Naoya Kondo facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Naoya Kondo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 3 October 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1995 | Takezono Nishi FC | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Takezono Higashi Junior High School | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Kashiwa Reysol | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2015 | Kashiwa Reysol | 246 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | JEF United Chiba | 110 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Tokyo Verdy | 45 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 401 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Japan U-20 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Japan | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 December 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Naoya Kondo (近藤 直也, Kondo Naoya, born 3 October 1983) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He played as a strong defender for several teams. These teams included Kashiwa Reysol, JEF United Chiba, and Tokyo Verdy. He also played one game for the Japan national football team.
Contents
Naoya Kondo's Football Journey
Starting His Club Career
Naoya Kondo was born in Utsunomiya, Japan, on October 3, 1983. He started his professional football journey in 2002. He joined Kashiwa Reysol, a top club in the J1 League, after playing in their youth team.
In 2003, Kondo began to get chances to play in games. By 2004, he became a regular player. He was a key center back for his team.
Overcoming Challenges and Winning Titles
From 2005, Kondo faced some tough times with injuries. These injuries kept him from playing many matches. However, he worked hard and became a regular player again in the summer of 2009.
At the end of the 2009 season, Kashiwa Reysol was moved down to the J2 League. This is the second division of Japanese football. But the team, with Kondo's help, quickly bounced back. In 2010, he played almost every game. Kashiwa Reysol won the J2 League championship that year. They returned to the J1 League after just one year.
Becoming a Champion Defender
The year 2011 was amazing for Kondo and Kashiwa Reysol. They won the J1 League championship! This was a huge achievement for the club. Kondo's excellent performance earned him a spot in the "Best Eleven" team. This award recognizes the best players in the league.
Kashiwa Reysol continued their success. They won the Emperor's Cup in 2012. They also won the J.League Cup in 2013. Kondo was a big part of these victories. After 2014, he played fewer games for the team.
Moving to New Teams
In 2016, Kondo moved to JEF United Chiba. This team was also in the J2 League. He played as a regular center back for three seasons there. He was a strong presence in their defense.
Later, in 2019, he joined another J2 League club, Tokyo Verdy. He continued to play for them until December 2020. Naoya Kondo officially retired from professional football in December 2020.
Playing for Japan's National Team
Youth National Team Experience
Naoya Kondo also represented his country. He was a member of the Japan national under-20 football team. He played for them in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. This big tournament was held in the United Arab Emirates.
Senior National Team Debut
On February 24, 2012, Kondo made his debut for the senior Japan national football team. He played in a match against Iceland. This was a special moment in his career.
Naoya Kondo's Achievements
Club Trophies
- Kashiwa Reysol
- J1 League (1) : 2011
- J2 League (1) : 2010
- Emperor's Cup (1) : 2012
- Japanese Super Cup (1) : 2012
- J.League Cup (1) : 2013
Individual Awards
- J.League Best XI (1) : 2011
See also
In Spanish: Naoya Kondō para niños
