Richard Iwai

Last updated

Richard Iwai
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-03-15) 15 March 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth Vanuatu
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Vanuatu (Head Coach)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2000–2002 Tafea
2002–2003 Suva
2004 Mitchelton
2004–2007 Tafea
2007–2008 Mitchelton
2008–2011 Tafea
2011 Mitchelton
2011–2012 Tafea
International career‡
2000–2011 Vanuatu 34 (20)
Managerial career
2011 Vanuatu (beach)
2012 Vanuatu U23
2012–2013 Spirit 08
2013–2016 Amicale
2015 Vanuatu U23
2016–2018 Ifira Black Bird
2018–2020 Tafea
2020– Yatel
2025– Vanuatu
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 12:24, 17 September 2025 (UTC)

Richard Iwai (born 15 March 1979) is a Vanuatuan association football manager and former player. He is the all-time top scorer for the Vanuatu national football team.

Contents

Career

Club

Iwai began his career with local side Tafea F.C. in the Port Vila Football League. [1] He moved abroad in 2003, joining Suva FC of the Fiji Premier League, before returning to Tafea. [2] In 2004, he moved to Australian club Mitchelton FC of the Queensland Premier League, the top-tier league of Queensland. [3] [4] He made his league debut for the club against Brisbane City FC, scoring a goal and being named the Man of the Match. [5] At the time, Iwai and teammate Etienne Mermer were Vanuatu's first and only players to ever play abroad. [6]

After another return to Tafea in 2006, Iwai rejoined Michelton FC until 2008. [7] He had a final stint with Michelton, signing a three-month contract in June 2011. He made his first appearance back with the club in a 2–2 draw with Queensland Lions FC in which he was named Man of the Match. While at the club, he formed an attacking partnership with Fijian international striker Esala Masi. About rejoining Mitchelton, the player said, “I am excited about playing here again. I still have a lot of friends here and, whenever I get the opportunity to play, I will try to do my best for the club...I am really happy there (Tafea) and everyone knows Tafea is my club. Of course, I will miss Tafea, the boss, the players and my family.” [8]

International

With twenty international goals, Iwai is Vanuatu's all-time top goalscorer. [9] He made his senior international debut on 11 April 2000 in a 2000 Melanesia Cup match against Fiji. He went on to earn thirty-four caps for the teams before playing his final match in 2011. [10] Iwai was named Player of the Tournament for the 2000 OFC Nations Cup and scored highly in OFC Player of the Year voting that year. [3] He finished third in the OFC Player of the Year voting in 2007, behind only Australians Mark Viduka. and Harry Kewell. [11] [12]

Managerial

Iwai is a long-time coach of Yatel FC of the Port Vila Football League. [13] [14] [15] In 2011, he received his OFC Certificate which qualified to coach any beach soccer team in any OFC member territory. That year, he was named manager of the Vanuatu national beach soccer team for the 2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship. [16] The following year, he was manager of the national under-23 team for 2012 OFC Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament while also coaching Spirit 08 FC in the Port Vila League. [17] [18] [19] Iwai was head coach of Amicale FC by 2013, leading the team to the semi-finals of the 2012–13 OFC Champions League. [20] The club went on to be eliminated by Waitakere United. [21] Iwai took over the national under-23 squad again for the 2015 Pacific Games which doubled as qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics. [22] In preparation for qualification Imai lead the team in the inaugural Friendship Cup, hosted in Vanuatu. The team went undefeated against Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia to win the tournament. [23] By 2016, Iwai was head coach of Ifira Black Bird FC. That season, the club qualified for the Port Vila FA Top Four Super League. [24]

In September 2025, Iwai was named manager of Vanuatu's senior national team in preparation for the 2025 MSG Prime Minister's Cup. Iwai was selected following the performances of his club, Yatel FC over the previous two seasons. He would continue to serve as Yatel's coach in addition to his new role. [25] [26]

Personal

Iwai is the father of Yatel FC player Waesele Iwai. [27]

Career statistics

International goals

Scores and results list Vanuatu's goal tally first. [10] [28]

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 April 2000 National Stadium, Suva, FijiFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 1–41–4 2000 Melanesia Cup
213 April 2000New Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 6–0
3
421 June 2000 Stade Pater, Papeete, TahitiFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1–01–3 2000 OFC Nations Cup
522 June 2000Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 2–13–2
66 June 2001 North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 4–18–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
75–1
86–1
98–1
108 June 2001Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 1–12–7
112–3
1210 July 2002 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandNew Caledonia flags merged (2017).svg  New Caledonia 1–01–0 2002 OFC Nations Cup
137 July 2003 National Stadium, Suva, FijiFlag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 5–018–0 2003 South Pacific Games
146–0
158–0
1612–0
1713–0
186 June 2004 Marden Sports Complex, Adelaide, AustraliaFlag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 1–01–2 2004 OFC Nations Cup
1925 August 2007 Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex, Apia, SamoaFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 1–04–0 2007 South Pacific Games
2029 August 2007Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa 7–015–0
Last updated 17 September 2025

International career statistics

As of match played 24 January 2011 [10]
Vanuatu
YearAppsGoals
200065
200136
200251
200365
200471
200762
201110
Total3420

References

  1. ↑ "Port Vila League kicks off 2004 Championship". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "O-LEAGUE PREVIEW: BA vs. TAFEA FC". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Vanuatu imports star in Australia". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Club History Highlights". Mitchelton FC. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Islanders abroad 2: Iwai announces his arrival". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Vanuatu Profile". Socceroos. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Calvo, Robert. "Fenedy Masauvakalo and Richard Iwai inspired Mitchelton FC". Vanuatu Football Federation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Iwai makes impact on Australian return". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "IFFHS ALL TIME RECORD GOAL SCORERS IN NATIONAL TEAM - OCEANIA". International Federation of Foodball History & Statistics. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Soccer: Viduka is Oceania player of the year". The Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Kissane, Sinéad. "Viduka wins Oceania Footballer of the Year Award". RTE. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  13. ↑ Nasse, Raymond. "VFF Losing Out on Human Resources". The Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  14. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie. "icound Yatel Determined to Maintain Premier Division Spot". The Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  15. ↑ Amadeu, Pedro. "Richard Iwai leaves Vanuatu to work in Australia". Oceania Football Center. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Iwai receive OFC Certificate". Vanuatu Football Federation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Iwai expecting tough Second Leg". Vanuatu Football Federation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  18. ↑ "Vanuatu 'Dream Team' revealed". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  19. ↑ "Thank you Tugun FC; Richard Iwai". Vanuatu Football Federation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Amicale FC gunning for O-League top spot". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "Waitakere win ensures all-New Zealand final". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "Iwai keen to counter former coach". Oceania Football Confederation. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  23. ↑ "Vanuatu football coach thankful". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  24. ↑ "Meet the Top Four Super League coaches". Vanuatu Football Federation. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  25. ↑ Hinge, Keith. "Richard Iwai Appointed Head Coach of Vanuatu Men's Team". VBTC. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  26. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie. "Iwai to Lead Vanuatu at MSG Prime Minister's Cup Without Key Overseas Players". The Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Molivakoro, Vourie. "iCount Yatel Stun Ifira Black Birds with Impressive 4-2 win". The Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  28. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto. "Richard Iwai - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
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