View source for Naoki Soma

{{short description|Japanese footballer and manager}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Naoki Soma <br /> 相馬 直樹
| image = 
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|7|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Shizuoka (city)|Shizuoka]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]], Japan
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = 1.75 m
| position = [[Midfielder]], [[defender (association football)|defender]]
| currentclub = [[Kagoshima United FC|Kagoshima United]] (manager)
| youthyears1 = 1987–1989
| youthclubs1 = [[Shimizu Higashi High School]]
| collegeyears1 = 1990–1993
| college1 = [[Waseda University]]
| years1 = 1994–2003
| clubs1 = [[Kashima Antlers]]
| caps1 = 250
| goals1 = 10
| years2 = 2002
| clubs2 = →[[Tokyo Verdy]] (loan)
| caps2 = 27
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2004–2005
| clubs3 = [[Kawasaki Frontale]]
| caps3 = 27
| goals3 = 0
| totalcaps = 304
| totalgoals = 10
| nationalyears1 = 1995–1999
| nationalteam1 = [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
| nationalcaps1 = 58
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| manageryears1 = 2010
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Machida Zelvia|Machida Zelvia]]
| manageryears2 = 2011–2012
| managerclubs2 = Kawasaki Frontale
| manageryears3 = 2014–2019
| managerclubs3 = Machida Zelvia
| manageryears4 = 2021
| managerclubs4 = Kashima Antlers
| manageryears5 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs5 = [[Omiya Ardija]]
| manageryears6 = 2025–
| managerclubs6 = [[Kagoshima United FC|Kagoshima United]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Team|[[Kashima Antlers]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[1996 J.League|1996]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[1998 J.League|1998]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[2000 J.League Division 1|2000]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[2001 J.League Division 1|2001]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J1 League]]|[[1997 J.League|1997]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J.League Cup]]|[[1997 J.League Cup|1997]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2000 J.League Cup|2000]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J.League Cup]]|[[1999 J.League Cup|1999]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2003 J.League Cup|2003]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[Emperor's Cup]]|[[1997 Emperor's Cup|1997]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[Emperor's Cup]]|[[2000 Emperor's Cup|2000]]}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Naoki Soma '''|相馬 直樹|Sōma Naoki|born July 19, 1971}} is a Japanese [[association football|football]] manager and former player. He played for the [[Japan national football team|Japan national team]] until 1999. He set to manager of [[Kagoshima United FC|Kagoshima United]] from 2025.

==Club career==
Soma was born in [[Shizuoka (city)|Shizuoka]] on July 19, 1971. After graduating from [[Waseda University]], he joined [[Kashima Antlers]] in 1994. He played as left-back and became one of the main player in a successful era of the club. In the 1990s, the club won several titles: the [[1996 J.League]], [[1998 J.League]], [[1997 J.League Cup]] and [[1997 Emperor's Cup]]. He was also selected for the Best Eleven for four years in a row ([[1995 J.League|1995]]-[[1998 J.League|1998]]). In 2000, the club won all three major titles in Japan: [[2000 J.League Division 1|J1 League]], [[2000 J.League Cup|J.League Cup]] and [[2000 Emperor's Cup|Emperor's Cup]]. However at Emperor's Cup in December 2000, he sustained an injury and he could not play for about a year. Although he came back in the latter half of 2001, his opportunity to play decreased behind [[Augusto César (footballer, born 1968)|Augusto]]. In 2002, he moved to [[Tokyo Verdy]] on loan. He returned to Kashima Antlers in 2003 and moved to [[Kawasaki Frontale]] in 2004. At Kawasaki Frontale, he played as defensive midfielder and sweeper. He retired at the end of the 2005 season.

==International career==
On May 28, 1995, Soma debuted for the [[Japan national football team|Japan national team]] against [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]]. After his debut, he became a regular player as left-back and left midfielder. In 1996, he played in all matches included [[1996 AFC Asian Cup]]. In the [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]] in 1997, Japan achieved qualification for [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] first time Japan's history. He played in all matches at the 1998 World Cup. He also played at [[1999 Copa America]]. He played 58 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 1999.<ref name="JNFTD">[http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/soma_naoki.html Japan National Football Team Database]</ref>

==Coaching career==
Soma retired at the end of the 2005 season. After working as a TV pundit, Soma managed the [[Japan Football League]] side [[FC Machida Zelvia]] in 2010. He held a managerial post in charge of [[J1 League]] side [[Kawasaki Frontale]] prior to the 2011 season. On April 12, 2012, Kawasaki dismiss coach Naoki Soma after performing 'far below expectations'. The 40-year-old coach was sacked with the club's president stating the team were performing 'far below expectations' having aimed to win the title this term. In 2014, he signed with [[J3 League]] side [[FC Machida Zelvia]] again. He led the club to won the 2nd place in 2015 and promoted to [[J2 League]]. On 14 November 2024, Soma announcement officially appointment manager of [[Kagoshima United FC|Kagoshima United]] from 2025.

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Emperor's Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[J.League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps !!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Kashima Antlers]]||[[1994 Kashima Antlers season|1994]]||28||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||30||0
|-
|[[1995 Kashima Antlers season|1995]]||50||3||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||54||3
|-
|[[1996 Kashima Antlers season|1996]]||30||2||3||0||14||0||colspan="2"|–||47||2
|-
|[[1997 Kashima Antlers season|1997]]||21||0||5||0||2||1||colspan="2"|–||28||1
|-
|[[1998 Kashima Antlers season|1998]]||34||1||4||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||39||1
|-
|[[1999 Kashima Antlers season|1999]]||30||0||2||0||7||1||colspan="2"|–||39||1
|-
|[[2000 Kashima Antlers season|2000]]||30||2||4||0||7||0||colspan="2"|–||41||2
|-
|[[2001 Kashima Antlers season|2001]]||7||0||3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|[[2003 Kashima Antlers season|2003]]||20||2||0||0||3||1||3||0||26||3
|-
|[[Tokyo Verdy]] (loan)||[[2002 Tokyo Verdy 1969 season|2002]]||27||0||0||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||33||0
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Kawasaki Frontale]]||[[2004 Kawasaki Frontale season|2004]]||15||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||0
|-
|[[2005 Kawasaki Frontale season|2005]]||12||0||2||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!304!!10!!29!!0!!45!!3!!3!!0!!381!!13
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="JNFTD"/>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Japan national football team|Japan]]
|[[1995 Japan national football team|1995]]||9||0
|-
|[[1996 Japan national football team|1996]]||13||2
|-
|[[1997 Japan national football team|1997]]||21||1
|-
|[[1998 Japan national football team|1998]]||10||1
|-
|[[1999 Japan national football team|1999]]||5||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!58!!4
|}

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

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Naoki Soma
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 29 May 1996 || [[Fukuoka]], Japan || {{fb|MEX}} || align="center"|3–2 || align="center"|3–2 || 1996 [[Kirin Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 12 December 1996 || [[Al Ain]], United Arab Emirates || {{fb|CHN}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[1996 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 25 March 1997 || [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], Oman || {{fb|MAC|colonial}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|10–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || 17 May 1998 || [[Tokyo]], Japan || {{fb|PRY}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || 1998 Kirin Cup
|}

==Managerial statistics==
Update; ''December 31, 2018''<ref>[https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX07/?staff_id=3870 J.League Data Site]{{in lang|ja}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!rowspan="2"|Team !!rowspan="2"|From !!rowspan="2"|To !!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G !!W !!D !!L !!Win %
|-
|align="left"|[[Kawasaki Frontale]]
|align="left"|2011
|align="left"|2012
{{WDL|41|16|6|19}}
|-
|align="left"|[[FC Machida Zelvia]]
|align="left"|2014
|align="left"|2019
{{WDL|195|93|58|44}}
|-
|align="left"|[[Kashima Antlers]]
|align="left"|2021
|align="left"|''present''
|
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|236|109|64|63}}
|}

==Honors==
* [[J1 League]]: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001
* [[Emperor's Cup]]: 1997, 2000 
* [[J.League Cup]]: 1997, 2000, 2002
* [[Japanese Super Cup]]: 1997, 1998, 1999

'''Individual'''
* [[J1 League]] Best Eleven: [[1995 J.League|1995]], [[1996 J.League|1996]], [[1997 J.League|1997]], [[1998 J.League|1998]]
* Selected to AFC All Star Team: 1997
* [[J1 League]] Fair Play Individual: [[1998 J.League|1998]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|156062}}
* {{NFT player|10746}}
* [http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/soma_naoki.html Japan National Football Team Database]
* {{J.League player|name=Player statistics}}
* {{J.League manager|name=Manager statistics}}

{{Kagoshima United FC squad}}
{{J3 League managers}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title= Awards
|bg= gold
|fg= navy
|list1=
{{1995 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{1996 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{1997 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{1998 J.League Team of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title= Japan squads
|bg= #0202FF
|fg= #FFFFFF
|list1=
{{Japan squad 1995 King Fahd Cup}}
{{Japan squad 1996 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Japan squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Japan squad 1999 Copa América}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Naoki Soma managerial positions
|list1 =
{{Kawasaki Frontale managers}}
{{FC Machida Zelvia managers}}
{{Kashima Antlers managers}}
{{Omiya Ardija managers}}
{{Kagoshima United FC managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soma, Naoki}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Waseda University alumni]]
[[Category:Japanese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Japan men's international footballers]]
[[Category:J1 League players]]
[[Category:J2 League players]]
[[Category:Kashima Antlers players]]
[[Category:Tokyo Verdy players]]
[[Category:Kawasaki Frontale players]]
[[Category:1995 King Fahd Cup players]]
[[Category:1996 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1999 Copa América players]]
[[Category:Japanese football managers]]
[[Category:J1 League managers]]
[[Category:J2 League managers]]
[[Category:J3 League managers]]
[[Category:FC Machida Zelvia managers]]
[[Category:Kawasaki Frontale managers]]
[[Category:Kashima Antlers managers]]
[[Category:Omiya Ardija managers]]
[[Category:Kagoshima United FC managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Association football people from Shizuoka (city)]]