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Kengo Nakamura
中村憲剛

Nakamura with Kawasaki Frontale in 2016

Personal information

Date of birth

31 October 1980 (age 44)

Place of birth

Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan

Height

1.75 m

Playing position

Midfielder

Youth career

1996–1998

Kurume High School

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2003–2020

Kawasaki Frontale

546

(83)

National team

2006–2013

Japan

(6)

Honours


Kawasaki Frontale
Winner	J1 League	2017
Winner	J1 League	2018
Winner	J1 League	2020
Runner-up	J1 League	2006
Runner-up	J1 League	2008
Runner-up	J1 League	2009
Runner-up	J.League Cup	2007
Runner-up	J.League Cup	2009
Runner-up	J.League Cup	2017
Runner-up	Emperor's Cup	2016
Winner	J.League Cup	2019
Winner	Japanese Super Cup	2019

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

Kengo Nakamura (中村憲剛, Nakamura Kengo, born 31 October 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder and was known for his amazing passing and leadership. Nakamura spent his entire professional career, 17 years, playing for Kawasaki Frontale. He is known as a "one-club man" because he only played for one team.

Nakamura joined Kawasaki Frontale in 2003 when they were in the second division. He helped them get promoted to the top league in 2004. He became a key player for Frontale, helping them finish second in the J1 League multiple times.

In 2012, he became the club captain and led the league in assists. In 2016, at age 36, Nakamura was named the J League MVP and Japanese Footballer of the Year. He was the oldest player to win these awards. The next year, he helped Kawasaki Frontale win their first-ever J1 League title. He won two more J1 League titles in 2018 and 2020. He also won the Japanese Super and J League Cups in 2019. Nakamura retired at the end of the 2020 season after playing over 500 games for the club.

Nakamura also played for the Japan national team from 2006 to 2013. He played in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played 68 games for Japan and scored 6 goals.

Kengo Nakamura's Football Journey
Career Statistics
- Club
- International
Honours
See also

Kengo Nakamura's Football Journey

Early Days and College

Nakamura was born in Kodaira, Tokyo. He started playing football in first grade, joining a club in Fuchu. As a young player, he took part in many tournaments. In one tournament, he was even named one of the ten best players.

After high school, Nakamura went to Chuo University. He studied English and American literature while playing for the university football team. In his third year, he became a regular player. His team struggled, but this experience taught him the importance of "mental strength." The next year, he became the team captain. He led his team to win the second division, helping them get promoted back to the top league. Nakamura finished university in 2002.

Becoming a Star at Kawasaki Frontale (2003–2020)

First Steps and Promotion (2003–2005)

Nakamura's leadership at university caught the eye of J League scouts. He was invited to try out for Kawasaki Frontale, a team in the second division. He impressed them and signed a professional contract in 2003.

He played his first game in March 2003. He scored his first professional goal in April. In his first season, Nakamura played 34 league games and scored four goals.

In 2004, his coach started playing him as a "playmaker." This meant he would control the game from the midfield and create chances for his teammates. 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, the J1 League. In 2005, his first season in the J1 League, Nakamura played 29 games and scored 2 goals. Frontale finished 8th, staying safely in the top league.

Challenging for Titles (2006–2009)

The 2006 season was a big year for Nakamura and Frontale. Nakamura scored 10 goals from midfield and helped Frontale become a serious challenger for the J1 League title. They finished second, but it was a great season. Nakamura was named in the J League Best XI (a team of the best players), which was a first for a Frontale player.

In 2007, Frontale reached the Nabisco Cup final but lost. In 2008, they challenged for the J1 League title again. Nakamura was key, giving 11 assists and scoring four goals. They finished second by just three points. In 2009, Frontale again came very close to winning the J1 League, finishing second by only two points. Nakamura had his best season for assists, with 11. He also helped the team reach the 2009 Nabisco Cup final.

International Recognition and Captaincy (2010–2017)

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 to sign him, but Nakamura decided to stay with Frontale. He felt loyal to the club that gave him his chance.

In 2010, Nakamura got injured, which put his spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup team in doubt. However, he recovered quickly and was named in Japan's squad. He played one game as Japan reached the round of 16.

At the start of the 2012 season, Nakamura became the captain of Frontale. He had a great season, scoring five goals and leading the league with 13 assists. In 2013, he helped Frontale return to the AFC Champions League.

The 2014 and 2015 seasons were tougher due to an ankle injury. But before his injury in 2014, Nakamura still led the league with 14 assists. He continued to play well after his return in 2015.

The 2016 season was one of Nakamura's best. He scored nine goals and provided ten assists. He captained Frontale to a second-place finish in the J1 League and the final of the 2016 Emperor's Cup. For his amazing efforts, Nakamura was named both J League MVP and Japanese Footballer of the Year. At 36, he was the oldest player to win these awards.

Winning Titles and Retirement (2017–2020)

In 2017, Nakamura gave up the captain's armband, but he remained a very important player. He scored 6 goals and made 12 assists. His hard work finally paid off at the end of the 2017 season. After 11 years of trying, Frontale won the J1 League for the first time in their history! They beat their rivals, Kashima Antlers, on the last day of the season.

Frontale won the league again in 2018, becoming back-to-back champions. Nakamura continued to play a big role, scoring six goals and making six assists. In 2019, he had some injuries, but he was there for the Japanese Super Cup and J League Cup finals. Frontale won both, completing a "domestic double."

After winning the J League Cup, Nakamura needed knee surgery. He recovered and made his return on August 29, 2020, scoring a goal in a big 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 from professional football at the end of the season. He won one more J1 League trophy with Frontale before his retirement ceremony on December 21, 2020. Nakamura still works with Frontale as a club relations organizer and sometimes helps with coaching.

Coaching Career

In April 2024, while working on his highest coaching license in Japan, Nakamura joined Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC as a visiting coach for a short time.

Style of Play

Kengo Nakamura started his career as a "box-to-box midfielder." This means he would run all over the field, helping both in defense and attack. Later, his coach changed him to a "playmaker." As a playmaker, he was known for his excellent passing. He often led the J League in assists, which means he helped his teammates score many goals.

Nakamura was also good at scoring goals himself and was a skilled dribbler. Even though he wasn't very tall, he was determined and strong. People also praised his ability to take set-pieces, like free kicks and penalties.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		AFC		Other		Total
Club	Season	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	J2 League	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

Appearances and goals by national team and year
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.

List of international goals scored by Kengo Nakamura
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	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