Yuji Nakazawa facts for kids
Nakazawa with Japan in 2008
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 25 February 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1992 | Yoshikawa Higashi Junior High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Misato Kogyo High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | América Mineiro | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Tokyo Verdy | 83 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2018 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 510 | (31) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 593 | (36) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Japan U-23 | 12 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2010 | Japan | 110 | (17) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Yuji Nakazawa (born 25 February 1978) is a famous Japanese former footballer. He played as a strong centre back for teams like Tokyo Verdy and Yokohama F. Marinos. He was also the captain of the Japan national team. People called him "Bomber" because of his unique hairstyle.
Nakazawa is one of only seven Japanese players to play 100 games for his country. He also has the third highest number of appearances in the J.League, playing 593 matches. He played an amazing 178 games in a row for Yokohama F. Marinos from 2013 to 2018.
Club Career Highlights
Starting in Youth Football
Yuji Nakazawa began his football journey in Japan. He played for his junior high and high school teams. However, no professional scouts noticed him at first. He was determined to become a pro player. So, he decided to go to Brazil to improve his skills.
Training in Brazil
In Brazil, Nakazawa trained with a team called América Mineiro. He even helped their junior team win a championship called the Campeonato Mineiro. This experience helped him become a much better player.
Playing for Tokyo Verdy
After a year in Brazil, Nakazawa returned to Japan. In 1998, he joined Verdy Kawasaki (which later became Tokyo Verdy) as a trainee. This meant he didn't get paid at first. But he played so well that the club offered him a full professional contract the next year.
First Professional Games
His first game in the J1 League was on 13 March 1999. He scored his first goal on 10 April 1999. In that same year, he won the J.League Young Player of the Year award. He was also chosen for the J.League Team of the Year, which is a big honor!
Joining Yokohama F. Marinos
In 2002, Nakazawa moved to Yokohama F. Marinos. He helped his new team win two J1 League championships in a row, in 2003 and 2004. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league in 2004.
Playing Streak and Retirement
From 2007, Nakazawa played more than 30 games every season, except for 2010. He also played every minute of 178 games in a row from July 2013 to August 2018. This is a record in the J.League for players who are not goalkeepers.
On 8 January 2019, Yokohama F. Marinos announced that Nakazawa was retiring from football. He was 40 years old when he stopped playing professionally.
International Career with Japan
Early International Games
Yuji Nakazawa was called up to the Japan national team by coach Philippe Troussier. He played in games to qualify for the Olympics and also in the Olympic finals in Sydney. His first game for the senior national team was on 8 September 1999 against Iran. He scored his first goal for Japan on 13 February 2000 against Singapore.
Asian Cup Success
Nakazawa was part of the Japan team that won the 2000 AFC Asian Cup in Lebanon. He played three games in that competition. However, he was not chosen for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Under the new coach Zico, Nakazawa became a key defender. He played in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup finals. He played in all of Japan's matches and scored three goals. One of his goals was a late goal in the semi-final against Bahrain, which helped Japan win the title again!
World Cup Appearances
Nakazawa also played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. However, Japan's team did not make it past the first round. After this tournament, he said he was retiring from international football at age 28. But six months later, he changed his mind and returned to play for Japan.
He played in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals, but Japan finished in 4th place.
Reaching 100 Caps
On 14 February 2010, Nakazawa played his 100th game for the Japan national team. This happened in a match against South Korea. He became only the third Japanese player to reach 100 games for his country.
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Nakazawa played in all four of Japan's games. Japan reached the round of 16 but lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout.
Achievements and Awards
Yokohama F. Marinos
- J1 League: 2003, 2004
- Emperor's Cup: 2013
Japan National Team
- AFC Asian Cup: 2000, 2004
Individual Awards
- AFC Asian Cup Best Eleven: 2004
- J.League Most Valuable Player: 2004
- J.League Rookie of the Year: 1999
- J.League Best Eleven: 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013
- Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2004
- East Asian Football Championship Best Defender: 2008
See also
Yuji Nakazawa (中澤 佑二, Nakazawa Yūji, born 25 February 1978) 
In Spanish: Yūji Nakazawa para niños
- List of footballers with 100 or more caps
