TOKYO: Zdenko Verdenik is rebuilding another team in the J-League, joining a long list of foreign managers who have overcome cultural obstacles to make an impact in Japan.
Under Verdenik, Omiya Ardija went on a record 21-game unbeaten run that dates back to August of last season. The team won seven games in a row and is in first place in the standings with 26 points, three ahead of Yokohama F Marinos. Kashima Antlers held the previous record of 17 games without defeat.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that has never been prominent in the J-League and underscores the success managers from abroad have had in Japan. Before this season, Omiya’s best finish was 12th in the 18-team league.
Verdenik, who has been in Japan for more than 10 years, says a key to his success is breaking through the cultural mindset of the Japanese players.
“Japanese players can be difficult to coach if you don’t know the culture,” Verdenik said. “You must have more patience because they need a little more time to improve. The one thing they lack is creativity because in Japanese life there isn’t much creativity. It is more order and discipline.” After coaching for a decade in his native Slovenia, Verdenik had a brief stint in Austria before arriving in Japan to manage JEF United Ichihara in 2000-2001. He also worked at Nagoya Grampus and Vegalta Sendai before being hired by Omiya last June.
Verdenik had similar results with JEF United, taking over a weak team and guiding them to an impressive third-place finish in 2001.
“When I came to Omiya, I knew exactly what I wanted to do,” Verdenik said. “I made a concept, I explained what I wanted and the players have been able to execute my plan. Many thought we would be relegated but now we are in first place.”
Foreign managers make their mark in Japan
