Yukari Kinga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yukari Kinga
近賀 ゆかり

Kinga playing for Japan in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Yukari Kinga
Date of birth	(1984-05-02) 2 May 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth	Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.61 m (5 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina
Number	10
Youth career
2000–2002	Shonan Gakuin High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2010	Nippon TV Beleza	146	(30)
2011–2013	INAC Kobe Leonessa	42	(3)
2014	Arsenal	12	(0)
2015–2016	INAC Kobe Leonessa	36	(3)
2016–2017	Canberra United	13	(3)
2017–2019	Melbourne City	31	(6)
2019	Orca Kamogawa	18	(2)
2019–2020	Melbourne City	9	(1)
2020	Orca Kamogawa	0	(0)
2021-	Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina	0	(0)
Total		274	(44)
National team
2002	Japan U-20	4	(0)
2005–2016	Japan	100	(5)
Honours Nippon TV Beleza Winner Nadeshiko League 2005 Winner Nadeshiko League 2006 Winner Nadeshiko League 2007 Winner Nadeshiko League 2008 Winner Nadeshiko League 2010 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2003 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2004 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2009 Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2007 Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2010 Winner Empress's Cup 2004 Winner Empress's Cup 2005 Winner Empress's Cup 2007 Winner Empress's Cup 2008 Winner Empress's Cup 2009 Runner-up Empress's Cup 2003 INAC Kobe Leonessa Winner Nadeshiko League 2011 Winner Nadeshiko League 2012 Winner Nadeshiko League 2013 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2016 Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2013 Runner-up Nadeshiko League Cup 2012 Winner Empress's Cup 2011 Winner Empress's Cup 2012 Winner Empress's Cup 2013 Winner Empress's Cup 2015 Winner Empress's Cup 2016 Representing  Japan Olympic Games Silver 2012 London Team FIFA Women's World Cup Gold 2011 Germany Silver 2015 Canada AFC Women's Asian Cup Bronze 2008 Vietnam Bronze 2010 China Asian Games Gold 2010 Guangzhou Team AFC U-19 Women's Championship Gold 2002 India
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 December 2019. † Appearances (Goals).

Yukari Kinga (近賀 ゆかり, Kinga Yukari, born 2 May 1984) is a Japanese football player. She is currently playing as a defender for Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina in the WE League. She previously played for the Japan women's national football team, winning a World Cup and an Olympic silver medal before her international retirement in 2016.

Club career

In Japan until 2013

Kinga was born in Yokohama on 2 May 1984. After graduating from high school, she joined Nippon TV Beleza in 2003 where she played as attacking midfielder and right-winger. In the 2003 season, she was given the Nadeshiko League's Best Young Player award. During her time at Nippon TV Beleza, the club won the Nadeshiko League championship 5 times. In 2011, she moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa with international players Homare Sawa, Shinobu Ohno and Chiaki Minamiyama due to financial strain at the club. At INAC Kobe Leonessa, the club won the Nadeshiko League championship for 3 years in a row (2011–2013). She was selected to the league's Best XI for 6 years in a row (2007–2012).

In January 2014, INAC's general manager revealed that Kinga had agreed to join English FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies and in February she officially signed the contract. At Arsenal, Kinga helped propel the club to reach the final of the 2014 FA Women's Cup which they won in a 2–0 margin over Everton.

She re-signed with INAC Kobe in early 2015. In 2016, she began playing in the Australian W-League for Canberra United. In October 2017, Kinga joined defending W-League champions Melbourne City. In February 2019, she returned to Japan and joined Orca Kamogawa FC. In October 2019, Kinga re-signed with Melbourne City. In February 2020, it was announced that Kinga would re-sign with Orca Kamogawa at the end of the 2019–20 W-League season.

National team career

In August 2002, Kinga was selected by the Japan U-20 women's national team for the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. On 29 March 2005, she debuted for the Japan women's national team against Australia. She was playing as an attacking midfielder and right-winger until 2007, when she was converted to rightback by manager Hiroshi Ohashi. After she converted her position, she became a regular player in the Japan national team. Japan won the 2011 World Cup in which Kinga played in the final, came second in the 2015 World Cup and earned a silver medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She played 100 games and scored 5 goals for Japan until her retirement in 2016.

Club statistics

National team statistics

Japan national team Year Apps Goals 2005 1 0 2006 2 0 2007 16 0 2008 18 1 2009 3 1 2010 15 2 2011 17 0 2012 15 1 2013 1 0 2014 4 0 2015 5 0 2016 3 0 Total 100 5

International goals # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 12 August 2008 Shanghai, China  Norway 1–1 1–5 Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics 2. 1 August 2009 Montargis, France  France 0–3 0–4 Friendly Match 3. 6 February 2010 Chōfu, Japan  China 2–0 2–0 2010 EAFF Women's Football Championship 4. 8 May 2010 Matsumoto, Japan  Mexico 1–0 4–0 Friendly Match 5. 1 April 2012 Sendai, Japan  United States 1–0 1–1 Kirin Challenge Cup

Honors

International career

Japan

• Summer Olympics: Silver Medal: 2012
• FIFA Women's World Cup: Champion: 2011
• Asian Games: Gold Medal: 2010
• East Asian Football Championship: Champions: 2008, 2010

Club

Nippon TV Beleza

• L.League:Champion (5): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
• Nadeshiko League Cup: Champion (2): 2007, 2010
• Empress's Cup: Champion (5): 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009

INAC Kobe

• L.League:Champion (3): 2011, 2012, 2013
• Empress's Cup: Champion (3): 2011, 2012, 2013
• Nadeshiko League Cup: Champion (1): 2012

Arsenal

• FA Women's Cup: Champion (1): 2014

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina

• WE League Cup: Champion (1): 2023–24

Individual

• L.League: Best 11 (6): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• L.League: Best Young Player: 2003
• Nadeshiko League Cup: MVP: 2007

See also

In Spanish: Yukari Kinga para niños