The Japan Football Association (JFA) and Bayern Munich on Monday announced the formation of a partnership which will focus on youth and coaching development.
The agreement, which took effect after its signing in late April, will promote the exchange of coaching staff between the Bundesliga champions and Japan as well as friendlies and joint training camps involving the two organizations’ youth teams.
The JFA has established partnerships with 21 other football associations and confederations, ranging from European stalwarts Spain and Germany to developing Asian nations such as India, Laos, and Mongolia.
“We are proud to announce this partnership with one of Asia’s strongest associations,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented through the club’s official website. “The cooperation with the JFA is an important step in pursuing our goals in Japan.”
The two organizations can both be found in the distinguished resume of Dettmar Cramer, the distinguished coach whose four years as Japan’s technical advisor set the stage for their bronze medal-winning run at the 1964 Mexico City Olympics. Cramer, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 90, would later go on to coach Bayern to two successive European Cups in 1975 and 1976.
“I’m very happy [to continue] the friendly relationship and sporting tradition between the JFA and FC Bayern … in the tradition of our mutual coach Dettmar Cramer,” said JFA chairman Kozo Tashima. “We are fascinated by the opportunity for our biggest talents to be introduced to the level that is required of young players in top European leagues today.”
