Yutaka Akita

Yutaka Akita
秋田 豊

Personal information
Date of birth	(1970-08-06) 6 August 1970
Place of birth	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position	Defender
Team information
Current team	Kochi United (manager)
Youth career
	Hosei Junior High School
1986–1988	Aichi High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1992	Aichi Gakuin University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1993–2003	Kashima Antlers	334	(20)
2004–2006	Nagoya Grampus Eight	57	(3)
2007	Kyoto Sanga	14	(0)
Total		405	(23)
International career
1995–2003	Japan	44	(4)
Managerial career
2010	Kyoto Sanga
2012–2013	Machida Zelvia
2020–2022	Iwate Grulla Morioka
2025–	Kochi United
Medal record Kashima Antlers Winner J1 League 1996 Winner J1 League 1998 Winner J1 League 2000 Winner J1 League 2001 Runner-up J1 League 1993 Runner-up J1 League 1997 Winner J.League Cup 1997 Winner J.League Cup 2000 Winner J.League Cup 2002 Runner-up J.League Cup 1999 Runner-up J.League Cup 2003 Winner Emperor's Cup 1997 Winner Emperor's Cup 2000 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1993 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2002
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yutaka Akita (秋田 豊, Akita Yutaka; born 6 August 1970) is a Japanese football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is currently manager of J3 League club Kochi United.

He played for Japan national team until 2003.

Club career

Akita is a strong and physical centre-back. A 10-year stalwart for the Kashima Antlers since 1993, Akita left Kashima in early 2004 to move back to his native Nagoya, signing for hometown team Nagoya Grampus Eight. He moved to J2 League side Kyoto Sanga FC at the beginning of the 2007 season. In November 2007, he announced his retirement from the game. Akita won the champions J1 League 4 times, J.League Cup 3 times and Emperor's Cup 2 times at Kashima Antlers. He was selected Best Eleven 4 times.

International career

On 24 October 1995, Akita debuted for Japan national team against Saudi Arabia. He played at 1996 Asian Cup. He became a regular from the middle of 1997 and at 1998 World Cup qualification in 1997, Japan won the qualify for 1998 World Cup first time Japan's history. He played at 1998 World Cup and 1999 Copa América. He played full-time in all matches at both competitions. In 2002, he was selected Japan for the first time in 3 years. He was also selected Japan for 2002 World Cup, but he did not play in the match. After 2002 World Cup, he became a regular player again under new manager Zico. On 8 June 2003, the match against Argentina is his last game for Japan. Although he was a member of Japan for 2003 Confederations Cup in June, he did not play in the match. He played 44 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 2003.

Managerial career

After retirement, Akita started his coaching career at Kyoto Sanga FC in 2008.In July 2010, he became manager, succeeding Hisashi Kato. However the club was relegated to J2 League and he resigned at the end of the season.

He signed with Tokyo Verdy in 2012. In November, he resigned and became manager of FC Machida Zelvia. He was sacked in June 2013.

On 4 December 2019, Akita was officially announced as manager of Iwate Grulla Morioka from the 2020 season. On 6 December 2021, Akita gained promotion to the J2 League for the first time in their history after the club drew against Azul Claro Numazu 1-1 in the final matchweek. Akita left the club in 2022 season after his club was relegated to the J3 League.

On 22 December 2024, Akita was officially announced as manager of newly promoted J3 club Kochi United.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kashima Antlers	1993	35	0	5	2	5	1	–		45	3
	1994	38	4	0	0	1	0	–		39	4
	1995	50	0	4	0	–		–		54	0
	1996	16	0	3	0	4	0	–		23	0
	1997	21	3	5	1	2	2	–		28	6
	1998	32	3	4	0	1	0	–		37	3
	1999	28	2	2	0	6	1	–		36	3
	2000	28	1	4	1	7	0	–		39	2
	2001	29	2	2	0	6	1	–		37	3
	2002	29	4	5	1	8	0	–		42	5
	2003	28	1	4	1	5	0	3	0	40	2
Nagoya Grampus Eight	2004	26	0	2	0	7	0	–		35	0
	2005	19	1	2	0	0	0	–		21	1
	2006	12	2	1	0	3	0	–		16	2
Kyoto Sanga FC	2007	14	0	0	0	–		–		14	0
Total		405	23	43	6	55	5	3	0	506	34

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	1995	2	1
	1996	2	0
	1997	16	2
	1998	10	0
	1999	7	0
	2000	0	0
	2001	0	0
	2002	3	0
	2003	4	1
Total		44	4

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Akita goal.

List of international goals scored by Yutaka Akita

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 October 1995	Matsuyama, Japan	Saudi Arabia	2–1	2–1	Friendly
2	4 October 1997	Almaty, Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	1–0	1–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	25 November 1997	Tokyo, Japan	Kazakhstan	1–0	5–1	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	8 June 2003	Osaka, Japan	Argentina	1–2	1–4	2003 Kirin Cup

Managerial statistics

As of the match played 16 February 2025.

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	Win %
Kyoto Sanga	2010		20	2	3	15	010.00
Machida Zelvia	2013		17	9	4	4	052.94
Iwate Grulla Morioka	2020	2022	104	35	24	45	033.65
Kochi United	2025	present	1	0	0	1	000.00
Total			142	46	31	65	032.39

Honours

Player

Kashima Antlers

• J1 League: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002
• J.League Cup: 1997, 2000, 2002
• Emperor's Cup: 1997, 2000

Individual

• J1 League Best Eleven: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001
• Selected to AFC All Star Team: 1998

Manager

Iwate Grulla Morioka

• J3 League runner-up: 2021

External links

• Yutaka Akita – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Yutaka Akita at National-Football-Teams.com
• Japan National Football Team Database
• Profile at Kochi United SC
• Player statistics at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Manager statistics manager profile at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)