The Japanese club visited Vila-real as part of the ‘Professional Football Club Academy Development Program for Kashiwa Reysol’
Villarreal CF has welcomed Kashiwa Reysol, one of Japan’s most renowned football clubs, as part of the ‘Professional Football Club Academy Development Program for Kashiwa Reysol’—an initiative through which the Yellows provide the Japanese side with guidance on methodology, as well as on the education and development of both coaches and players.
The programme, designed to offer comprehensive learning, is structured into the following blocks:
- Online training for the Japanese club’s coaches.
- On-site training in Kashiwa.
- On-site training in Vila-real, allowing them to experience Villarreal CF’s work first-hand.
Earlier this year, in March, Villarreal coaches Yuriko Saeki and Alejandro Márquez travelled to Kashiwa Reysol’s facilities to deliver in-person training sessions to their staff.
Later, from 19th to 24th November, it was Kashiwa Reysol’s turn to visit the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground. The delegation was formed by club president Kazunobu Yamazaki; sporting director Takanori Nunobe; technical secretary Masahiko Yoshimura; academy director Takeshi Watanabe; assistant academy director Tomonori Hirayama; U15 head coach Kosuke Mimaki; and U14 head coach Hiroki Tsuchino.
The presence of both the president and the sporting director was especially significant, as they travelled to Spain despite the team being immersed in the decisive final stretch of the J1 League, where Kashiwa Reysol are fighting for the title with only two matches remaining—against Albirex Niigata and Machida Zelvia—and just a single point behind leaders Kashima Antlers.
During their stay in Vila-real, the delegation attended matches of the first team, Villarreal B, Villarreal C, and other academy sides. They were also able to observe training sessions across various Groguet Academy age groups.
The visit also featured an institutional meeting between Fernando Roig Negueroles, Villarreal CF CEO, and Kazunobu Yamazaki, as well as several presentations given by key Yellows Academy staff members such as Luis Arnau, director of methodology, and Jorge de Cozar, head of academy recruitment.
A special link with the Yellows Academy
As a fun fact, one of the members of the visiting delegation, U15 coach Kosuke Mimaki, took part in Villarreal CF’s international tournament during the 2008/09 season. In that edition, the Most Valuable Player award also went to a Kashiwa Reysol footballer, who today serves as the club’s U12 head coach.
