Keisuke Honda wants tough new Japan coach

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan midfielder Keisuke Honda wants the country's next coach to be a tough risk-taker unafraid of upsetting his employers.

"The Japan Football Association (JFA) probably want someone who will do as they say but that won't make Japan stronger," the CSKA Moscow player told Japan's Sports Nippon on Friday.

"Unless the JFA brings in a coach who makes them feel they want to sack him because he won't listen to them we'll never see Japan's real potential."

Japan surpassed expectations by reaching the last 16 of this year's World Cup under Takeshi Okada but the JFA have yet to name a replacement coach.

"We need a coach who will come in and revolutionize the mentality of the Japanese team," said the blond-haired Honda, one of Japan's best players at the World Cup in South Africa.

"A coach who will give us ideas that previous Japanese coaches have failed to," added the straight-talking 24-year-old.

Japan also reached the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup as co-hosts under Frenchman Philippe Troussier, who had a turbulent relationship with the JFA.

Troussier had frequent training ground bust-ups with his players too but Japan enjoyed their most successful period under his four years in charge.

"There must be a coach out there who will show us that the world is bigger than we think," said Honda, who scored twice in four games for Japan in South Africa.

"We need someone to take us to the next level."

The JFA are set to appoint Okada's successor in August with former Argentina coaches Marcelo Bielsa and Jose Pekerman reportedly heading the country's wish-list.

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