Homare Sawa facts for kids

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Homare Sawa

Sawa at the 2015 World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Homare Sawa
Date of birth	(1978-09-06) 6 September 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth	Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.65 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1991–1999	NTV Beleza	136	(79)
1999–2000	Denver Diamonds
2001–2003	Atlanta Beat	55	(13)
2004–2008	Nippon TV Beleza	85	(47)
2009–2010	Washington Freedom	41	(6)
2009	→ Nippon TV Beleza (loan)	4	(2)
2010	Nippon TV Beleza	0	(0)
2011–2015	INAC Kobe Leonessa	94	(12)
Total		415	(159)
National team
1993–2015	Japan	205	(83)
Honours Women's football Representing  Japan Olympic Games Silver 2012 London Team FIFA Women's World Cup Winner 2011 Germany Runner-up 2015 Canada AFC Women's Asian Cup Winner 2014 Vietnam Runner-up 1995 Malaysia Runner-up 2001 Chinese Taipei Bronze 1993 Malaysia Bronze 1997 China Bronze 2008 Vietnam Bronze 2010 China Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou Team Silver 1994 Hiroshima Team Silver 2006 Doha Team Bronze 1998 Bangkok Team Bronze 2002 Busan Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Homare Sawa (澤 穂希, Sawa Homare, born 6 September 1978) is a famous Japanese former footballer. She played as a forward or a midfielder. Many people think she is one of the greatest female footballers ever.

Sawa played professional club football for 24 seasons. She spent most of her time with Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa. She also played for the Japan national team for 22 years. She was the captain when Japan won the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011. She also led them to an Olympic silver medal in 2012.

Sawa started her club career in 1991 when she was just 12 years old. She won five titles with Nippon TV Beleza before moving to the United States. There, she played for the Atlanta Beat and the Denver Diamonds. She returned to Japan in 2004 and won nine more titles with Nippon TV Beleza. In 2008, Japan reached their first Olympic medal match, and Sawa was their top scorer.

In 2011, Sawa was the captain of the Japan national team at the World Cup. Japan made it to their first major final. Sawa scored the tying goal in extra time, and Japan won the match on penalties. She won the Golden Ball as the best player and the Golden Boot as the top scorer. Later that year, she was named the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. She was the first Asian person to win such a big individual award. She then led Japan to a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She retired from international football after that.

Sawa came back to play in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. This was her sixth World Cup and her last big international tournament. Japan finished second, and she retired from international football for good. At the end of 2015, she retired from all football after winning the 2015 Empress's Cup with INAC Kobe Leonessa. She won 11 league titles and 8 domestic cup titles in the Japanese League. She was also chosen for the league's Best XI team 11 times.

Homare Sawa holds the record for the most games played and goals scored for Japan. She played 205 games and scored 83 goals.

Homare Sawa's Early Life and Football Start

Homare Sawa was born in Fuchū, Tokyo on September 6, 1978. She started playing football when she was six years old. She joined her older brother's team after his coach invited her to play with the boys.

Homare Sawa's Club Football Journey

Playing for NTV Beleza

In 1991, at just 12 years old, Sawa joined Yomiuri Beleza (later NTV Beleza). She played in the L.League, Japan's top league. She was a forward and scored 79 goals in 136 matches. She was also named to the Best Eleven team five times between 1993 and 1998. In 1999, her contract was canceled, and she moved to the United States.

Playing in the United States

When the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) started in 2001, Sawa played for the Atlanta Beat. This was the highest professional women's league in the U.S. She scored the first goal for the club. She helped the Beat reach the playoffs every year for three seasons. Even though she was smaller than many players, she played very well.

Return to Japan and More Success

After the WUSA ended in 2003, Sawa went back to Japan. She rejoined Nippon TV Beleza. In 2004, she was named the Women's Player of the Year for the Asian Football Confederation. Her team won the L.League championship four years in a row, from 2005 to 2008. Sawa also won the L.League MVP award in 2006 and 2008.

Playing for Washington Freedom

On September 24, 2008, Sawa was chosen by the Washington Freedom in the U.S. professional league. She was a key midfielder for the team in 2009 and 2010.

Back to Japan: Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa

Sawa returned to Japan temporarily in 2009 to play for Nippon TV Beleza on loan. In January 2011, she moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa. This club won the L.League championship three years in a row (2011–2013). On December 16, 2015, she announced she would retire after the 2015 season. In her final tournament, the 2015 Empress's Cup, she scored the winning goal in the final match. This secured the championship for her team.

Homare Sawa's International Career with Japan

Sawa captaining Japan in the 2011 World Cup

On December 6, 1993, at only 15 years old, Sawa played her first international game for Japan. She scored four goals in that match against the Philippines. She played in her first Women's World Cup in 1995, starting a game against Germany when she was 16.

In 2003, Sawa scored a crucial goal against Mexico. This goal helped Japan qualify for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in all of Japan's matches at the 2004 Olympics. This was the first time Japan reached the knockout stage of a major international tournament.

In the 2011 World Cup, Sawa scored three goals in one game against Mexico. She became the oldest player at that time to score a hat trick in a World Cup. Sawa led the Japanese team as captain to win the 2011 World Cup. In the final against the United States, the score was 2–2 after extra time. Sawa scored the tying goal in the 117th minute. Japan then won the penalty shootout 3–1. Sawa received the Golden Boot for being the top scorer with five goals. She also won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

On January 9, 2012, Sawa was named the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. She was the first Asian person to win this major award. Later that year, Aya Miyama became the new captain of the Japan team.

Yuki Ogimi (17) scores for Japan against the United States off a pass from Homare Sawa (10) as Kelley O'Hara (5) defends and Hope Solo (1) attempts to save.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Japan played the United States in the gold medal match. Japan lost 2–1. Sawa announced her retirement from international football in August 2012.

Sawa returned to play for Japan in 2014 at the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup. This tournament helped teams qualify for the 2015 World Cup. Sawa scored Japan's first goal in the semifinal against China, helping Japan win 2–1. Japan then won the final 1–0 against Australia, winning their first Asian Cup title.

After injuries, Sawa was called back to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup team. This was a surprise to some. She scored a winning goal in a friendly match against New Zealand. On June 8, she played her 200th game for Japan against Switzerland. Sawa and Brazil's Formiga became the first players to appear in six World Cups. Japan reached the final again, but lost 5–2 to the U.S. This was Sawa's last game for Japan.

On December 16, 2015, Sawa announced her full retirement from football. Many people in Japanese football, including coaches and teammates, shared tributes to her amazing career.

Homare Sawa's Career Achievements

Homare Sawa won many awards and championships throughout her career.

With her Clubs:

• Nadeshiko League (8 times): 1991, 1992, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 (with Yomiuri/Nippon TV Beleza)
• Nadeshiko League (3 times): 2011, 2012, 2013 (with INAC Kobe Leonessa)
• Empress's Cup (7 times): 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 (with Yomiuri/Nippon TV Beleza)
• Empress's Cup (1 time): 2011 (with INAC Kobe Leonessa)
• International Women's Club Championship: 2013 (with INAC Kobe Leonessa)

With Japan National Team:

• FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011 (Gold Medal)
• Olympic Games: 2012 (Silver Medal)
• AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014 (Gold Medal)
• Asian Games: 2010 (Gold Medal)

Individual Awards:

• FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball (Best Player): 2011
• FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Shoe (Top Scorer): 2011
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2011
• AFC Women's Player of the Year: 2004, 2008
• Nadeshiko League MVP: 2006, 2008
• Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014

Homare Sawa's Personal Life

Sawa married Hiroaki Tsujikami, a former football player, on August 11, 2015. On January 10, 2017, they welcomed a baby girl.

In 2013, Sawa became an ambassador for Japan's bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. In 2021, she had to withdraw from the Olympic torch relay due to a long-term inner-ear condition. She also works as a TV host and commentator for TV Tokyo and is an ambassador for the Japan Football Association.

See also

In Spanish: Homare Sawa para niños

• List of FIFA Women's World Cup winning players
• List of women's footballers with 100 or more caps
• List of players who have appeared in multiple FIFA Women's World Cups