Takuya Yamada
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Takuya Yamada | ||
Date of birth | August 24, 1974 | ||
Place of birth | Tokyo, Japan | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Playing position | Defender, Defensive Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Tampa Bay Rowdies | ||
Number | 32 | ||
Youth career | |||
1993–1996 | Komazawa University | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1997–2005 | Tokyo Verdy[1] | 296 | (28) |
2006 | Cerezo Osaka | 26 | (0) |
2007–2008 | Yokohama FC | 54 | (5) |
2009 | Sagan Tosu | 45 | (1) |
2010– | Tampa Bay Rowdies[2] | 97 | (4) |
National team‡ | |||
2003–2004 | Japan | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of August 24, 2013. † Appearances (Goals). |
Takuya Yamada (born August 24, 1974 in Tokyo) is a Japanese footballer currently playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League.
Career
Club
Yamada attended Toin Gakuen High School, where he led the school to the final four in the National Championship. Played at Komazawa University before turning professional where he won a variety of different national titles, including the Gold Medal for Japan at the 1995 Universiade.
He turned professional in 1997, playing for Verdy Kawasaki in the then-fledgling J. League. Yamada stayed with Verdy for the next eight years, clocking up almost 300 appearances for the club. He was one of the iconic players of J-League's early years, known for his physical and charismatic strength on the field. The supporters' group honored him with the name of "Mr. Verdy" when he served as Verdy's captain for three years. He was also nicknamed "The Terminator", due to his combative style.
He moved to Cerezo Osaka for the 2006 season, but never fully settled with the club. In December 2006, Yamada surprised the Australian football community by arriving unannounced for a trial with Adelaide United[3] [4] . However, in January, 2007, Adelaide United signed with a Brazilian attacking midfielder Diego Walsh from Miami FC who had a more advanced VISA status meaning Walsh was likely to be available sooner to play for the Reds.[5]
From Australia, Yamada flew to the United States for an invitational tryout with several Major League Soccer clubs, including New England Revolution,[6] but was not offered a contract. After returning to Japan, Yokohama FC of the J.League immediately announced its interest towards Yamada and signed him on 3 June 2007. Yamada served as captain for the 2008 season.
For the 2009 season, Yamada transferred to Sagan Tosu due to the head coach Yasuyuki Kishino's strong recruitment. On January 1, 2010 Yamada signed with FC Tampa Bay for their 2010 inaugural team roster.[7] He became the first Japanese player to serve as co-captain in USSF Division 2. Yamada re-signed with Tampa Bay, now playing in the North American Soccer League, on December 27, 2010.[8]
Yamada remained with Tampa Bay through the 2011 season. On October 5, 2011, the club announced that Yamada would return for the 2012 season.[9] It was the second straight season Yamada scored the game-winner in the home opener.[10] Started all 28 regular season matches and 2 post-season matches... Played in all 2,520 regular season minutes, the most in the NASL, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl 2012, he was also selected to the NASL 2012 Best XI.[11]
International
Yamada was capped four times for the Japanese national team between 2003 and 2004. He was also the world champion for the Universiade Fukuoka (World University Games) in 1995.
Career statistics
Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Total | ||||||
1997 | Verdy Kawasaki | J. League 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
1998 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
1999 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
2000 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 4 | ||
2001 | Tokyo Verdy | J. League 1 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
2002 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 35 | 2 | ||
2003 | 30 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 10 | ||
2004 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 5 | ||
2005 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 1 | ||
2006 | Cerezo Osaka | J. League 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
2007 | Yokohama | J. League 1 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 21 | 1 | |
2008 | J. League 2 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 4 | ||
2009 | Sagan Tosu | J. League 2 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 45 | 1 | |
United States | League | Open Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
2010 | FC Tampa Bay | D2 Pro League | 29 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||||
2011 | FC Tampa Bay | NASL | 24 | 1 | 24 | 1 | ||||
2012 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | NASL | 30 | 3 | 30 | 3 | ||||
Country | Japan | 348 | 28 | 28 | 2 | 45 | 4 | 421 | 34 | |
United States | 83 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 4 | ||
Total | 431 | 32 | 28 | 2 | 45 | 4 | 504 | 38 |
Japan national team | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2003 | 1 | 0 |
2004 | 3 | 0 |
Total | 4 | 0 |
Playing style
The organizer on the pitch with his computerized accurate short, and long passes. He is a utility player as a mid-fielder, and defender, who is also capable both on the flank and middle. Takuya is also a hard nose player to go tight, and tough against whoever he is matching up with. Also, equipped with sharp overlaps to score when needed. Natural leader on and off the field who served as captain in three clubs.
Honors and awards
Tampa Bay Rowdies
- North American Soccer League:
- Champion (1) 2012
Personal
- 2010: Co-Captain of FC Tampa Bay
- 2008: Captain of Yokohama F.C.
- 2002-2005: Captain of Tokyo Verdy 1969
Club
- 2005: J.League XEROX Super Cup Champion
- 2004: J.League Emperor's Cup Champion
- Asian Cup Champions: 2004
- 1996: All-Japan University Best 11
- 1995: Universiade Fukuoka (World University Games), Japanese College National Team – World Champion (Gold Medal)
- 1995: All-Japan University Best 11
- 1993: All-Japan High School Select Team
International
- 2004 Asian Cup (Champion)
References
- ↑ Team was known as Verdy Kawasaki prior to 2001
- ↑ Formerly known as FC Tampa Bay through 2011.
- ↑ A-League, Hyundai (2006-12-20). "Yamada Trains with Reds". Hyundai A-League. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
- ↑ Lato, Daniel (2006-12-20). "Reds eye surprise arrival". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
- ↑ Lato, Daniel (2007-01-10). "United signs Diego". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
- ↑ MLS marketing executive says league interested in Japanese players
- ↑ FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Sign Iconic Japanese Midfielder Takuya Yamada
- ↑ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4141288
- ↑ http://fctampabay.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1397
- ↑ http://www2.tbo.com/sports/sports/2012/apr/16/rowdies-edge-edmonton-1-0-in-home-opener-ar-392995/ Rowdies edge Edmonton 1-0 in home opener
- ↑ NASL Announces 2012 Best XI
- ↑ Takuya Yamada at National-Football-Teams.com
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