Toru Irie

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Toru Irie (born July 8, 1977) is a Japanese former footballer and the manager of Albirex Niigata. He was born in Shizuoka and played as a defender. After high school, he joined Kashiwa Reysol in 1996 and made 33 league appearances there until 2001. He moved to Vissel Kobe in 2002, playing five league games. In 2003 he joined Gamba Osaka, where he played 40 league matches before retiring in 2007. He won the J.League Cup with Kashiwa Reysol in 1999 and the J1 League with Gamba Osaka in 2005; he also helped Gamba reach the J.League Cup final in 2007 and the Emperor’s Cup final in 2006.

After retiring, Irie joined Albirex Niigata’s coaching staff in 2008, working with various age groups and the women’s team for 17 years. In 2022 he was named head coach of Niigata, and in June 2025 he became the club’s manager after the previous coach was dismissed.