Takeda Nobuhiro

Takeda Nobuhiro is a former Japanese footballer who played as a forward from 1987 to 1994, representing the national team in 18 matches. Renowned for his positional awareness and opportunistic goal-scoring, he was instrumental in Japan's transition from amateur to professional football. He began his career with Yomiuri, which later became Verdy Kawasaki, forming a formidable partnership with Kazuyoshi Miura. Takeda also played for various clubs including Júbilo Iwata and Kyoto Purple Sanga, and had a brief stint in Paraguay. Recently, he commented on Japan's upcoming match against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup, suggesting Brazil may be a more favorable opponent due to their defensive issues.