Kengo Nakamura facts for kids
Nakamura with Kawasaki Frontale in 2016
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| Date of birth | 31 October 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Kurume High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Chuo University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2020 | Kawasaki Frontale | 546 | (83) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2013 | Japan | 68 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kengo Nakamura (中村 憲剛, Nakamura Kengo, born 31 October 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder. Kengo Nakamura spent his entire career with one club, Kawasaki Frontale. He joined them in 2003.
He helped the team get promoted to the top league, the J1 League, in 2004. Frontale then finished second in the J1 League several times. In 2012, Nakamura became the club captain. He was also the top player for assists that season.
In 2016, at 36, Nakamura won the J League MVP award. He also became the Japanese Footballer of the Year. He was the oldest player to win these awards. The next year, his team, Kawasaki Frontale, won the J1 League for the first time ever. He won two more J1 League titles in 2018 and 2020. He also won the Japanese Super Cup and J.League Cup in 2019. Nakamura retired at the end of the 2020 season. He played for 17 years and made over 500 appearances for the club.
Nakamura also played for the Japan national team. He first joined in 2006. He played in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In total, he played 68 games for Japan and scored 6 goals.
Contents
Kengo Nakamura's Football Journey
Early Years and College Football
Kengo Nakamura was born in Kodaira, Tokyo. He started playing football when he was in first grade. He joined the Fuchu Boys' Soccer Club. As a young player, he played in many tournaments. He was even named one of the ten best players in a Tokyo tournament.
After high school, Nakamura went to Chuo University. He studied English and American literature. He also played for the university football team. In his third year, he became a regular player. His team struggled and was moved to a lower division. This experience taught him about "mental strength." The next year, he became captain. He led his team to win their division and get promoted back. Nakamura finished university in 2002.
Playing for Kawasaki Frontale (2003–2020)
Starting His Professional Career
Nakamura's leadership in college caught the eye of J League scouts. He was invited to try out for Kawasaki Frontale. They were in the Second Division. He did well and signed a professional contract in 2003.
He played his first game in March 2003. He scored his first goal in April. In his first season, he played 34 league games and scored four goals. He also scored two goals in the Emperor's Cup.
Becoming a Playmaker and Promotion
In 2004, his coach changed Nakamura's role. He moved from a "box-to-box" midfielder to a "playmaker." A playmaker is a player who helps create scoring chances for the team. Nakamura said this change was a big moment in his career. He played 41 games and scored 5 goals. Frontale won the league and moved up to the top division in 2004.
In 2005, his first season in the top league, Nakamura played 29 games and scored 2 goals. Frontale finished 8th, avoiding relegation. He also scored a winning goal in the Emperor's Cup against Yokohama F. Marinos. This helped Frontale reach the quarter-finals.
Chasing the Title (2006–2009)
The 2006 season was a big year for Nakamura and Frontale. Nakamura scored 10 goals from midfield. Frontale became a strong team, aiming for their first J1 League trophy. They finished second, just behind Urawa Red Diamonds. Nakamura was named in the J League Best XI (best team of the season). This was the first time a Frontale player received this honor.
In 2007, Frontale finished fifth in the league. However, they reached the final of the Nabisco Cup, but lost to Gamba Osaka.
Frontale bounced back in 2008. Nakamura was key as a playmaker. He made 11 assists and scored four goals. They battled Kashima Antlers for the title but finished second again. In 2009, Frontale was still a top team. They again narrowly lost the title to Kashima Antlers. Nakamura had his best season for assists, with 11. He also scored 4 goals. The team reached the 2009 Nabisco Cup final, but lost to F.C. Tokyo.
Injuries and Playing for Japan
By 2009, Nakamura was very popular at Frontale. He was seen as one of the best players in the J1 League. Some clubs from other countries wanted him to play for them. However, Nakamura decided to stay with Frontale. He felt loyal to the club that gave him his start.
In 2010, Nakamura got injured during a game. He broke his jaw. This made people wonder if he could play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. But he recovered quickly and was chosen for Japan's team. He played one game as a substitute. Japan reached the round of 16 in the World Cup.
Becoming Club Captain (2012–2017)
In 2012, Nakamura became the captain of Frontale. He had a great season, scoring five goals and leading the league with 13 assists. The next season, he formed a strong attacking team with new players. Nakamura scored 7 goals and made 8 assists. Frontale returned to the AFC Champions League.
In 2014, Nakamura had ankle surgery. He missed the end of the season. Before his injury, he led the league in assists with 14. He continued to play well after returning in 2015, making 8 more assists.
The 2016 season was one of Nakamura's best. He made ten assists and scored nine goals. As captain, he led Frontale to finish second in the J1. They also reached the final of the 2016 Emperor's Cup. Nakamura was named J League MVP and Japanese Footballer of the Year. He was 36, making him the oldest player to win these awards.
Winning Titles and Retirement (2017–2020)
At the start of the 2017 season, Nakamura passed the captain's armband to Yu Kobayashi. But Nakamura remained a key player. He scored 6 goals and made 12 assists that season.
Finally, in 2017, after many years of trying, Frontale won the J1 League title! They beat their rivals, Kashima Antlers, on the last day. Frontale won again in 2018, becoming back-to-back champions. Nakamura scored six goals and made six assists.
In 2019, Nakamura had two injuries. However, he was there for the Japanese Super Cup and J.League Cup finals. He scored a penalty in the J.League Cup final. Frontale won both cups that year.
After winning the J.League Cup, Nakamura had knee surgery. He needed seven months to recover. He returned to play on August 29, 2020. He scored a goal in a 5–0 win. On his 40th birthday, October 31, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. The next day, Nakamura announced he would retire at the end of the season. He won one more J1 League trophy with Frontale. His retirement ceremony was held on December 21, 2020. He still works with Frontale as a club relations organizer. He also helps with coaching sometimes.
Coaching Career
In April 2024, Kengo Nakamura joined Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC. He was a visiting coach there until May 5, 2024. He was also working to get his highest coaching license in Japan.
How Kengo Nakamura Played
Nakamura started his career as a "central box-to-box midfielder." This means he played in the middle of the field and helped both attack and defense. Later, his coach changed him to a "playmaker."
He was known for being a very good passer. He often led the J League in assists. He was also good at scoring goals and dribbling the ball. Even though he was not very big, he was strong and determined. People also praised his skills with "set-pieces," like free kicks and penalties.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | AFC | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Kawasaki Frontale | 2003 | J2 League | 34 | 4 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | 37 | 6 | |||
| 2004 | 41 | 5 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 44 | 5 | |||||
| 2005 | J1 League | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | – | – | 38 | 5 | |||
| 2006 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 3 | – | – | 46 | 14 | ||||
| 2007 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | – | 44 | 7 | |||
| 2008 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 4 | ||||
| 2009 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | – | 45 | 7 | |||
| 2010 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 34 | 5 | |||
| 2011 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 4 | ||||
| 2012 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 37 | 5 | ||||
| 2013 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 36 | 9 | ||||
| 2014 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | – | 40 | 5 | |||
| 2015 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 42 | 2 | ||||
| 2016 | 31 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2017 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 1 | – | 47 | 7 | |||
| 2018 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 6 | ||
| 2019 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 2 | ||||
| Career total | 546 | 83 | 35 | 4 | 53 | 8 | 41 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 678 | 104 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2006 | 3 | 1 |
| 2007 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 68 | 6 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 October 2006 | Bangalore, India |  India |
3–0 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification | |
| 2 | 14 June 2008 | Bangkok, Thailand |  Thailand |
3–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 3 | 6 September 2008 | Riffa, Bahrain |  Bahrain |
3–2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 4 | 31 May 2009 | Tokyo, Japan |  Belgium |
4–0 | Friendly | |
| 5 | 9 September 2009 | Utrecht, Netherlands |  Ghana |
4–3 | Friendly | |
| 6 | 11 October 2011 | Osaka, Japan |  Tajikistan |
8–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Awards and Achievements
Kawasaki Frontale
- J1 League: 2017, 2018, 2020
- Emperor's Cup: 2020
- J.League Cup: 2019
- Japanese Super Cup: 2019
- J2 League: 2004
Individual
- Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2016
- J.League MVP Award: 2016
- J.League Best XI: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018
- J.League 30th Anniversary Team
See also
In Spanish: Kengo Nakamura para niños
