Kazuya Maekawa facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kazuya Maekawa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | March 22, 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hirado, Nagasaki, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1985 | Hirado High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1999 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 210 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Oita Trinita | 75 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 285 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1996 | Japan | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kazuya Maekawa (前川 和也, Maekawa Kazuya, born March 22, 1968) is a famous former Japanese football player. He was a talented goalkeeper who played for the Japan national team. His son, Daiya Maekawa, is also a professional football player, following in his father's footsteps!
Contents
Kazuya Maekawa's Football Journey
Starting His Club Career
Kazuya Maekawa started his football journey playing for Hirado High School. After finishing school in 1986, he joined a team called Mazda. This team was part of the Japan Soccer League, which was the top football league in Japan at the time.
Becoming a Professional Player
In 1993, Japan started its first professional football league, called the J1 League. The Mazda team changed its name to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Kazuya Maekawa continued to play for them. He became the main goalkeeper for the club in 1989.
Dealing with Injuries
Even though he was a great player, Kazuya sometimes had injuries. In 1998, he decided to have an operation on his shoulder. While he was recovering, another goalkeeper named Takashi Shimoda took his place. When Kazuya came back, Takashi Shimoda continued to be the main goalkeeper.
Moving to a New Team
In 2000, Kazuya Maekawa moved to a team called Oita Trinita, which played in the J2 League. He played for them for two seasons. After the 2001 season, he decided to retire from playing professional football.
Kazuya Maekawa's National Team Career
Kazuya Maekawa also played for the Japan national team. He played 17 games for his country between 1992 and 1996. His very first game for Japan was on June 7, 1992, in a friendly match against Wales.
Winning the Asian Cup
He was a very important part of the Japan team that won the AFC Asian Cup in 1992. This was a huge achievement for Japanese football! He played in two games during that tournament. This happened after the main goalkeeper, Shigetatsu Matsunaga, received a red card in the semi-final game against China.
Kazuya Maekawa's Coaching Career
After he stopped playing football, Kazuya Maekawa didn't leave the sport. He stayed with Oita Trinita and worked in different roles, like marketing and helping with the team's development, until 2005.
Today, he is a coach at the Sanfrecce Tsuneishi Soccer School. This school is connected to his old club, Sanfrecce Hiroshima. He helps young players learn and improve their football skills.
Kazuya Maekawa's Achievements
International Honors
Japan
- AFC Asian Cup (1): 1992 (champions)
See also
In Spanish: Kazuya Maekawa para niños
