A PROFESSIONAL MINDSET
Before taking up the Singapore job, Ogura’s last role was at Japanese club Tokyo Verdy as an assistant coach.
He was a former assistant coach of the Japanese national team (2006-2010) and the Olympic team (2010-2012).
Following those stints, he worked at several Japanese clubs, including five years with Yokohama F Marinos as sports director.
Ogura was a former assistant coach of the Japanese national side and the third consecutive Japanese head coach of the Singapore team, replacing Takayuki Nishigaya in February 2024.
One of the things which set Ogura apart from his predecessor was his openness to speak in English, which is not his native language.
“I’m always scared (to speak English). But I say to the players, please don’t be scared about opponents. But I was a little bit scared the first time I came here,” said Ogura during the fireside chat.
“I told the players to … challenge for a new Singapore football future. It means for me, also challenging (myself). If I’m not challenging (myself), players, coaching staff, backroom staff, everybody is watching me … I wanted to try to make an example (of myself).”
He has also tried to be collaborative in his approach.
“I always say to them: ‘I’m not the teacher, I’m a co-worker,'” Ogura recalled. “We are professionals, we work together.”
And looking ahead, the next head coach will need to be a good communicator, he said.
“Not only with players, coaching staff, with media, with football fans. We are all together … This is very important,” Ogura added.
Ogura’s 16-match stint with the Lions comprised five wins, three draws and eight losses.
Two of those victories came in the last two matches when Singapore beat Maldives in a friendly and Bangladesh in an Asian Cup qualifier.
Last year, Ogura led the Lions to the ASEAN Championship semi-finals, the first time the Lions reached that stage since the 2021 edition. They were eliminated by eventual winners Vietnam.
Ogura leaves Singapore at the top of their third-round Asian Cup qualifying group, with four points after their first two matches. The Lions are ahead of Hong Kong on goals scored, with Bangladesh third and India bottom.
Each of the six group leaders will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup, and the Lions will return to competitive action with a double header against India in October.
