Eiji Kawashima facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eiji Kawashima
川島 永嗣

Kawashima with Japan at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth	(1983-03-20) 20 March 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Yono, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.85 m
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Júbilo Iwata
Number	1
Youth career
1995–1997	Yononishi Junior High School
1998–2000	Urawa Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2003	Omiya Ardija	45	(0)
2004–2006	Nagoya Grampus Eight	17	(0)
2007–2010	Kawasaki Frontale	114	(0)
2010–2012	Lierse	53	(0)
2012–2015	Standard Liège	68	(0)
2015–2016	Dundee United	16	(0)
2016–2018	Metz	34	(0)
2018–2023	Strasbourg	26	(0)
2024–	Júbilo Iwata	9	(0)
National team
2002–2003	Japan U20	13	(0)
2008–2022	Japan	95	(0)
Honours Representing  Japan AFC Asian Cup Winner 2011 Qatar
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 November 2022. † Appearances (Goals).

Eiji Kawashima (川島 永嗣, born 20 March 1983) is a Japanese professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for J1 League club Júbilo Iwata.

Kawashima played for several clubs in Japan, including Omiya Ardija and Kawasaki Frontale. In 2010, he moved to Europe. He played for teams in Belgium, Scotland, and France. These clubs included Lierse, Standard Liège, Dundee United, Metz, and Strasbourg. In 2024, he returned to Japan to play for Júbilo Iwata.

He also played for the Japan national team. He represented his country in four FIFA World Cups: 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He played over 90 games for Japan before retiring from international football.

Early Life and Start in Football

Eiji Kawashima was born in Yono, Saitama, Japan. When he was young, he looked up to famous goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea. He attended Yononishi Junior High School and Urawa Higashi High School. Eiji has an older brother and an older sister.

Club Career Highlights

Early Career in Japan

Kawashima began his professional journey with Omiya Ardija in the J2 League. He made his first appearance for them in 2002. Over three years, he played 41 games for the team. During this time, he even had a trial with Serie A club Parma in Italy.

Time at Nagoya Grampus Eight

In 2004, Kawashima joined Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan's top league, the J1 League. He made his debut in a J. League Cup match. He helped his team reach the knockout stage of the cup that year. He played more games in 2004, but in 2005 and 2006, he was mostly a backup goalkeeper.

Success with Kawasaki Frontale

Kawashima moved to Kawasaki Frontale in 2007 for a large transfer fee. He quickly became the team's main goalkeeper. He helped Kawasaki Frontale reach the 2007 AFC Champions League quarter-finals. They also made it to the J.League Cup final.

In 2008 and 2009, he continued as the first-choice goalkeeper. He was even named the team's vice-captain. He helped the club finish as runners-up in the league twice. In 2009, he was chosen for the J. League Best Eleven, which means he was one of the best players in the league. He also won a Fair-Play award. He left Kawasaki Frontale in May 2010.

Moving to Europe: Lierse (Belgium)

After playing in the 2010 World Cup, Kawashima moved to Europe. He joined Lierse S.K. in Belgium in 2010. He wanted to play in a more competitive environment. He quickly became Lierse's main goalkeeper. Even though the team struggled at first, he impressed everyone with his saves.

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Kawashima was named Lierse's Player of the Season. He continued to be the first-choice goalkeeper and even became team captain in the 2011–12 season. He won the Player of the Season award again.

A Difficult Moment with Fans

In August 2011, during a game, some fans chanted insults at Kawashima. They mentioned a natural disaster that had happened in Japan. Kawashima was very upset by this. The referee stopped the game for a few minutes.

After the game, the club whose fans had chanted apologized. The football association fined the club. Kawashima later said that he accepted the apology. He believed that fans should create a good atmosphere but there are limits to what they can say.

Standard Liège (Belgium)

In 2012, Kawashima joined Standard Liège, another Belgian club. He quickly became their main goalkeeper. He helped the team compete for the league title in the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons. He also played in the UEFA Europa League. For his great performances, he was nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year twice.

In the 2014–15 season, he faced some criticism and lost his starting spot. He left the club when his contract ended in 2015.

Dundee United (Scotland)

In December 2015, Kawashima moved to Scotland to play for Dundee United. The manager called him a "fantastic signing." He made his debut in January 2016. However, the team struggled and was relegated from the Scottish Premiership. He left the club after making 16 appearances.

Metz (France)

Kawashima signed with Ligue 1 club Metz in France in August 2016. He was a backup goalkeeper for most of his first season. He made his league debut in April 2017. Towards the end of the season, he showed impressive saves, including stopping a penalty kick.

In the 2017–18 season, he became the team's number one goalkeeper. His strong performances helped Metz fight against relegation. He even won the FC Metz Player of the Month award twice. He left Metz when his contract expired in 2018.

Strasbourg (France)

In August 2018, Kawashima joined Strasbourg in France. For his first two seasons, he was mostly a third-choice goalkeeper. He played for the club's reserve team. He made only one appearance for the main team in the 2018–19 season.

In the 2020–21 season, he became the first-choice goalkeeper for a period due to injuries to other players. He helped Strasbourg keep several clean sheets. He signed a new contract to stay until 2023. For his last two seasons, he was mainly a backup goalkeeper. He left Strasbourg in 2023.

Return to Japan: Júbilo Iwata

After playing in Europe for ten years, Kawashima returned to Japan in January 2024. He signed with Júbilo Iwata, a newly promoted team in the J1 League. He made his debut as one of the oldest players to play in the J1 League. He quickly became Júbilo Iwata's main goalkeeper.

International Career for Japan

Kawashima saving a penalty from Frank Lampard in a friendly match between Japan and England in Graz, Austria on 30 May 2010.

Kawashima played for the Japan U20 team. He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2002 AFC Youth Championship.

He was first called up to the senior team in 2007. He made his debut in February 2008 against North Korea. By the end of 2009, he had kept four clean sheets for his country.

Kawashima playing in goal in a friendly match between Japan and England in Graz (Austria) on 30 May 2010.

In May 2010, Kawashima was chosen for Japan's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He became the first-choice goalkeeper for the tournament. He helped Japan win their first World Cup match on foreign soil against Cameroon. Japan reached the Round of 16, where they lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout.

In December 2010, he was selected for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He played a key role in Japan winning the tournament. In the semi-final against South Korea, he saved two penalty kicks to help Japan advance. He kept a clean sheet in the final, and Japan won 1–0. He was named Man of the Match in the final.

Kawashima continued to play for Japan, keeping many clean sheets in various matches. In May 2013, he played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Kawashima conceding a goal against Brazil at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

He was part of Japan's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He started all three matches, but Japan was eliminated in the group stage. He captained Japan for the first time in October 2014.

In December 2014, Kawashima was in Japan's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He kept three clean sheets in the group stage. Japan was eliminated in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

Kawashima about to take a goal kick during the match against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

In May 2018, Kawashima was named in Japan's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He was the first-choice goalkeeper and helped Japan win their first group stage match against Colombia. Despite some criticism, he captained Japan in a match against Poland. Japan reached the knockout stage, but lost to Belgium in a close game. Kawashima was praised for having one of the highest numbers of saves in the World Cup.

He was also called up for the 2019 Copa América. He played against Uruguay and Ecuador. In November 2022, he was included in Japan's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This made him one of only a few Japanese players to appear in four World Cups. He was a backup goalkeeper in the tournament. After the World Cup, Kawashima announced his retirement from the Japan national team in December 2022.

Style of Play

Kawashima is known for his quick movements and skillful handling of the ball. He is also a strong leader who guides his defense. His former club CEO described him as a very professional and disciplined athlete. He is known for communicating well with his teammates.

Kawashima learned to adapt his playing style while in Europe. He found that the training and game pace were different from Japan.

Personal Life

Eiji Kawashima at a presentation for a product launch in 2011.

Kawashima is involved in helping others. He helped create a program to improve foreign language skills for Japanese athletes. He also helps children with disabilities. Early in his career, he even volunteered as a police chief to help with crime prevention.

He is very good with languages. Besides Japanese, he speaks English, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. He believes it's important for a goalkeeper to be able to communicate with his team.

In 2014, Kawashima announced he was married to a woman who is half-Japanese and half-Colombian. They have a son named Kensei and two daughters.

Kawashima is also interested in fashion and has had sponsorships with fashion brands. He is very popular in Japan. In 2018, he published his first book about controlling pressure. He tested positive for COVID-19 twice during his time in France.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Strasbourg

• Coupe de la Ligue: 2018-19

Japan

• AFC Asian Cup: 2011

Individual

• J.League Best Eleven: 2009
• J.League Individual Fair-Play Award: 2009

See also

In Spanish: Eiji Kawashima para niños