Yuji Sakakura

is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team.

Club career Sakakura was educated at and played for Yokkaichi Chuo Kogyo High School and Juntendo University. After completing university, he joined Japan Soccer League side Furuawa Electric (later JEF United Ichihara). He moved to Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1995, then Japan Football League side Brummell Sendai in 1996. He finished his playing career in 1998 at his home town club Mind House TC, a Regional Leagues side, after playing for them for one season.

National team career Sakakura was capped 6 times without scoring for the Japan national team between 1990 and 1991. His first full international cap came on July 27, 1990 in a Dynasty Cup match against South Korea in Beijing. He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 Asian Cup but did not play in the tournament.

Coaching career Sakakura was a coach at Yokohama FC between 1999 and 2004. He briefly served as caretaker manager at the club after Yoshikazu Nagai was sacked in 2001. He coached Kyoto Sanga FC's U-18 team from 2005 to 2007. He moved to Tochigi SC and became a coach. In 2014, he became a manager and managed until July 2015. He signed with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2016 and coached until 2017. He moved to AC Nagano Parceiro in 2018 and became a coach. In June, he became a manager as Tetsuya Asano successor. He managed until end of 2018 season.

Club statistics

National team statistics

Honors and awards Team Honors 1992 Asian Cup (Champions)