Akira Narahashi (名良橋 晃, Narahashi Akira, born November 26, 1971) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He earned 38 caps for the Japan national team between 1994 and 2003, including three games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[1]

Akira Narahashi
名良橋 晃
Personal information
Date of birth (1971-11-26) November 26, 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Right-back
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)
International career
1994–2003 Japan 38 (0)
Medal record
Shonan Bellmare
Winner Emperor's Cup 1994
Kashima Antlers
Winner J1 League 1998
Winner J1 League 2000
Winner J1 League 2001
Runner-up J1 League 1997
Winner J.League Cup 1997
Winner J.League Cup 2000
Winner J.League Cup 2002
Runner-up J.League Cup 1999
Runner-up J.League Cup 2003
Runner-up J.League Cup 2006
Winner Emperor's Cup 1997
Winner Emperor's Cup 2000
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2002
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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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 three times, J.League Cup three times and Emperor's Cup two 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]

International career

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

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

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Asia Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bellmare Hiratsuka[a] 1990–91 JSL Division 2 25 5 1 0 26 5
1991–92 25 3 3 0 28 3
1992 Football League 18 1 18 1
1993 17 5 1 0 5 0 23 5
1994 J1 League 39 2 4 0 1 0 44 2
1995 46 4 2 0 48 4
1996 29 1 3 0 14 1 46 2
Kashima Antlers 1997 J1 League 17 1 5 0 7 1 29 2
1998 33 5 4 0 1 0 38 5
1999 15 2 2 1 7 1 24 4
2000 26 3 4 0 7 1 37 4
2001 27 3 3 0 6 0 36 3
2002 25 1 5 0 8 0 38 1
2003 27 1 0 0 4 0 3 0 34 1
2004 12 0 0 0 4 0 16 0
2005 11 0 3 0 0 0 14 0
2006 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Shonan Bellmare 2007 J2 League 1 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 396 37 36 1 68 4 3 0 503 42
  1. ^ "Fujita Industries" until 1994

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[1]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 1994 1 0
1995 9 0
1996 0 0
1997 13 0
1998 9 0
1999 0 0
2000 0 0
2001 0 0
2002 2 0
2003 4 0
Total 38 0

Honors

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With Shonan Bellmare

With Kashima Antlers


Individual

References

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