Kosuke Kimura facts for kids
Kimura playing with the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 May 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Kobe, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2002 | Kawasaki Frontale | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Western Illinois Leathernecks | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004 | Thunder Bay Chill | 13 | (0) |
| 2007–2012 | Colorado Rapids | 117 | (4) |
| 2012 | Portland Timbers | 17 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | New York Red Bulls | 37 | (0) |
| 2015 | Widzew Łódź | 12 | (0) |
| 2015 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 19 | (0) |
| 2016 | Rayo OKC | 33 | (0) |
| 2017 | Tulsa Roughnecks | 24 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Nashville SC | 47 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022–2024 | Nashville SC (assistant) | ||
| 2025– | Lexington SC (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kosuke Kimura (木村光佑, Kimura Kōsuke) (born May 14, 1984) is a former professional footballer from Japan. He is now a football coach. He works as an assistant coach for Lexington SC in the USL Super League. Kosuke played for many years in Major League Soccer (MLS). He was the first player born in Japan to play in MLS. He also played football in Poland.
Contents
Kosuke Kimura's Football Journey
Kosuke Kimura started his football career in Japan. He later moved to the United States. There, he played college football before becoming a professional. He is known for his time in Major League Soccer.
Early Days and College Football
Kosuke began playing football with the youth team of Kawasaki Frontale in Japan. By the time he was 15, he played for their reserve team. A foot injury at age 17 stopped him from signing a professional contract with the club.
However, Kosuke did not give up. He moved to the United States. He earned a scholarship to play college soccer at Western Illinois University. He studied English and did very well on his math test. He played for the Leathernecks from 2003 to 2006. During this time, he also played for the Thunder Bay Chill in a league called the USL Premier Development League.
Becoming a Professional Player
In 2007, the Colorado Rapids picked Kosuke Kimura in a special draft. This made him the first player born in Japan to play in Major League Soccer (MLS). In his first two seasons, he played in a few games. He played four games in his first year and 18 games in his second year.
Kosuke scored his first goal on May 2, 2009, against Real Salt Lake. In the 2010 playoffs, he scored a very important goal against San Jose. This goal helped the Colorado Rapids reach the MLS Cup 2010. He played the entire game, including extra time, to help his team win the MLS Cup. They beat FC Dallas 2–1 in Toronto. While playing for Colorado, Kosuke played in 117 league games and scored 4 goals.
Moving to Other Teams
In July 2012, Kosuke was traded to the Portland Timbers. Five months later, he moved to the New York Red Bulls. He made his first appearance for New York on March 3, 2013. It was a 3–3 tie against his old team, the Portland Timbers.
After the 2014 season, the New York Red Bulls decided not to keep him. In February 2015, Kosuke signed with a Polish team called Widzew Łódź. Later that year, in July 2015, he joined the Atlanta Silverbacks in the North American Soccer League. In January 2016, he signed with a new team, Rayo OKC. On December 7, 2017, Nashville SC announced that Kosuke Kimura was joining their team.
Coaching Career
Kosuke Kimura started coaching for Nashville SC. He worked there until October 2024. In July 2025, Kosuke joined Masaki Hemmi's coaching staff. He is now an assistant coach for Lexington SC in the USL Super League.
Personal Life
Kosuke Kimura has a U.S. green card. This means he is considered a local player for MLS teams.
Achievements
Colorado Rapids
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship: 2010
- MLS Cup: 2010
New York Red Bulls
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 2013
See also
In Spanish: Kōsuke Kimura para niños
