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 Andrew MCKIRDY

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Andrew MCKIRDY
Andrew McKirdy is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His main beat is soccer, but he has also covered rugby, tennis, volleyball, golf and even tug-of-war. A native of the Scottish Borders, he has written for The Scotsman newspaper and organized filming for a program on Japanese soccer for ITV television.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Apr 9, 2018
Japan names Akira Nishino to replace Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before World Cup
Akira Nishino will lead Japan at this summer's World Cup in Russia after the Japan Football Association confirmed Monday that it had fired manager Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before the tournament begins.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 7, 2018
Reds hold off Vegalta to record first J. League victory of season
Asian champions Urawa Reds finally picked up their first win of the J. League season after beating Vegalta Sendai 1-0 on Saturday in caretaker manager Tsuyoshi Otsuki's first league game in charge.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2018
Tokyo 2020 Olympics to start accepting 'passionate' volunteers from September
Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers plan to start recruiting 80,000 volunteers for the games from September, but warned Wednesday that only those who can handle the workload will be taken on.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 24, 2018
Chiefs crush winless Sunwolves
The Sunwolves failed to pick up their first win of the Super Rugby season on Saturday in a 61-10 thrashing by New Zealand's Chiefs.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 21, 2018
Halilhodzic leaves door open as World Cup draws closer
Japan's squad for this summer's World Cup appears to be taking shape, but don't bet against manager Vahid Halilhodzic ripping up the blueprint before he submits it in time for the June 4 deadline.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Mar 15, 2018
Halilhodzic reveals roster for upcoming friendlies
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic on Thursday warned World Cup qualifying heroes Takuma Asano and Yosuke Ideguchi to force their way onto their club teams or risk missing out on this summer's tournament in Russia as he named his squad for two friendly matches in Europe.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 10, 2018
Sagan keep Marinos winless
Sagan Tosu beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1 on Saturday to keep former Australia manager Ange Postecoglou waiting for his first J. League win.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 7, 2018
Surprise names fly out blocks with two wins
A good start can be a precious commodity in the J. League, and the three teams with perfect records after two games of the new season will be satisfied with their work so far.
Japan Times
Rugby
Mar 3, 2018
Rebels stick it to Sunwolves
The Sunwolves fell to their second defeat of the Super Rugby season on Saturday after collapsing early in the second half in a 37-17 loss to Australia's Rebels.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 22, 2018
Sagan, Vissel meet in opener as teams aim for Frontale's crown
The 2018 J. League season kicks off with just one fixture on Friday, but every club in the 18-team division will get the chance to throw down the gauntlet to defending champions Kawasaki Frontale before the weekend is over.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 21, 2018
'No regrets' as Ange Postecoglou swaps World Cup for J. League challenge with Marinos
New Yokohama F. Marinos manager Ange Postecoglou has "no regrets" about quitting Australia's national team just months before the World Cup and is looking forward to testing his mettle in the J. League instead.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 7, 2018
Metro government says Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic venue construction on schedule
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is building seven new permanent venues for the games, including the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza badminton and modern pentathlon fencing arena.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 31, 2018
J. League teams gearing up for early season start
With the J. League preparing for its earliest-ever opening to a season, teams around the league are busy putting in the work ahead of the Feb. 23 kickoff.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jan 17, 2018
Wales hoping to win new friends at Rugby World Cup
The Wales national rugby team wants to "do more than just turn up, have a great time and then disappear" during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, and plans to forge a lasting relationship with the city of Kitakyushu.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 26, 2017
Takefusa Kubo left out for AFC U-23 Championship
Japan Olympic men's soccer team manager Hajime Moriyasu on Tuesday left former Barcelona youth team starlet Takefusa Kubo out of his squad for next month's AFC U-23 Championship in a bid to keep him fresh for next season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Dec 20, 2017
East Asian tournament provides few clues for World Cup
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic may have learned a great deal from last week's E-1 Football Championship, but it is open to question how much it will benefit him at next summer's World Cup in Russia.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2017
Vahid Halilhodzic looks to bright side after Japan fails to capture E-1 Football Championship title
National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic declared Japan's performance at the E-1 Football Championship a success despite missing out on the title with a 4-1 defeat to South Korea on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 16, 2017
South Korea crushes Japan in E-1 Football Championship final
Japan failed to win the E-1 Football Championship after collapsing 4-1 against South Korea on Saturday on the final day of the tournament.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2017
After Russia ban, IOC chief confident Tokyo can avoid drug scandal at 2020 Games
International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates said Wednesday in Tokyo that Japan can be confident of weeding out drug cheats at the 2020 Tokyo Games, in the wake of a doping scandal that led to Russia being banned from next year's Pyeongchang Olympics.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 13, 2017
Japan's World Cup hopefuls seize chance in win over China
Japan's third-string players are forcing their way into World Cup contention with their performances at the E-1 Football Championship, according to manager Vahid Halilhodzic.

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