Naoki Soma

Naoki Soma (相馬 直樹, Soma Naoki?, born 19 July 1971 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka) is a Japanese former football defender (Left back).

He was capped 58 times and scored 4 goals for the Japanese national team between 1995 and 1999, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played 289 games and scored 15 goals in J. League Division 1, and became one of the main player in glorious era of Kashima Antlers.

He retired at the end of the 2005 season. After working as a TV pundit, Soma managed the Japan Football League side F.C. Machida Zelvia in 2010. He held a managerial post in charge of J. League Division 1 side Kawasaki Frontale prior to the 2011 season.

On April 12, 2012, Kawasaki Frontale 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

Read more about Naoki Soma:  Club Career Statistics, National Team

Famous quotes containing the word soma:

    Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears—that’s what soma is.
    Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)