is a Japanese professional football manager for Japan women's national football team and former player who played as a midfielder.
Playing career Ishii was born in Ichihara on 1 February 1967. After graduating from Juntendo University, he joined Japan Soccer League club NTT Kanto in 1989. He played many matches from first season. He moved to Sumitomo Metal (later Kashima Antlers) in 1991. In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and a new league, J1 League, was founded. In 1993, the club won the 2nd place J1 League and Emperor's Cup. However he could hardly play any matches from 1996. He moved to Avispa Fukuoka in 1998. He retired at the end of the 1998 season.
Managerial career Kashima Antlers After retirement, Ishii became a coach for Kashima Antlers in 1999. He served mainly as a fitness coach for the team until 2012 where he serve as the assistant manager under Toninho Cerezo. In July 2015, manager Toninho Cerezo was sacked and Ishii replaced him as manager. He was the first Japanese manager of the club for the first time in 21 years since Masakatsu Miyamoto in 1994 (except caretaker Takashi Sekizuka in 1998 and 1999). In October, the club won the champions 2015 J.League Cup. In 2016, the club won the champions J1 League and qualify for 2016 Club World Cup. He was also elected J.League Manager of the Year. At Club World Cup, the club became the first Asian team to reach the Club World Cup final. In the final, after a 2–2 draw against European champions Real Madrid after 90 minutes, they were beaten 4–2 after extra time. However the club performance is bad in 2017, he was sacked in May 2017.
Omiya Ardija
In November in late in 2017 season, Ishii signed with Omiya Ardija (former NTT Kanto) where he began his playing career. Although he managed 3 matches, the club could not win the matches and was relegated to J2 League. He remained a manager in 2018 season and aimed to return to J1 League. However Ardija finished at 5th place in 2018 season and missed promotion to J1. He resigned at end of the 2018 season.Omiya Ardija
Samut Prakan City
On 23 December 2019, Ishii was named the head coach of Thai League 1 club Samut Prakan City.
Buriram United 2021–22: Domestic treble
On 1 December 2021, Ishii was appointed head coach of Buriram United. In 2022, the club won the champions 2021–22 Thai League 1 and qualify for 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage. During the 2021–22 season, Ishii successfully guided Buriram United to win the Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup, thus completing the domestic treble for the fourth time in the club’s history.
2022–23: Domestic treble for two consecutive seasons
The season ended with Ishii winning the first 'Double Treble' (a treble in two consecutive seasons) in Thai football history with a 2–0 Thai FA Cup Final win over Bangkok United on 28 May 2023, thus completing the domestic treble for the fifth time in the club’s history.
Thailand On 22 November 2023, Nualphan Lamsam, team manager of Thailand national team appointed Masatada Ishii to be the new head coach of Thailand national team. Ishii replaced Alexandré Pölking who was sacked earlier. Ishii became the second Japanese head coach of Thailand, following Akira Nishino, who served for two years from July 2019. On 21 October 2025, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) announced the departure of Masatada Ishii from his position as head coach of the Thailand national team. The decision followed an internal review by the association's technical committee, which concluded that Ishii's coaching approach and team development plans did not align with association's direction. During his tenure, which began in December 2023, Ishii recorded 16 wins from 30 matches in total, equivalent 53% win rate.
BG Pathum United On 30 October 2025, Ishii was appointed head coach of Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United. On 2 November 2025, Ishii managed his first match with BG Pathum United in a 2–1 away win against Chonburi.
Management style Tactic Based on 4-4-2 formation, it is characterized by aggressive tactics that use high press and short counter to break through the center. During his time at Omiya Ardija, he made good use of Genki Omae, who had a lack of scoring ability and was unsuccessful in the previous year, leading him to the league's top scorer.
Club statistics Club performance League Cup League Cup Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsJapan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total1989/90NTT KantoJSL Division 2190102001990/91240202601991/92Sumitomo MetalJSL Division 2150201701992Kashima AntlersJ1 League-2060801993222105028219943011010321199530030-33019961000101111199711000501601998Avispa FukuokaJ1 League10000010Total1533703211924
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamNat.FromToRecordKashima Antlers23 July 201531 May 2017Omiya Ardija6 November 201728 November 2018Samut Prakan City23 December 201930 November 2021Buriram United1 December 20216 August 2023Thailand12 December 202321 October 2025BG Pathum United30 October 20256 February 2026Career Total
Honours Player Kashima Antlers J.League: 1996 Emperor's Cup: 1997 J.League Cup: 1997
Manager Kashima Antlers J1 League: 2016 Emperor's Cup: 2016 J.League Cup: 2015 Japanese Super Cup: 2017 FIFA Club World Cup runner-up: 2016
Buriram United Thai League 1: 2021–22, 2022–23 Thai FA Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23 Thai League Cup: 2021–22, 2022–23 Thailand Champions Cup runner-up: 2022, 2023
Thailand King's Cup: 2024 ASEAN Championship runner-up: 2024
Individual J.League Manager of the Year: 2016 Thai League 1 Coach of the Year: 2021–22, 2022–23 Thai League 1 Coach of the Month: December 2020, January 2022, November 2022, January 2023, February 2023
References
External links
awx.jp