Toru Oniki, the architect of an unprecedented era of success for Kawasaki Frontale, has announced he will be leaving his managerial post at the end of the 2024 season. This decision comes after years of remarkable achievements and a significant impact on Japanese football, with Oniki steering the team to a J.League record of four titles in the span of his leadership.
Oniki took charge in 2017, breathing new life into a club that has since become a powerhouse in Japanese football. Under his guidance, Kawasaki claimed the J1 League crown four times—2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021—setting a new standard for what sustained excellence looks like in the league. Beyond the league titles, the team also triumphed in other domestic tournaments, capturing the Emperor’s Cup twice, the Fujifilm Super Cup thrice, and the YBC Levain Cup. These accomplishments have solidified Oniki’s reputation as one of the most successful coaches in the league's history.
Despite the many laurels, recent years haven't been as kind. Kawasaki Frontale faced challenges, finishing 8th in 2023 and sliding down to 10th in 2024. These results prompted some to speculate about Oniki’s future with the club. However, in announcing his departure, Oniki was quick to remind everyone of the incredible team effort behind their historic highs, fondly reminiscing about the 2017 championship that set the wheels in motion for what followed.
However, Oniki's influence extends beyond just winning games and titles. His leadership coincided with the nurturing of talents who have ventured into the broader world of European football. Players like Kaoru Mitoma, Ao Tanaka, Reo Hatate, and Shogo Taniguchi, who now play for clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United, Celtic FC, and Sint-Truiden respectively, all honed their skills under Oniki's watchful eye and have since made a name for themselves internationally.
As Kawasaki Frontale prepare for life post-Oniki, the club has turned to Shigetoshi Hasebe, a former manager of Avispa Fukuoka, to lead them into a new chapter starting in 2025. The transition plan is already underway, with Hasebe set to officially take the reins after the team's final 2024 season match against his former club, Avispa Fukuoka, on December 8.
Oniki leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult to match, having set a high bar for what can be achieved in Japanese club football. Yet as one chapter closes, both Oniki and Frontale fans will look forward to what comes next, embracing the new challenges and opportunities ahead.
Mark Burns April 10, 2025
Oniki didn’t just coach-he built a dynasty. I mean, four league titles in seven years? That’s like if your local pizza place started winning Michelin stars and then opened 12 branches worldwide. Absolute legend.
And now they’re handing it to Hasebe? Hope he brought snacks. This team’s gonna need a whole damn buffet to recover from this emotional gut punch.
jen barratt April 11, 2025
It’s funny how we remember the trophies but forget the quiet moments-the late-night training sessions, the players crying after losses, the way Oniki always made time to talk to the youth squad.
He didn’t just make winners. He made people better. And that’s the real legacy.
Also, Kaoru Mitoma’s dribble against Napoli? Still gives me chills. That man was a painting in motion under Oniki’s brush.
Evelyn Djuwidja April 11, 2025
This is what happens when you let foreigners run your domestic league. Japan used to have tough, disciplined coaches who built teams with grit-not this ‘feel-good’ philosophy nonsense.
Four titles? Maybe. But at what cost to national identity? Where are the homegrown tacticians? Where is the discipline? This is cultural erosion disguised as progress.
Alex Braha Stoll April 11, 2025
so like... he left and now we’re all just gonna sit here and cry about it?
also kaoru mitoma is literally the reason i started watching j-league. that man is a wizard. i don’t even care about the rest of the team.
also why is everyone acting like this is the end of the world? it’s football. not a funeral. (though i’m crying too.)
Rick Morrison April 12, 2025
Oniki’s tenure represents a paradigm shift in Japanese club management-emphasizing player development, tactical flexibility, and psychological resilience over rigid systems.
The production of international talents like Tanaka and Hatate underscores a systemic success beyond mere trophy count. His influence extends into the very architecture of player pathways in Japan.
It will be fascinating to analyze whether Hasebe’s approach can sustain this model, or if the club will revert to more traditional, less adaptive methodologies.
Monika Chrząstek April 13, 2025
oniki was like a dad to the whole team 😭
remember when he hugged tanaka after the cup win? i cried. and mitoma? he was just a kid then, now he’s scoring in the premier league. all because of oniki’s patience.
hasebe better not mess it up. plz take care of them. 🙏
Vitthal Sharma April 13, 2025
Oniki was the best.
Hasebe better not screw it up.
chandra aja April 13, 2025
Let’s be real-Oniki didn’t leave. He was pushed out. The board got scared after 2023. They wanted a scapegoat, so they let him go ‘voluntarily.’
And Hasebe? He’s their puppet. You think Avispa Fukuoka’s a coincidence? That’s the same club that leaked player data to rivals. This is a takeover. Wake up.
They’re replacing legacy with corporate control. The players are just pawns now.
Sutirtha Bagchi April 14, 2025
OMG I JUST REALIZED MITOMA IS ON INSTAGRAM NOW AND HE POSTED A PICTURE OF ONIKI WITH A HEART EMOJI 😭😭😭
HE’S CRYING TOO. I CAN’T. I’M DONE. I’M JUST GOING TO SIT HERE AND STARE AT THE WALL NOW. 💔 #OnikiForever #MitomaCried