageryears2: | 1996 |
Managerclubs2: | Shiroki FC Serena |
Manageryears3: | 2000 |
Managerclubs3: | Kawasaki Frontale |
Manageryears4: | 2005–2007 |
Managerclubs4: | Chinese Taipei |
Manageryears5: | 2007 |
Managerclubs5: | Chinese Taipei Women |
Manageryears6: | 2011–2012 |
Managerclubs6: | FC Ganju Iwate |
Manageryears7: | 2016 |
Managerclubs7: | Chinese Taipei |
Manageryears8: | 2016 |
Managerclubs8: | Mongolia |
Manageryears9: | 2017 |
Managerclubs9: | Global Cebu |
Manageryears10: | 2020 |
Managerclubs10: | Taichung Futuro |
is a Japanese football manager and former player.
Imai was born in Saitama Prefecture on December 29th, 1954. He is a graduate of Waseda University.
Imai played for Fujitsu (later Kawasaki Frontale) from 1977 to 1981.
After retirement, Imai became a manager for Tokyo Gas in 1993. He managed Shiroki FC Serena (1996), Kawasaki Frontale (2000).
In November 2005, Imai was appointed by Japan Football Association to coach Chinese Taipei national team and to help the football development in Taiwan. It was his first international assignment. He accepted the challenge and signed a one-year contract with Chinese Taipei Football Association in December. Under his guidance, although the team did not have any amazing performance in international competitions, it was believed that Imai did bring good influence on the team, as well as football activities in Taiwan.
On 15 December 2006, Imai extended his contract with CTFA.[1] In addition to men's national team, he also led Chinese Taipei women's national team in the 2008 Olympic Games qualification in February 2007. In 2008, he returned to Japan and became the manager of Waseda University.
In 2016, Imai became manager of Chinese Taipei again, but was fired in October of that year after complaints of team disunity.[2] By January 2017, he was already mentoring Global Cebu which is set to participate at the Philippines Football League as its head coach.[3]
In 2020, Imai briefly coached Taiwan Football Premier League team Taichung Futuro.[4]