After the training, Head of Football Jun Tokari and new Sports Director (SD) Satoshi Horinouchi, who took up his new post on the 16th, answered questions from the media.

[Jun Tokari, Head of Football Division]
"Hello everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us today. As announced in the release, Horinouchi will be taking up his new post as SD, and Nishino (Tsutomu) will be stepping down from his position as Technical Director (TD). I would like to explain the background to these decisions and the club's thinking.

First of all, since last year, Nishino-san has been consulting me about his career plans. At present, the club has not received any reports that he has decided to go to another club. On the other hand, I have always thought that I would have to assume that he would leave the club someday.

I immediately thought that Horinouchi was the right person to succeed me. Horinouchi was born and raised in Urawa, played for Urawa Reds for 10 years, and was active in many areas as an employee after that. Even after we were under the Football Headquarters system, he has continued to work together with Tsuchida (Naofumi) and Nishino. He has already been working on strengthening the team for seven years, and we knew he had the necessary skills, so the club has been nurturing and preparing him as such a person.

And above all, Horinouchi has the ambition to make Urawa Reds stronger. This time, Horinouchi has asked to move from an employee contract to a professional contract. That's why I think he's a person who will work for Urawa Reds with passion and determination.

I also believe that the Football Headquarters organization itself has grown as an organization, through things like verbalizing and quantifying concepts, and using both subjective and objective analysis. Of course, there are still plenty of challenges ahead. I think the important thing is to continue and build on the concept led by the club, rather than changing the policy even if the people change.

We have received Nishino's intention to step down. We would like to express our respect for his dedication to Urawa Reds, who has given 100% of his energy to us, and we believe that the club is fully prepared to make this organizational change. We are fully aware that there are various opinions regarding the timing of this change. However, we also believe that there is rarely a best time to make this change, be it at the end of the season, the beginning of the season, or during the season. After extensive discussions with both Nishino and Horinouchi and after considering the pros and cons, we have decided on this organizational change at this time.

That is all about the process and thinking behind this."

[Satoshi Horinouchi SD]
"Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us today. I have recently become the SD and will be working as the team leader.

As Tokari said earlier, I have been involved with this club for a total of 20 years, 10 as a player and 10 as a club staff member, and now I have been asked to take on a new role. I believe that all I can do is support the players and build a strong and attractive team, so I will devote myself to that.

【Question-and-answer session】
(I would like to confirm with General Manager Tokari. How is former TD Nishino currently involved with the club? Also, what are the prospects for the future?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"I would like to have him step down from his position as TD and have him take over from me properly, while we make smooth organizational changes. Specifically, I will be terminating my contract at the end of June."

(Currently, he is just a staff member of the football headquarters.)
Jun Tokari, Director
"Yes, it is"

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. For about four years, the Football Headquarters had been implementing a major policy of creating a strong and attractive club. Will this policy be continued? Also, what additional value do you want to add by taking over as head of the club?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"Since we have taken over the Football Headquarters system, to be clear, I want to continue the concept and the attitude of the individual and team, and I also want to continue the key concept of 'the responsibility to carry Urawa on my shoulders.'

As for the future, this season has started, and as you can see from today's practice, (Pair) Matthias (Hegmo) the coach has come to visit us, and he expects daily growth not only from the players, but also from the coaches and club staff. I would like to further improve that."

(The person in charge has changed since the beginning of this term, but how do you plan to set numerical targets and performance goals?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"I am aware that the club's goal is to 'always compete for the championship.' This is written in the player philosophy as well, and it says, 'Perform soccer and pursue victory.' I think that the accumulation of each and every game will ultimately result in winning points, and that will determine whether or not we can win the championship, so first of all I want to focus on each game in front of me, and in order to achieve that, I want to step up my daily training."

(I would like to ask Mr. Tokari, the SD position has been vacant since the retirement of former SD Tsuchida. What was the organization's thinking in leaving the position vacant?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"We've had a two-person system of SD and TD, but there was no particular intention to promote Nishino after Tsuchida retired, and we decided that the status quo was best."

(Were things proceeding smoothly in terms of organizational decisions and authority?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"Yes, the two of us had been working together, so there was no particular intention to promote him."

(With Mr. Horinouchi now being appointed SD, the TD position will now be vacant. Are there any plans to appoint a new person from inside or outside the club to that position?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"We would like to consider such matters in the future, if necessary."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. Until now, you have worked as a member of the football headquarters staff under the SD and TD, but what were your specific duties and achievements at that time?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"I wasn't an assistant to the SD or TD, but I did help with a variety of tasks, but my main responsibilities were scouting both domestically and overseas, and negotiating contracts and other matters."

(I would like to ask General Manager Tokari, when did you receive notification of former TD Nishino's intention to resign?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"The official date will be soon. There have been talks in the past about his career plans in a broad sense, and various things are being considered for the future, but concrete details will be announced relatively soon."

(Maybe this month?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"April."

(Following former SD Tsuchida and former TD Nishino, two training managers have been lost in the space of about four months. I'm sure there was some planning behind this, but how do you view this situation?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"I think that the club as a whole has always been thinking about developing the next generation, always anticipating such things. In that sense, Horinouchi-san has been well prepared, and we sent him overseas for about three months two years ago, letting him see different places and allowing him to grow, so I think he has been preparing to take on such a position. As a club, rather than planning it in advance, we have always been making such preparations."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. The accomplishments of your predecessor were huge, and I imagine you feel a great sense of responsibility. What skills would you like to utilize as SD Horinouchi?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"Even when I was still active, I was often asked, 'What is your weapon?' I was always asked, 'I don't have a weapon that I can call my own,' and now I'm having a bit of a flashback. (Laughs)

I think my greatest strength is the people around me. I feel truly blessed with the staff at the Football Headquarters and the other club staff working at Urawa Reds. I don't necessarily bring out the best in them, but working together with them leads to great results, and that's the way I want to work, so I think working with everyone is my strength. Sorry for the vague answer."

(Question for SD Horinouchi: When did SD Horinouchi himself hear that former TD Nishino was stepping down from his position?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"As Tokari said earlier, this has been happening over the past few days."

(When were you approached about becoming SD?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"Since the beginning of the year, I have been consulting him about various aspects of my career plan. In that sense, the answer may be 'since the beginning of the year,' but as I said before, when it comes to concrete discussions, I think it will be from the beginning of April, really within the past few days."

(How did you feel when you received the offer? Did you consult with anyone?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"I consulted with people close to me, including my family of course. I felt a lot of pressure, as it was a job with a lot of responsibility, but I also remember feeling great joy and a strong determination to 'I'm definitely going to do it.'"

(I understand that you left the company and signed a professional contract, but was that something the company had to do, or was it something you chose to do out of a sense of resolve and responsibility?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"It's not like I had to do it at all. If anything, I was the one who made the offer and asked, 'Please let me do it in this way.'"

(Why is that?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"As you just said, I thought it would be a good opportunity to show our resolve and determination."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. Upon taking up the position, what are your thoughts on the issues you would like to tackle further, or what further steps you need to take to ensure that the Reds remain true to themselves? For example, in the case of scouting, what are the issues facing the Football Headquarters, and what do you want to accomplish as SD, such as increasing the number of cases or building an overseas network to broaden the scope of the search?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"I think it's difficult to say specifically what the challenges are here. However, I think that the Japanese market is being targeted by the world, and the competition is getting tougher in the domestic scouting field. I'm going to use the ideas I've cultivated so far, and as Tokari mentioned a little earlier, I spent about a month in Europe last year and about three months two years ago. There are more than ten countries, and we have partners such as Feyenoord (Rotterdam) and (Eintracht) Frankfurt, so we're basically focusing on Europe, although we do have ties with the Netherlands and Germany. I've gained knowledge from various people and clubs in these places, so I'd like to communicate closely with those places and the current club staff to clarify what the optimal strategy is."

(I would like to ask General Manager Tokari. The person in charge of training has changed, and I believe Per-Mathias Hoegmo was brought in by former sporting director Nishino. How did you explain this to head coach Hegmo, and how did you follow up with him?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"As for Coach Hegumo, as you just mentioned, I think that we invited the coach not because of a specific person but because of the football headquarters, the organization, and I think I made it very clear that the football headquarters itself will be able to continue its activities even if someone leaves.

I also spoke to Coach Hegumo about how to ensure a smooth transition."

(What was Director Hegmo's reaction?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"Coach Hegumo told me, 'I understand very well that the club needs to continue to improve on its concept, and I think it's a well-run club.' So I think he felt at ease in that respect and felt he could continue on."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. As a club aiming to win the championship, the Reds are not in a good position to get back on track this season with the new manager. What do you think about the current team?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"As you say, in terms of results and victories, I think there are some differences from what we had in mind at the start of the season. In terms of the phrase 'Shu-Ha-Ri' (protect, break, break), I think that now is the phase for 'Shu', for creating a form. I myself communicate with the coach on a daily basis, and as I said today, I think that we are in the stage of building the foundation for instilling things like a 'winning mentality', a 'winning culture', 'improving', and 'braveness', not exactly 'mind, technique, body', but such things. Within that, there are games where we are able to express the kind of football we are aiming for, and there are also games where we are not, so we still have a lot to grow, but I believe that when that speed of growth accelerates all at once, we will be able to produce some great results."

(Next year there will be the Club World Cup, and I think you have seen many clubs, but what kind of team will you build for the Reds, who are aiming to be on the world stage, and how will you make your presence felt on the world stage?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"We are determined to take part in this tournament next year, so while I think we need to prepare thoroughly, I also believe that what's important is this moment. I believe that the accumulation of each and every moment will lead to the next, and to the future, so in terms of scouting, for example, I am always preparing, not just because there is a window or tournament, but as part of my job. However, what I want to emphasize most is the growth of the players who are here now, and how we can encourage, support and watch over them, I think that is the most important thing."

(Question for Director Tokari: When did you inform the players and how did they react?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"I spoke to the players just before the release yesterday. After that, Horinouchi-san also gave a speech, and after he talked about various things, the players welcomed him with a round of applause."

(How did SD Horinouchi react?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"It had been a while since I last spoke in front of the players, so I was very nervous. I won't go into the specifics of what I said, but I spoke for a short time about who I am, including my background. First of all, I talked about how by opening up and revealing myself, I would get to know everyone better at the same time."

(At one recent home game, attendance fell below 30,000. What will be needed to bring Urawa Reds back into the league of fans?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"In words, I think it's a 'strong and attractive team.' I know I'm repeating myself, but to get to that stage, we have to practice every day, and as the Urawa Reds philosophy states, by demonstrating that type of play on the pitch, including personality, and by playing in a way that gives joy and excitement, I believe that will attract fans and supporters. This is something that we don't just expect from the players, but the manager, coaches, and everyone else involved, all of us, need to have that kind of attitude."

(A question for SD Horinouchi. You grew up in Urawa, joined the Reds, and returned to the Reds soon after retiring. You know how passionate the Urawa Reds fans are, but is there anything you can show as a "Urawa man"?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"As you said, Urawa is the city where I was born and raised, so it's more like everyday life than something special. However, after playing for the Reds for 10 years, I spent two years at Yokohama FC and Montedio Yamagata, so I had a period when I saw Urawa Reds from the outside.
In that sense, I was able to once again realize how good Urawa Reds are. Based on that experience, rather than me telling them, "This is how it is," I think the team itself is one with me, so I want the fans and supporters to evaluate me and the team based on their performance."

(Tokari, I have the impression that most of the key players at Urawa Reds are defensive players, such as former SD Tsuchida, former TD Nishino, and SD Horinouchi. Do you feel there is any difference between offensive and defensive players?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"I wouldn't say there aren't any in particular, but if I had to say, offensive players tend to be very good at scoring points through their individual abilities, and I think there's a similar ideology to that. I think Horinouchi is positioned as a defensive type of player who also plays center back, but I think that defenders are more likely to be good at seeing the whole picture and maintaining harmony among the team. Because of the nature of their position, they have to think about things like that, and they have to cover for the players up front who aren't doing so well, so I think that being able to see the big picture in this way is a relatively strong point for defenders. However, this is just my personal opinion, so it may not be something that's set in stone."

(A question for SD Horinouchi. I imagine that for those who played with you during your active career, your appointment as SD was big news. Was there any reaction?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"After the official release, I received a lot of messages and phone calls congratulating me. Everyone told me, 'We'll support you if you need anything, even though there's only so much we can do,' and 'We'll always support you, so just let us know.'"

(I would like to ask General Manager Tokari. You established a long-term vision to be able to compete on an equal footing with the world, and started with a three-year plan. The manager has changed, and the people in charge have changed since the start, so I think you are now in the mid-term vision. How do you plan to carry out the mid-term vision?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"I think the first chapter was the three-year plan that Tsuchida and Nishino created. In that sense, there has been a slight generational change, and I think that the fact that he has a young sensibility is also one of his strengths (SD Horinouchi). In terms of looking at soccer now and in the future, I think that the second chapter will be about SD Horinouchi taking charge of the football headquarters, and I would like to support Horinouchi in deciding what he wants to do independently."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi. You will now be taking over the baton for the second chapter, but I would like to know more about your future plans, including Ola Solbakken.)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"The truth is, I can't say anything about that here yet.
Of course, as you asked earlier, there is the scouting aspect, but also how we can help the current players grow, and another key point is training. Recently, Hashioka (Daiki) is playing in the Premier League, and Suzuki (Saion) has also made the Japanese national team. Ogihara (Takuya) is also doing Zion overseas, and the players who came from the academy here are also growing day by day, with Yota Horiuchi recently making the bench and Jumpei Hayakawa winning the New Hero Award (at the 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup). In that sense, you can expect the academy to have a significant presence. The academy director is Uchidate (Hideki), after all."

(The youth team is led by Tadaaki Hirakawa, and I had the impression that the players' development was promoted through cooperation with the youth team and through their participation in training at the training camp.)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"In my previous work, I was also responsible for the task and role of coordinating with the Academy, so I had meetings with the Academy almost every week, and last year I went to the Yono Hachioji Ground about once a week. During that time, we had a big win over Tochigi SC U-18 in the match the other day, and I would like the Academy players to actively participate in training with the top team, as well as during training camps. However, once school starts, it can be difficult to do this, but I would like to create a good cycle in which the players continue to practice here, grow, and then return to the Academy once more to receive feedback. Coach Ikeda (Nobuyasu) is currently making a lot of efforts in this area. Coach Ikeda has also been the youth team manager, so he has been a great help."

(As part of your job, were you also involved in Daisuke Matsui's appointment as role model coach?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"I'm not really involved in that."

(The Football Headquarters was established at the start of the three-year plan, and so far former Urawa Reds players have been in the SD and TD positions, but is this the basic approach, or is there a possibility that in the future they will bring in talent from outside?)
Jun Tokari, Director
"First of all, I don't think it's necessary for them to be from Urawa Reds. However, I would like the club to be a place where such staff members can come out. I also think that an environment where such staff members can grow within the club, and also from the players, is necessary for the future.

On the other hand, we tend to be weak when it comes to incorporating external environments and information, so I think we need to face up to the issue of how to supplement that."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]