Naoki Imaya

Naoki Imaya
今矢 直城
Personal information
Full name Naoki Imaya
Date of birth (1980-06-18) 18 June 1980
Place of birth Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Tochigi City FC (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000 Blacktown City 25 (6)
2001 Canberra Cosmos 21 (3)
2002 Blacktown City 22 (6)
2002 Adelaide Galaxy 10 (4)
2003 Blacktown City 22 (1)
2003–2004 Neuchâtel Xamax 8 (0)
2004 La Chaux-de-Fonds 12 (0)
2005 Blacktown City 11 (4)
2005–2006 New Zealand Knights 11 (0)
2006 Marconi Stallions
2007–2008 VfB Lübeck 12 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2017 Waseda United
2022– Tochigi City FC
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Naoki Imaya (今矢 直城, Imaya Naoki; born 18 June 1980) is a Japanese football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder or forward. He currently manager of J2 League club, Tochigi City FC.

Career

As a child he moved to Sydney Australia with his parents at age 10.[1] He played for various Australian clubs before moving to Switzerland. He played in the first season of the A-League with the New Zealand Knights before returning to NSW state league football with Marconi Stallions.[2]

In July 2007 he signed a contract with VfB Lübeck, a traditional club from Lübeck in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein playing in the 3rd German Regionalliga Nord.[3] He was released by the club after six months due to financial problems.[4]

Managerial career

Imaya is now coaching football to young children in Japan and no longer pursuing a professional career.[5] He worked as an English interpreter for Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos under Australian manager Ange Postecoglou.[6]

On 12 November 2021, Imaya announcement officially appointed manager of Tochigi City FC in the Kantō Soccer League Division 1 from 2022.[7] On 26 November 2023, Imaya brought his team winning 2023 Japanese Regional Football Champions League after defeat Tsukuba FC 0–4 in final matchweek of RCL and promotion to Japan Football League from 2024 season.[8] On 17 November 2024, Imaya brought his team secure champions of 2024 Japan Football League and promotion to J3 League for the first time in history from next season after defeat Atletico Suzuka 6–0 in matchweek 29 at Kanseki Stadium Tochigi as final home game, return to third tier after 11 years absence.[9][10] On 23 November 2025, Imaya brought his team secure promotion to J2 League for the first time in history from next season after defeat Nagano Parceiro 3–0 in matchweek 37 at City Football Station as final home game and ended in third tier at one year.[11][12]

Managerial statistics

As of the match played 23 November 2025.[13]
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Tochigi City FC 1 February 2022 present 103632119061.17
Total 103632119061.17

Honours

Manager

Tochigi City FC

References

  1. ↑ "The man who made sure Ange Postecoglou wasn't lost in translation". Brisbane Times. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Naoki Imaya's Football Vision
  3. ↑ Naoki Imaya – Fussballdaten – Die Fußball-Datenbank
  4. ↑ Cultural divide changing between Australia and Japan
  5. ↑ Nao Castle
  6. ↑ "新天地で再始動「攻撃的、アグレッシブなサッカー披露へ」" [Restarting in a new environment: "We aim to showcase attacking, aggressive football"] (in Japanese). TOKYO FOOTBALL. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "【TOP】今矢直城氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (Press release). 栃木シティFC. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "栃木・今矢監督は来季も続投 3季目はJFL挑戦". Tokyo Football. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ｊリーグ入会（Ｊ３）について：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Ｊ３昇格決定のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "栃木シティを応援いただくすべての皆さまへ". 栃木シティFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 23 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "栃木シティ、JFL→J3→J2最短で昇格　指揮を執る今矢監督とは" [Tochigi City achieves the fastest promotion from JFL to J3 to J2; who is manager Imaya] (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun. 24 November 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  13. ↑ J.League Data Site(in Japanese)
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