Nobuyuki Kojima

Nobuyuki Kojima
Personal information
Full nameNobuyuki Kojima
Date of birthJanuary 17, 1966
Place of birthMaebashi, Japan
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1 12 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
1984–1987Doshisha University
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1988–1998Fujita / Bellmare Hiratsuka186(0)
1999–2001Avispa Fukuoka68(0)
2002–2005Thespa Kusatsu67(0)
Total321(0)
National team
1995–1998Japan5(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Nobuyuki Kojima (小島 伸幸, born January 17, 1966 in Maebashi, Gunma) is a retired Japanese football goalkeeper. He played for several J-League clubs, including Bellmare Hiratsuka, Avispa Fukuoka and Thespa Kusatsu. He played for the Japan national football team (4 matches) and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Career

He started playing football when he was in the 5th grade and was converted to a goalkeeper at high school. After graduating from Doshisha University in 1988, Kojima joined Fujita Industries F.C. (current Shonan Bellmare) playing in the Japan Soccer League division 1. He became a regular starting member of the team in 1994. He had been playing for the club as an employee of Fujita Industries but turned professional in January 1995.

His international debut came on June 6, 1995 against Brazil in the Umbro Cup. He was in the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup as the third GK but did not play any game in the tournament.

At the end of 1998, Bellmare released their main players including Kojima as well as Wagner Lopes, Hong Myung-Bo, Kazuaki Tasaka and Yoshihiro Natsuka due to their financial problems. Kojima moved to Avispa Fukuoka. He further moved to Thespa Kusatsu in 2002 that played in the Gunma Prefectural League division 2. As a player - assistant coach, he was instrumental in the team's promotion to the Japan Football League, then J. League division 2. His last competitive game was against Consadole Sapporo on December 3, 2005 and he announced his retirement from the game in January 2006.

He is currently an advisor for Kusatsu. He also serves as a pundit for NHK. (as of February 2010)

National team

Club 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
1988/89Fujita IndustriesJSL Division 15050
1989/90700070
1990/91JSL Division 2201030
1991/92000000
1992Football League00-00
19930000
1994Bellmare HiratsukaJ. League 14105010470
199547020-490
199629030150470
19972103000240
1998340340
1999Avispa FukuokaJ. League 12902030340
20003001020330
200180001090
2002Thespa KusatsuPrefectural Leagues6030-90
2003Regional Leagues12020-140
2004Football League26050-310
2005J. League 223010-240
Country Japan 32002702303700
Total 32002702303700

International career statistics

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
199530
199610
Total40

External links