We would like to inform you that Mr. Takuya Yamada, Executive Advisor of Blue United Corporation and General Manager of Blue United eFC (hereinafter referred to as BLU eFC), will be appointed as Assistant to the Global Executive Officer of the Football Room Method of J.League Club FC Imabari.
We are extremely proud to hear this happy news about Mr. Yamada, who has worked hard for the development of BLU eFC for the past five years and supported the team from both inside and outside, and it made us realize once again the magnitude of what Mr. Yamada has given to the team.
Especially as e-sports is still developing, BLU eFC’s current form of supporting e-sports players as athletes was realized by instilling a “professional” mindset and attitude among players and staff.
We wish Mr. Yamada success in his new challenge, and the team will continue to push forward so that we can further expand on what Mr. Yamada has built up.
As a result of this matter, Mr. Takuya Yamada will be retiring from his position as General Manager of Blue United eFC. He will continue to serve as Executive Advisor across Blue United.
We would also like to inform you that Seiji Morimatsu, who is currently in charge of the business, will now be in charge of overall responsibility for Blue United eFC.
Comment from Takuya Yamada
“I have decided to retire from my position as GM of Blue United eFC.In a difficult environment, I was not able to provide the kind of support that comes with the hard work of the players who compete on the world stage every day, and the dramatic scale of the club, but I believe that I was able to instill the attitude and attitude of a professional player.I myself have learned a lot and have many memories, and the five years I spent understanding the current state of eSports and exploring what I can do within it have become my valuable assets.I will be leaving the club in the future, but Blue I would like to continue to support eFC’s success as an advisor to United itself.I hope to continue working in Imabari while cherishing the spirit of Blue that creates 0-1.First of all, thank you for your continued support.
Takehiko Nakamura (Blue United Corporation President & CEO)
“I am very happy and proud that Blue United eFC’s General Manager (GM) Yamada will be appointed as FC Imabari’s Assistant Football Room Method Global Executive Officer starting next season.
In addition to his experience as a professional soccer player both domestically and internationally, GM Yamada has utilized the knowledge he has cultivated in the sports business field to lead the young players and the entire team in the BLU eFC training division for five years. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your tremendous contributions thus far.
At Blue United, we believe that correctly understanding the principles of sports business, regardless of the type of competition, and practicing and presenting them will lead to the development of the sports world as a whole.
I am confident that GM Yamada’s management skills, which he cultivated at BLU eFC, a professional team that is highly acclaimed overseas, will be fully demonstrated at FC Imabari, a wonderful club. We sincerely support Mr. Yamada in his new challenge and look forward to seeing his continued success in the future. ”
Takuya Yamada
Born in Setagaya, Tokyo in 1974. Former Japanese national soccer player. He joined Verdy Kawasaki after attending Musashigaoka FC, Tsurukawa Daini Junior High School, Toin Gakuen High School, and Komazawa University, and moved to four clubs in the J League (Cerezo Osaka, Yokohama FC, and Sagan Tosu).In 2010, at the age of 35, he moved to the United States and joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he played for five seasons.
At the invitation of owner Takeshi Okada, he joined FC Imabari in the regional league at the time. He also played an active role at Nara Club, retiring from FC Imabari in 2017. He played until the age of 43, scoring 39 points in 562 games between Japan and the United States, and demonstrated leadership by serving as captain of three teams.
After that, he joined Nike Japan and learned about the industry as a football manager in sports marketing, and once again set out to increase the value of sports and football.
In December 2021, he became the general manager of Blue United eFC, and while supporting the activities of the professional e-sports club, he also taught children as a special coach at the Pacific Rim Cup and Blue United FC.
