Special to The Japan Times

Shimizu S-Pulse manager Steve Perryman, 47, was one of the best-known and most-respected players in England in the '70s and '80s. He played with top London club Tottenham Hotspur for 17 years and made a club record 655 appearances. As a player and as captain, he lead Spurs to glory in two F.A. Cups, two League Cups and two UEFA Cups, as well as making 17 appearances for England's Under-23 team and gaining one full cap. He was voted Player of the Year by the English Football Writers' Association in 1982. Toward the end of his playing career, he played for Oxford and Brentford. He went on to manage Brentford (where he was succeeded by Phil Holder, his assistant at S-Pulse) and Watford before joining Ossie Ardiles as a coach at Spurs (1993-94) and then S-Pulse (1996-present). This is his first full season as Shimizu's manager after taking over from Ardiles at the end of last year.

If last Saturday's Xerox Super Cup is anything to go by, this season will be a competitive one. Even without star midfielder Jorginho, the Antlers showed they are a champion team.