Aya Miyama

Aya Miyama

Miyama starring in the 2011 World Cup
Personal information
Full nameAya Miyama
Date of birth28 January 1985
Place of birthŌamishirasato, Chiba, Japan
Height157 cm (5 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Okayama Yunogo Belle
Number10
Youth career
1998–1999Yomiuri Menina
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2000NTV Beleza6(2)
2001–2008Okayama Yunogo Belle110(62)
2009Los Angeles Sol20(0)
2009→ Okayama Yunogo Belle (loan)6(1)
2010Saint Louis Athletica5(0)
2010Atlanta Beat17(1)
2010–Okayama Yunogo Belle87(39)
Total251(105)
National team‡
2003–Japan147(36)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 November 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 March 2015

Aya Miyama (宮間 あや Miyama Aya, born 28 January 1985, in Ōamishirasato, Chiba) is a Japanese football midfielder who currently plays for Okayama Yunogo Belle of the L. League. She is also a member of the Japan's national team that won the 2011 Women's World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Miyama started her career as a football player in the club her father founded. She later joined NTV Beleza in 1999 after playing with Yomiuri Menina (NTV Menina), but when she was in eleventh grade, she left the team and went to the high school football club. Even among male players, she kept playing football.

Miyama joined L. League side Okayama Yunogo Belle in 2001, having received an invitation from Midori Honda, the coach.

WPS

On 24 November 2008, Miyama was selected by Los Angeles Sol of the U.S. Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) in the 2008 WPS International Draft, and joined Sol in 2009. In the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, she had 6 assists but no goals. When the Sol disbanded in early 2010, she was taken by Saint Louis Athletica. Miyama signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Beat on 10 June 2010.

Return to Japan

Miyama returned to Okayama Yunogo Belle in September 2010.

International career

In the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup held in Shanghai, China, Miyama performed brilliantly in Japan's match against England, scoring the team's two goals both on direct free kicks, leading Japan to a draw. In Japan's first group stage match of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, she scored the go-ahead goal in Japan's win against New Zealand on a scorching 68th minute free kick, and was named Player of the Match.

At the 2011 Women's World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Miyama scored the winner – a curling free kick – to help Japan beat New Zealand, and netted Japan's first goal in the final against USA. Miyama also scored Japan's first penalty of the eventual penalty shoot-out in the final which ended 2–2 after extra time. Her team won 3–1 in the penalty shoot-out, making Japan the first Asian team to lift the FIFA Women's World Cup.

At the moment of victory, Miyama did not join her teammates in celebration, but instead went to the USA players to hug them and congratulate them on a good game. This has been reported both by Hope Solo and the Japanese media as evidence of Miyama's sportsmanship and respect for her opponents.

Miyama was named the AFC Women's Player of the Year in 2011,[2] 2012.[3]

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, she led to the silver medal as a captain.

Aya Miyama (Left) playing for Saint Louis Athletica against the Boston Breakers. Kelly Smith is pictured on the right.

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 December 2014
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other1 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
NTV Beleza 1999 00-
2000 62--
Total 62-
Okayama Yunogo Belle 2003 161321--1814
2004 1417 --
2005 21844--2512
2006 17640--2116
2007 2192000-239
2008 21921--2310
Total 1106200-
Los Angeles Sol 2009 200--10210
Total 200--10210
Okayama Yunogo Belle 2009 6122--83
Total 6122--83
Saint Louis Athletica 2010 50---50
Total 50---50
Atlanta Beat 2010 171---171
Total 171---171
Okayama Yunogo Belle 2010 742000-94
2011 16931--1910
2012 1852242-249
2013 18631109-3116
2014 281521--3016
Total 87391251411-11355
Career total 25110510

1Includes 2009 Women's Professional Soccer Playoffs.

International

As of 11 March 2014

National teamYearApps[4]Goals
Japan
200362
200412
200592
2006173
2007176
2008184
200911
2010172
2011184
2012163
201371
2014174
201532
Total14736
International goals
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 9 June 2003 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Philippines
13–0
15–0
2003 AFC Women's Championship
2. 22 July 2003 Sendai Stadium, Sendai, Japan  South Korea
4–0
5–0
Friendly Match
3. 18 December 2004 Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Chinese Taipei
2–0
11–0
4.
4–0
5. 29 March 2005 Miranda, Australia  Australia
2–1
2–1
6. 21 May 2005 Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  New Zealand
5–0
6–0
7. 23 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia  China PR
0–1
0–1
2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup
8. 23 November 2006 Wildparkstadion, Karlsruhe, Germany  Germany
6–2
6–3
Friendly Match
9. 30 November 2006 Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Jordan
2–0
13–0
2006 Asian Games
10. 12 February 2007 GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus  Sweden
1–1
2–2
Friendly Match
11. 10 March 2007 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Mexico
2–0
2–0
2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
12. 10 June 2007 Bucheon Stadium, Bucheon, South Korea  South Korea
1–2
2–2
2008 Summer Olympics qualification
13. 4 August 2007 Lạch Tray Stadium, Hai Phong, Vietnam  Vietnam
0–4
0–8
14. 11 September 2007 Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, China  England
0–1
2–2
2007 FIFA Women's World Cup
15.
2–2
16. 18 February 2008 Yongchuan Stadium, Chongqing, China  North Korea
2–2
2–3
2008 EAFF Women's Football Championship
17. 2 June 2008 Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam  Australia
0–3
1–3
2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup
18. 8 June 2008
0–2
0–3
19. 6 August 2008 Qinhuangdao Olympic Stadium, Qinhuangdao, China  New Zealand
1–2
2–2
2008 Summer Olympics
20. 14 November 2009 Urawa Komaba Stadium, Saitama, Japan
1–0
2–1
Friendly Match
21. 6 February 2010 Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu, Japan  China PR
1–0
2–0
2010 EAFF Women's Football Championship
22. 20 May 2010 Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, China  Myanmar
5–0
8–0
2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup
23. 2 March 2011 Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal  United States
2–1
2–1
2011 Algarve Cup
24. 18 June 2011 Ningineer Stadium, Matsuyama, Japan  South Korea
1–0
1–1
Friendly Match
25. 27 June 2011 Ruhrstadion, Bochum, Germany  New Zealand
2–1
2–1
2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
26. 17 July 2011 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany  United States
1–1
2–2
27. 5 April 2012 Home's Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan  Brazil
3–1
4–1
Kirin Challenge Cup
28. 11 July 2012 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Australia
1–0
3–0
Friendly Match
29. 25 July 2012 City of Coventry Stadium, Coventry, United Kingdom  Canada
2–0
2–1
2012 Summer Olympics
30. 26 September 2013 Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan  Nigeria
1–0
2–0
Friendly Match
31. 5 March 2014 Stadium Bela Vista, Parchal, Portugal  United States
1–1
1–1
2014 Algarve Cup
32. 10 March 2014 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal  Sweden
2–1
2–1
33. 18 September 2014 Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon, South Korea  Jordan
10-0
12-0
2014 Asian Games
34. 1 October 2014 Incheon Munhak Stadium, Incheon, South Korea  North Korea
2-1
3-1
35. 11 March 2015 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal  Iceland
1-0
2-0
2015 Algarve Cup
36.
2-0

Honors

Team
Champion (1): 2011
Champion (1): 2014
Gold Medal (1): 2010
Champions (2): 2008, 2010
Individual
All-Star Team (1): 2011
Best player (1): 2014
Winner (2): 2011, 2012
3rd place (1): 2008
Best player (1): 2012
Best Eleven (6): 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Best Player (1): 2004
Top Scorers (1): 2004

References

  1. ↑ "Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics". joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "AFC Women Player of the Year: Aya Miyama". AFC. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "AFC Women Player of the Year: Aya Miyama". AFC. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  4. ↑ なでしこジャパン(日本女子代表) 試合別出場記録 (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

External links