Tatsuma Yoshida

is a Japanese football manager and former player. He was previously the head coach of the Singapore national team, serving from 2019 to 2021 which he was famously known in the country for enhancing Singapore fluidity football.

As a player, Tatsuma spent the majority of his career with Montedio Yamagata.

Early life Tatsuma was born in Chiba Prefecture on June 9, 1974.

Playing career Youth career During Tatsuma junior high school years, he played for the Hitachi Junior Youth Soccer Club.

Senior career After graduating from Urayasu High School, Tatsuma joined his local club Kashiwa Reysol in 1993. In 1997, he moved to Kyoto Purple Sanga.

In 1999, Tatsuma moved to newly promoted J2 League club, Montedio Yamagata. He became a regular for them, playing as a defensive midfielder. During the final day of the 1999 J.League Division 2 season, Yoshida scored a late long range free kick goal against Oita Trinita, denying their chances of being promoted to the J.League Division 1.

In 2002, he moved to Singapore and played for Jurong FC in the S-League (now Singapore Premier League). After five appearances, he retired at the end of the 2002 season.

Ventforet Kofu Tatsuma was appointed as Ventforet Kofu head coach in 2017. Ventforet was relegated to J2 League at the end of 2017 J1 League season and Tatsuma was subsequently dismissed in April 2018.

Singapore On 30 May 2019, Tatsuma was unveiled as the head coach of the Singapore national team. Yoshida extended his contract in 2021, but ended his stint by mutual agreement citing family reasons on 28 December that same year shortly after the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup, whereby the Singapore team impressively reached the semi-finals after nine years.

Return to Ventforet Kofu On 3 January 2022, the club confirmed that he will return to the club for the 2022 J2 League season. On 16 October 2022, he brought his club won 2022 Emperor's Cup for the first time in history thus qualifying them to their debut 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage appearances.

Tokushima Vortis In August 2023, Yoshida was appointed manager of J2 League club Tokushima Vortis following the mid-season departure of Beñat Labaien. They finished the season in 15th place. Following a disappointing start to the 2024 season with only 4 points from 7 games, Yoshida was dismissed on 31 March.

Club statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours Manager Ventforet Kofu Emperor's Cup: 2022

Notes and references