When it comes down to nations which left a mark on the progress and development of Japanese football, the list shrinks. Surely, the big ones are to mention for fans culture, but on the pitch, we could talk about four or five. Indeed, this project over the J.League ran a column in COVID-times about this, called “J. Legacy”, where we revisited which nations left the bigger mark – mentioning Brazil, Australia, Germany, South Korea, and Balkan countries.
But there’s a straight winner in the last decade, and that’s Spain. After avoiding Japan in the first 20 years, Spain poured players, coaches, sponsorships into the J.League, transforming the Japanese championship into a training ground for their methodologies. But when we talk about who’s the biggest figure who left a mark in the last decade, who would it be? Fernando Torres? Andrés Iniesta? Some of the former Barcelona guys?
Well, I’d argue that the Spanish player who left the biggest mark on Japanese football hasn’t played so much J1 at all. He’s among the Top 10 all-time goalscorers in the second division, scored more than 100 goals in his decade in Japan, and played for three different teams – although his legacy in Japan is mostly defined by what he did with V-Varen Nagasaki. He won three promotions from J2 to J1, plus the top-scoring title in 2023.
Juanma Delgado arrived by chance in Japan, but he’s been definitely the Spanish player with the biggest impact. We sat down with him for an interview with him in early June, while he was in Spain, getting ready for his next adventure.
At 26 years old, after some time spent between Spain, Greece, and six months in Scotland, you got the chance of moving to Japan. How did the opportunity present itself?
The truth is that – when I was playing in Greece and Scotland – I had nice experiences. Every country has their own things to offer, right? And then I was back in Spain, in a training camp in Murcia, and I had the chance of meeting Takagi (the head coach) and the sporting director from V-Varen. They were looking for a striker – they first visited Germany, and then Spain to scout me. They liked me, and I had the luck of living this experience. That’s how everything started.
You first and last stop (for now) has been Nagasaki. You played five seasons for them, you reached J1 twice, and you scored 67 goals for V-Varen. You also lived, I guess, two very different realities between 2018 and 2025. How has the club changed, and how did this experience change yourself as well?
Yes, it’s true that when I was there, when Japanet came into the picture (with Akito and Akira Takata, the father), they put more money into the club and the growth was steep – many players started to arrive in Nagasaki. We had that luck; in 2017, when those players arrived mid-season, we reached the goal of getting promoted to J1.
Regarding the return in 2023, when they called me back, I had no doubts. It was my squad, you know? I had a special relationship with the fans, and I was sure of coming back. I have to say I enjoyed as well this second stint better than the first one. I knew how big the club got, with the new stadium as well – they deserved to be in J1.
With the last games (in 2025), we had both some good times and tough ones. But since I was one of the veterans, with more experience under my belt, I lived those moments in a different manner. I played those important games already, I knew what to say or how to act, how to play to get the results we needed – it was a tough one, because in Japan football doesn’t have a clear favourite.
Between 2019 and 2023, you actually left Nagasaki to play in two different teams. First of all, Saitama – you featured for Omiya Ardija for just one season. How did you remember that time?
To be honest, the change was pretty significant. I came from Nagasaki, a smaller town, very relaxed, with the fans being close and very supportive. When I joined Omiya and moved to Saitama, the club was bigger back then, the structures were better – they had two or three pitches to train. There was a lot of difference. And Omiya Ardija were in the top-flight two years prior. They wanted to jump back to J1 and the head coach was again Takagi, which helped me a lot.
Adapting to the system was easy under him, after two years working with him. I had his trust on the pitch, I scored several goals and we almost got promoted – if I remember correctly, we were one or two points shy of Yokohama FC, who got promoted as runners-up. After that, the playoffs are a lottery – the game didn’t go well, and we missed the promotion, but we were close. I don’t remember if I scored 14 or 15 goals, but then the offer from Fukuoka came through and I changed again.
After Omiya, you moved back to Kyushu, staying three seasons in Fukuoka with Avispa. You won another promotion from J2, played again in J1, and brought Avispa to heights never lived before. We had Emil Salomonsson as a guest once, and he described a really strong group under Hasebe. How do you remember that experience?
The experience in Fukuoka was also very good, because the club wanted to get promoted, and they got close several times – missing the final step or losing the final game (author’s note: they drew 0-0 the playoff final in 2017 against Nagoya Grampus). On the first year, I was important right away, and we got back to the top-flight – it was the second time I made it, I was very happy about it.
I had a really nice time in Fukuoka for all three years. We were a strong team, with a clear identity and we interpreted well the ideas of the manager. The reality is that I was very happy with Avispa – Fukuoka was nice, had everything: mountains, beaches, a relaxing vibe. I think it was a wonderful experience both on and off the pitch.
As said, you came back to Nagasaki back in 2023. What pushed you back to V-Varen? And have those three years gave you back what you wanted?
Well, the contract with Fukuoka ran out, and the offer from Nagasaki came around. The reality is that, when you receive an offer, you say something is good or that you’re happy to be a part of the project; or maybe you have nice memories about a place you’ve been. But for me, it was exactly all of that.
It was a special offer, because I came back to a place which I felt like home, it’s how I consider Nagasaki. When I received the offer, and I discussed it with my wife, we were so glad. We were happy to come back to the club which we love and we wanted.
You played with a lot of different players and under several coaches. If you had to pick one teammate and one manager, who would it be?
About teammates, wow… I have so many. In the end, I’m a person who enjoys the environment of the squad. But if I have to choose someone with whom I developed a strict connection, it’s Lukian – he played with me in Fukuoka, where we featured two years. Even outside of the pitch, with our families, we met each other when we could. I even visited Brazil, been to his house and met his family with mine. We have a strong relationship.
Of course, I made his name, but with everyone I had a nice connection. I never had a problem with one single teammate. And with the Japanese players… they’re special, they have a lot of fun. I laughed and shared a lot with them in these years.
Regarding the manager, well – I didn’t have so many (laughs). With Hasebe I had three nice years, they were nice between getting promoted and playing in J1. He gave me a lot of confidence. With Fabio Carille in Nagasaki, at the end of 2023, I had my best year in Japan – I scored 26 goals, and the squad had a lot of confidence in me. And well, with Takagi, he was the one who brought me here and gave the chance of growing in Japan. But with everyone of them I had a good experience.
After more than 100 goals in Japan and becoming the all-time top-scorer for V-Varen Nagasaki, now a free agent looking for a new club. What’s the next step?
I’m extremely happy to have reached this landmark. I mean, Spanish football is leaving a big mark all over the world between players, coaches… the European club finals have all Spanish coaches. They’re doing a great job, I think. Wherever we go, we leave something – and in my small way, I think I did the same. But it’s not over – I wanted to continue in Nagasaki, but it wasn’t meant to be. That didn’t depend on me, but I want to look on to the next adventure.
I want to continue playing – I’m training right now to keep a good shape, in a way to be 100% ready when the opportunity will arise. And my desire is to continue in Japan, playing in the J.League and scoring goals, making fans happy, independently from where I’ll be next.
You lived in Japan for almost a decade now. I’ve asked this to foreign players before, but would you recommend an experience in the J.League? And if so, what’s the motivation behind it? The league changed a lot since you first joined.
Well, look – I’ve been in several countries, as you mentioned. I travelled a lot as well to know more cultures, and I think that Japan, for the quality of life, is amazing. The people, the community feeling, the respect, the affection, the good manners, the players… it’s just a different mentality. Of course, like every country, they have a different mentality, but you have to adapt to them.
It could be easy or difficult, but if you start an adventure like this one with the feeling Japan will adapt to you, that changes a lot, no? Japan is an incredible country to raise a family and kids. Football is changing rapidly here – it’s growing fast, both tactically and physically. There are very good players, youngsters who could need some help from foreign players to learn a trick or two – for example, improving in resilience and getting stronger.
All these players are then leaving Japan and doing well abroad. Therefore, this approach is working. Japan is doing well every FIFA World Cup – it’s changed a lot from the times when they were immediately knocked-out, and now they dream of quarter-finals or semifinals. I think foreign players are realizing this as well, that the level here is very good. This exchange is positive for both Japanese and foreign players. We can all learn a thing or two from this.
I wanna thank Juanma for his team. We recorded this interview back in early June, before the FIFA World Cup took place. And now we hope he can return to Japan and give more joy to the local fans, since he’s been a legacy player for Spain in leaving his mark on the J.League.
