NWSL Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit Adds Player Development Coach Morinao Imaizumi to Technical Staff

November 7, 2022 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Washington, D.C. - The Washington Spirit has added Morinao Imaizumi to its coaching staff, the club announced today. Imaizumi arrives in DC after spending most of the 2022 season as an assistant coach with the NWSL's Chicago Red Stars.

Prior to his tenure with the Red Stars, Imaizumi was a member of Spirit President Mark Krikorian's coaching staff at Florida State University for roughly a decade beginning with the 2011 season. After a season as a volunteer assistant and another as an assistant coach, Imaizumi returned to his native Japan following the 2012 season where he worked with youth clubs. Imaizumi returned to the Seminoles for the 2015 season.

"I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of great coaches and Ima is among the best in the world when it comes to player development," said Krikorian. "He will have a significant impact both technically and tactically on our players."

Prior to his tenure at Florida State, Imaizumi was the youth development head coach at the Japan Football Association (JFA), later becoming the assistant director of coaching education at the JFA between his FSU stints. Imaizumi has also served as the head coach of multiple Japanese youth national teams and as an assistant coach for the senior team. During the Summer Olympics in Tokyo last year, Imaizumi served as an assistant for the senior team that advanced to the quarterfinal.

Imaizumi holds a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from the University of Tsukuba. While attending the Tsukuba Ibaraki, Japan-based school, Imaizumi was a member of the football club and was named to the U-20 Japanese National Team. Imaizumi will join the Spirit technical staff this offseason during preparations for the 2023 season.

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