Naoki Yamada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Naoki Yamada
山田 直輝

Personal information
Full name	Naoki Yamada
Date of birth	(1990-07-04) 4 July 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Urawa, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Shonan Bellmare
Number	10
Youth career
	Kitaurawa SSS
2003–2008	Urawa Red Diamonds
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2008–2019	Urawa Red Diamonds	54	(2)
2015–2017	→ Shonan Bellmare (loan)	67	(8)
2019	→ Shonan Bellmare (loan)	9	(1)
2020–	Shonan Bellmare	95	(7)
National team
2005–2007	Japan U17	11	(1)
2009	Japan U20	1	(2)
2011–2012	Japan U23	2	(1)
2009–2010	Japan	2	(0)
Honours Urawa Red Diamonds Runner-up J1 League 2014 Runner-up J.League Cup 2011 Runner-up J.League Cup 2013 Winner Emperor's Cup 2018 Representing  Japan AFC U-16 Championship Gold 2006 Singapore
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:06, 5 November 2022 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Naoki Yamada (山田 直輝, Yamada Naoki), born on July 4, 1990, is a talented Japanese footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for the team Shonan Bellmare.

Early Life and Family

Naoki Yamada's father was also a football player. He played for a team called Mazda SC and was part of Japan's national under-20 team. This means Naoki grew up in a family that loved football!

Youth Football Journey

Naoki started his football journey in the youth system of Urawa Red Diamonds. He played for their youth team from 2003 to 2008. This is where he developed many of his skills.

Professional Club Career

After playing for the youth team, Naoki joined the senior squad of Urawa Red Diamonds in 2008. He stayed with them until 2019. During his time there, his team achieved some great things.

• They finished second in the J.League Cup twice, in 2011 and 2013.
• They also came in second in the J1 League in 2014.
• A big highlight was winning the Emperor's Cup in 2018!

Naoki then moved to Shonan Bellmare. He first played for them on loan from 2015 to 2017. He returned for another loan period in 2019. Finally, in 2020, he officially joined Shonan Bellmare as a permanent player.

Playing for Japan

Naoki has also represented his country, Japan, in several national teams.

Under-17 National Team

In August 2007, Naoki was chosen to play for the Japan national under-17 football team. He competed in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He wore the important number 10 jersey for Japan. He played every minute of all three matches in the tournament.

Senior National Team

Naoki made his debut for the senior national team on May 27, 2009. This was in a friendly game against Chile in Osaka. In that match, he even helped set up a goal for his teammate, Keisuke Honda.

Dealing with Injuries

Like many athletes, Naoki has faced challenges with injuries. These injuries sometimes kept him from playing in important matches.

In January 2010, during a qualifying match for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Naoki had to leave the game early. He suffered a serious leg injury. This meant he couldn't play for about three months.

Later, in March 2012, he got another significant injury. This happened during a match between Urawa Reds and Vegalta Sendai in the 2012 J. League Cup. This injury kept him off the field for about six months. It also meant he missed the chance to play for Japan in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Career Highlights and Awards

Naoki Yamada has achieved several honors throughout his career, both with his clubs and with the national team.

Japan National Team Honors

• AFC U-17 Championship: He was part of the team that won this championship in 2006.
• Kirin Cup: He also won the Kirin Cup with the senior national team in 2009.

Club Team Honors

With Urawa Red Diamonds, he helped his team:

• Win the Emperor's Cup in 2018.
• Finish as runners-up (second place) in the J1 League in 2014.
• Finish as runners-up in the J.League Cup in 2011 and 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Naoki Yamada para niños