Akira Narahashi

Akira Narahashi (名良橋 晃, Narahashi Akira, born November 26, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team. He mainly played as a right side-back. He was capped 38 times for the Japanese national team between 1994 and 2003, including three games at the 1998 World Cup.[1]

Akira Narahashi
名良橋 晃
Personal information
Full name Akira Narahashi
Date of birth (1971-11-26) November 26, 1971
Place of birth Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1987–1989 Chiba Eiwa High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1996 Bellmare Hiratsuka 199 (21)
1997–2006 Kashima Antlers 196 (16)
2007 Shonan Bellmare 1 (0)
Total 396 (37)
National team
1994–2003 Japan 38 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Narahashi was born in Chiba on November 26, 1971. After graduating from Chiba Eiwa High School in 1990, he joined Fujita Industries (later Bellmare Hiratsuka, Shonan Bellmare) playing in the Japan Soccer League Division 2. In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and the club joined new league Japan Football League. The club won the champions in 1993 and was promoted to J1 League. In 1994, the club won Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club also won 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

Narahashi moved to Kashima Antlers in 1997. The presence of Jorginho at Kashima propelled his decision to move as he aspired to learn the trade under the Brazilian international full back. In 2000, the club won all three major title in Japan; J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup first time in J.League history. The club won J1 League 3 times, J.League Cup 3 times and Emperor's Cup 2 times. From the mid 2000s, his opportunities to play decreased. At the end of the 2006 season, Kashima announced that they wouldn't renew his contract.

Narahashi returned to Bellmare in February 2007 but was released in August 2007. On February 1, 2008, he announced his retirement from professional football.[2]

National team career

On September 27, 1994, Narahashi debuted for Japan national team against Australia. He competed with Hiroshige Yanagimoto for regular of right side-back. Yanagimoto got hurt in 1997, Narahashi became a regular. At 1998 World Cup qualification, Japan won the qualify for 1998 World Cup first time in Japan's history. In 1998, he played in all 3 matches at 1998 World Cup.

After 2002 World Cup, in October, Narahashi was selected Japan by new manager Zico for the first time in 4 years. He was also selected Japan for 2003 Confederations Cup, but he did not play in the match. He played 38 games for Japan until 2003.[1]

Club statistics
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Asia Total
1990/91Fujita IndustriesJSL Division 225510-265
1991/9225330-283
1992Football League181--181
19931751050-235
1994Bellmare HiratsukaJ1 League3924010-442
199546420--484
199629130141-462
1997Kashima AntlersJ1 League1715071-292
19983354010-385
19991522171-244
20002634071-374
20012733060-363
20022515080-381
2003271004030341
20041200040-160
20051103000-140
2006300000-30
2007Shonan BellmareJ2 League1000--10
Total 396373616843050342

National team

[1]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
199410
199590
199600
1997130
199890
199900
200000
200100
200220
200340
Total380

Honors and awards

Individual honors

References
  1. Japan National Football Team Database
  2. "Narahashi reportedly to retire". The Japan Times. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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