Tsutomu Takahata

Tsutomu Takahata (高畠 勉) is a Japanese football manager and former professional player.

Playing career
Takahata was born in Takatsuki on June 16, 1968. After graduating from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, he joined Fujitsu in 1991. He retired in 1995.

Coaching career
After retirement, in 1996, Takahata became a coach at Fujitsu (later Kawasaki Frontale). In April 2008, manager Takashi Sekizuka resigned for health reasons, Takahata managed the club. In 2009, Sekizuka came back to a manager, Takahata returned to a coach. In 2010, Takahata became a manager again as Sekizuka successor. He left the club end of 2013 season and he became a manager for J.League U-22 Selection.

In January 2016, Takahata first came to China as the head coach of Hebei China Fortune's youth system. He was the head coach of Hainan Star from 2021 to June 2023, where he led them to promotion to China League Two in his first season at the club. On 18 June 2023, he was appointed as the new head coach of Chinese Super League's defending champions Wuhan Three Towns. On 5 January 2024, he stepped down as head coach of Wuhan Three Towns.