Eiji Kawashima

Eiji Kawashima

Kawashima in 2012
Personal information
Full nameEiji Kawashima[1]
Date of birth20 March 1983
Place of birthYono, Saitama, Japan
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Standard Liège
Number1
Youth career
1995–1997Yononishi Junior High School
1998–2000Urawa Higashi High School
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2003Omiya Ardija41(0)
2004–2006Nagoya Grampus Eight17(0)
2007–2010Kawasaki Frontale113(0)
2010–2012Lierse53(0)
2012–Standard Liège88(0)
National team‡
2002–2003Japan U2013(0)
2008–Japan69(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 January 2015

Eiji Kawashima (川島 永嗣 Kawashima Eiji, born 20 March 1983 in Yono, Saitama) is a Japanese goalkeeper who plays for Standard Liège in the Belgian Pro League.

Early life

Kawashima attended Yononishi Junior High School and Urawa Higashi High School, where he played on their amateur football teams. Although he had excellent grades and was offered enrollment to nearby universities, he decided to become a professional footballer. After trying out for the Urawa Red Diamonds, he was signed instead by Omiya Ardija's general manager Norio Sasaki.

Club career

Early years

In January 2001, Omiya Ardija sent Kawashima overseas to train with Parma F.C. in the Serie A league in Italy. Parma's bid to sign him was rejected by the club.[3]

In 2004, Kawashima joined Nagoya Grampus in Japan's J. League. He competed with veteran goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki over the position, and served as the alternate, until late 2005, under manager Sef Vergoossen, when Narazaki was injured, and Kawashima started in ten games.

In 2007, Kawasaki Frontale signed Kawashima for a transfer fee of 150 million yen. The move was, at the time, the largest transfer fee for a player in the J. League. He received more playing time and would retain his first team status. That season, Kawasaki Frontale became the first Japanese club to qualify for the 2007 AFC Champions League where they finished first in their group stage. In the knockout rounds, Kawashima allowed no regulation goals in the quarterfinals against Iran's Sepahan club, but lost the penalty shoot-out.

Lierse

After participating in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Kawashima completed his move to Europe by joining Lierse S.K. in the Belgian Pro League.[4][5] Kawashima said, "After I experienced the World Cup, I thought that putting myself in a more competitive environment is the only way I can get better."[4]

At Lierse, Kawashima became the starting goalkeeper from the first game of the season. But the team struggled, suffering many lopsided losses and ranking as a leading candidate for relegation. But in the final game of the season against Club Brugge, Kawashima held the opponents scoreless and contributed to the team's successful defense of its first-division status. He was elected the team's Most Valuable Player.[6][7]

On October 2011, Kawashima was appointed Lierse's team captain. For the 2011–12 season, he played all 30 regular league games and six Europa League Playoff games.[8] He was again voted the team's MVP.[9]

2011 Lierse shouting incident

On 19 August 2011, in a match between Lierse S.K. and Germinal Beerschot, Lierse was leading by a goal when Beerschot fans threw a projectile in the direction of Kawashima and insulted him with chants of "Kawashima-Fukushima!" in reference to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. After being confronted by Kawashima, the referee halted the match for several minutes until order was restored. After the match had ended in a 1–1 draw, Kawashima left the pitch in tears, visibly upset at the insults. Kawashima said, "I can pass on many things, but not that. This is not funny. Using the drama of Fukushima in this manner is not at all funny."[10]

Beerschot released a club statement on the incident: "Our fans have crossed a thin line where a bit of fun turns into something serious. The chants aimed at Lierse goalkeeper Kawashima were offensive and completely out of order". However, Beerschot said that Kawashima was partly to blame: "The Lierse shot-stopper also took part in this as he provoked the Beerschot fans with offensive gestures and facial expressions. Our own goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen on the other hand never reacted to abusive chants and insults from the Lierse faithful." Beerschot further emphasized that it is completely unacceptable to assert insults of this nature.[11] The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) fined Beerschot 30,000 Swiss francs (¥2.7 million, or US$34,920) and RBFA officials apologized not only to Kawashima, but also to Atsushi Yokota, the Japanese Ambassador to Belgium, over the incident.[12] In contrast, Lierse protested to the RBFA,[13] that caused the uproar is Beerschot posted an apology in Japanese officials,[14] On 22 September, Beerschot formally apologized to Kawashima.[15][16]

Standard Liège

On 18 July 2012, Kawashima left Lierse to join Standard Liège on a three-year deal.[17] He competed with Sinan Bolat and Anthony Moris to earn the starting goalkeeper position, consequently taking the number 1 shirt that was previously worn by Rorys Aragón.

International career

Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima saves a penalty from Frank Lampard in the international friendly between Japan and England in Graz (Austria) on 30 May 2010.

Kawashima was selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad as the backup to Seigo Narazaki, who had impressed in the qualifiers. In a friendly match on 30 May against England, he was the starting goalkeeper, and produced many saves. He denied Frank Lampard twice, including a penalty kick, and a shot by Wayne Rooney before eventually being beaten by two own goals. He was subsequently selected to play in Japan's first Group E game, Japan vs. Cameroon on 14 June, where Japan recorded its first World Cup win on foreign soil with a score of 1–0. On 19 June Netherlands vs. Japan, he was the starter; he deflected a shot from Wesley Sneijder but it went in his own net as the team lost 0–1. On 24 June Denmark vs. Japan, he allowed one goal by Jon Dahl Tomasson's penalty kick, but the team still won 3–1 and advanced to the round of 16. On 29 June, he allowed no goals against Paraguay but was unable to save a single spot-kick during the penalty shoot-out, which Paraguay won 5–3.

Kawashima participated as Japan's goalkeeper in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. On 13 January, he was sent off for causing a penalty in the group stage match against Syria, but Japan went on to win the game 2–1. On 26 January Japan vs. Korea semi-finals Kawashima saved two penalty shoot-out shots to enable Japan to advance. On 29 January, Kawashima kept a clean sheet in the Final as Japan won 1–0; he was chosen as Man of the Match. He won his 48th cap for his country in a 2–1 loss against Mexico on 22 June 2013.

Career statistics

Club

As of 17 July 2014[18][19]
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Other4 Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Omiya Ardija 2001 000000--00
2002 8040---120
2003 33000---330
Total 4104000--450
Nagoya Grampus Eight 2004 400080--120
2005 301060--100
2006 1000040--140
Total 17010180--360
Kawasaki Frontale 2007 340403070-480
2008 3401010--360
2009 340103090-470
2010 110--60-170
Total 11306070220-1480
Lierse S.K. 2010–11 23020--50300
2011–12 30060--60420
Total 53080--110720
Standard Liège 2012–13 30000--100400
2013–14 27010-90100470
Total 57010-90200870
Career total 28102002503103103880

1Includes Emperor's Cup and Belgian Cup.

2Includes J. League Cup.

3Includes AFC Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

4Includes Belgian Pro League Play-offs.

International

As of 23 January 2015[20]
National teamYearAppsConceded
Japan
200811
200975
201086
2011126
2012118
20131423
20141216
201552
Total7067

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 16. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "National Team Squad". jfa.or.jp. Japan Football Association. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "評価の低さ払しょく 川島「日本のＧＫは欧州でもできる」（サッカー） — スポニチ Sponichi Annex ニュース" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 3 June 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kawashima seals Lierse switch". FIFA. PA. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "GK川島、今季からベルギーでプレー" (in Japanese). UEFA.com. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Fans Select Kawashima As Lierse MVP, Team Gains Right To Challenge For Place In Europa League (川島がサポーターの選ぶ「リールス年間最優秀選手」に 苦しいシーズンの最後につかんだＥＬ出場の挑戦権)" (in Japanese). Sports Navi. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Japanese Who Shocked Europe: Eiji Kawashima. Reason for MVP Despite Conceding Numerous Goals (欧州を震撼させたニッポン人＞ 川島永嗣 「大量失点でMVPの理由)" (in Japanese). Number Web. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  8. ↑ 全試合フル出場の川島「最低限のラインはクリア」 リールス、守備の安定で余裕の１部残留 (in Japanese). Sport Navi. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "リールス川島が2季連続でサポーター投票によるMVPに選出" (in Japanese). Soccer King. 6 May 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Japanese goalie Eiji Kawashima subjected to unsavoury Fukushima disaster chants (Lierse – Germinal Beerschot)". 101greatgoals.com. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Somerford, Ben; Coerts, Stan (translation) (24 August 2011). "Beerschot call for calm after insulting chants but claim Lierse's Eiji Kawashima wasn't blameless". Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Belgian soccer team fined over fans’ Fukushima taunt". Majirox News. 10 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  13. ↑ 川島のリールス、"フクシマ"コールに抗議「尊厳の範疇を超えた出来事」 (in Japanese). Livedoor News. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "川島に「フクシマ！」コールのゲルミナルがHPに日本語の謝罪文を掲載" (in Japanese). Soccer King. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  15. ↑ 「カワシマ、フクシマ」の野次を浴びせたクラブが川島に直接謝罪 (in Japanese). Soccer King. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "Belgian club apologizes for Fukushima taunts". The Japan Times. AP. 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  17. ↑ "Kawashima signs for Standard". FIFA. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  18. ↑ "Eiji Kawashima, Club matches". worldfootball.net.
  19. ↑ "Japan – Eiji Kawashima – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010.
  20. ↑ KAWASHIMA Eiji - Japan National Football Team Database

External links