Takayuki Yoshida has been recognized as the Manager of the J1 Champions for guiding Vissel Kobe to their very first Meiji Yasuda J1 League title.

Yoshida orchestrated a team that was capable of imposing their will in all three thirds of the pitch. Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto were dynamic in attack, while Hotaru Yamaguchi helped lock down a dominant two-way midfield, and the defense was as organized and responsible as any in J1.

The result of Yoshida’s excellent tactical balance was the league’s second-highest scoring team and third-best defensive unit, a combination of excellence on both ends that no other team could match.

Yoshida's success is all the more meaningful because of his past in Kobe. He played for the club and then began his coaching career at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe, eventually rising to manager.

After a rough start to last season, Vissel brought Yoshida back for his third stint and he helped turn around a campaign filled with adversity to avoid relegation.

With their J1 status assured for 2023, Yoshida and Vissel began planning to lift the club back to the elite - but they did even better, bringing the J1 crown back to Kobe for the first time ever.