Guess what Roger Schmidt is up to now? The former Benfica coach, who stepped away in September 2024, has landed an interesting new job. He’s trading the dugout for a consultant role, heading to Japan. This 58-year-old German tactician is taking a break from managing teams, at least for a little while.
The J League, Japan’s top football competition, announced his appointment on Wednesday. Schmidt will be their ‘Global Football Advisor.’ His main task? Sharing all his rich experience from coaching Europe’s biggest clubs. He’ll be teaching young academy players. He will also lead workshops for coaches and even the club directors. It’s all about helping Japanese football grow stronger, from the ground up.
He won’t just be giving lectures. Schmidt will keep a close eye on Japan’s rising stars. This includes the J League’s U18 and U16 national teams. These squads bring together the best young talent. His goal is to guide them and make Japanese football even better.
Schmidt himself spoke about this new challenge. He said he was truly honored by the appointment. He recalled meeting J League President Nonomura in July. They talked in Düsseldorf and found they shared the same ideas. They both wanted to see the J League expand. This common vision made him decide to join the exciting project. He promised to give his full effort. He wants to strengthen the J League and Japanese football. This means talking with club directors and coaches. It also means training the next generation of players. Schmidt is keen to share his thoughts, knowledge, and coaching style. He aims to help the J League compete on the world stage.
This new agreement is for nine months. It starts in October 2025 and runs until June 2026. This setup leaves him free. He can return to managing a club in Europe. That would be at the start of the next football season.