On the 18th of this month, the Japan Football Association held a board meeting in Chiba. Following the announcement of appointments for some management positions, it was revealed that former Japan national team coach Alberto Zaccheroni has been selected for induction into the JFA’s specially evaluated Hall of Fame. It is understood that the purpose of establishing this Hall of Fame is to honor individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to the development of football in Japan, with foreign individuals or teams also eligible for induction.
The 71-year-old Italian coach Zaccheroni has had a coaching career spanning 34 years, during which he managed top Serie A clubs such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus. After stepping down from his position as Juventus head coach in 2010, he moved on to manage the Japan national team. During his four years with the Japan national team, Zaccheroni led the squad to participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil but was eliminated in the group stage, leading to his departure due to unsatisfactory results. Following his departure from the Japan national team, Zaccheroni also served as head coach for Beijing Guoan and the United Arab Emirates national team, though he did not achieve notable success in these roles.
Earlier this year, Zaccheroni, who had already retired, suffered a head injury after falling down the stairs at home. However, due to timely medical attention, he did not sustain any serious injuries and is currently recuperating at home.
