Susumu Watanabe

Susumu Watanabe (渡邉 晋, Watanabe Susumu; born October 10, 1973) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who most recent as the manager of J2 League club Montedio Yamagata.

Susumu Watanabe
渡邉 晋

Personal information
Full name	Susumu Watanabe
Date of birth	(1973-10-10) October 10, 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Hinode, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1989–1991	Toin Gakuen High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1995	Komazawa University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996	Consadole Sapporo	8	(1)
1997–2000	Ventforet Kofu	120	(23)
2001–2004	Vegalta Sendai	53	(3)
Total		181	(27)
Managerial career
2014–2019	Vegalta Sendai
2021	Renofa Yamaguchi
2023–	Montedio Yamagata
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Watanabe was born in Hinode, Tokyo on October 10, 1973. After graduating from Komazawa University, he joined Japan Football League (JFL) club Consadole Sapporo in 1996. However he could not play many matches. In 1997, he moved to JFL club Ventforet Kofu. He became a regular player as center back from first season and the club was promoted to new league J2 League from 1999. Although he played as regular player, the club finished at bottom place for 2 years in a row (1999-2000). In 2001, he moved to J2 club Vegalta Sendai. He played many matches as regular center back with Ricardo and the club won the 2nd place and was promoted to J1 League from 2002. However the club gained Norio Omura and Watanabe could hardly play in the match behind Omura in 2002. Although he played many matches instead Omura in late 2003, the club was relegated to J2 from 2004. He could hardly play in the match in 2004 and retired end of 2004 season.

Coaching career

Vegalta Sendai

After retirement, Watanabe started coaching career at Vegalta Sendai in 2005. In 2008, he became a top team coach. In April 2014, the club results were bad and manager Graham Arnold was sacked when the club was at the 17th place of 18 clubs. Watanabe became a new manager as Arnold successor.^[1] Vegalta finished at the 14 the place in 2014 season and remained in J1. Vegalta won the runners-up in 2018 Emperor's Cup.

Renofa Yamaguchi

In 2021, he signed with J2 League club Renofa Yamaguchi FC.

Montedio Yamagata

In 2022, he signed a contract with J2 League club Montedio Yamagata as a coach. In April 2023, following the dismissal of Peter Cklamovski, Watanabe was appointed as manager of the club.^[2]

Club statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1996	Consadole Sapporo	Football League	8	1	0	0	-		8	1
1997	Ventforet Kofu	Football League	22	8	3	1	-		25	9
1998			25	10	4	2	-		29	12
1999		J2 League	35	2	2	0	2	0	39	2
2000			38	3	4	0	1	0	43	3
2001	Vegalta Sendai	J2 League	36	3	3	1	1	0	40	4
2002		J1 League	2	0	0	0	3	0	5	0
2003			13	0	1	0	1	0	15	0
2004		J2 League	2	0	0	0	-		2	0
Career total			181	27	17	4	8	0	206	31

Managerial statistics

Update; December 31, 2019^[3]

Team	From	To	Record
			G	W	D	L	Win%
Vegalta Sendai	2014	2019	198	67	40	91	033.84
Renofa Yamaguchi	2021	2021	31	8	8	15	025.81
Montedio Yamagata	2023	2025	102	47	16	39	046.08
Total			229	75	48	106	032.75

Honours

Vegalta Sendai

• Emperor's Cup
  • Runners-up: 2018

Individual

• Monthly Best coach: 2019(June)