Kazuya Maekawa
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japanese
footballer. He was a goalkeeper.
side Mazda S.C.. When Japan's first-ever professional league J. League
started in 1993, Mazda S.C. was transformed to Sanfrecce Hiroshima
for whom he continued to play. In April 1990, he went had a trial at Manchester United
. He had been the first-choice GK for the club since 1989 although he was prone to injuries. He decided to have operation on his shoulder in 1998 and his place was filled in by Takashi Shimoda who kept the place after Maekawa came back. Maekawa was transferred to J. League Division 2 side Oita Trinita
in 2000 before retiring from the game after the 2001 season.
He was capped 17 times for the Japanese national team
from 1992 to 1996. His first cap came on June 7, 1992 in a friendly against Wales
in Matsuyama, Ehime
. He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup
. He played 2 games after first-choice keeper Shigetatsu Matsunaga
was shown a red card in the semi-final against China
.
After finishing his playing career, he remained at Trinita and worked in the areas of marketing, operations and developments until 2005. He is now a coach at Sanfrecce Tsuneishi Soccer School, one of the affiliated soccer schools of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. (as of September 2007)
|1986–87||rowspan="6"|Mazda
||rowspan="2"|JSL Division 1
||0||0||||||||||0||0
|-
|1987–88||0||0||||||||||0||0
|-
|1988–89||rowspan="3"|JSL Division 2
||||||||||||||||
|-
|1989–90||30||0||||||2||0||32||0
|-
|1990–91||30||0||||||3||0||33||0
|-
|1991–92||JSL Division 1
||20||0||||||2||0||22||0
|-
|1992||rowspan="8"|Sanfrecce Hiroshima
||rowspan="8"|J. League 1||colspan="2"|–||0||0||1||0||1||0
|-
|1993||15||0||0||0||0||0||15||0
|-
|1994||27||0||0||0||0||0||27||0
|-
|1995||37||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||37||0
|-
|1996||25||0||5||0||14||0||44||0
|-
|1997||24||0||0||0||6||0||30||0
|-
|1998||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1999||0||0||0||0||2||0||2||0
|-
|2000||rowspan="2"|Oita Trinita
||rowspan="2"|J. League 2
||37||0||0||0||0||0||37||0
|-
|2001||38||0||2||0||2||0||42||0
283||0||12||0||32||0||327||0
283||0||12||0||32||0||327||0
|}
|-
|1992||3||0
|-
|1993||2||0
|-
|1994||2||0
|-
|1995||5||0
|-
|1996||5||0
|-
!Total||17||0
|}
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
footballer. He was a goalkeeper.
Career
Maekawa was educated at and played for Hirado High School. After graduating in 1986, he joined Japan Soccer LeagueJapan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
side Mazda S.C.. When Japan's first-ever professional league J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
started in 1993, Mazda S.C. was transformed to Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
for whom he continued to play. In April 1990, he went had a trial at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. He had been the first-choice GK for the club since 1989 although he was prone to injuries. He decided to have operation on his shoulder in 1998 and his place was filled in by Takashi Shimoda who kept the place after Maekawa came back. Maekawa was transferred to J. League Division 2 side Oita Trinita
Oita Trinita
is a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita...
in 2000 before retiring from the game after the 2001 season.
He was capped 17 times for the Japanese national team
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
from 1992 to 1996. His first cap came on June 7, 1992 in a friendly against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in Matsuyama, Ehime
Matsuyama, Ehime
is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
. He was a member of the Japan team that won the 1992 AFC Asian Cup
1992 AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Football Confederation's 1992 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan between October 29 and November 8. The host nation, Japan, defeated the defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final in Hiroshima.-Stadiums:...
. He played 2 games after first-choice keeper Shigetatsu Matsunaga
Shigetatsu Matsunaga
is a retired Japanese football goalkeeper and a goalkeeping coach.-Career:He was educated at and played for Hamana High School and Aichi Gakuin University. After graduating from the university, he joined JSL side Nissan Motor F.C.....
was shown a red card in the semi-final against China
China national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
.
After finishing his playing career, he remained at Trinita and worked in the areas of marketing, operations and developments until 2005. He is now a coach at Sanfrecce Tsuneishi Soccer School, one of the affiliated soccer schools of Sanfrecce Hiroshima. (as of September 2007)
Club career statistics
|-|1986–87||rowspan="6"|Mazda
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
||rowspan="2"|JSL Division 1
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||0||0||||||||||0||0
|-
|1987–88||0||0||||||||||0||0
|-
|1988–89||rowspan="3"|JSL Division 2
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||||||||||||||||
|-
|1989–90||30||0||||||2||0||32||0
|-
|1990–91||30||0||||||3||0||33||0
|-
|1991–92||JSL Division 1
Japan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
||20||0||||||2||0||22||0
|-
|1992||rowspan="8"|Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...
||rowspan="8"|J. League 1||colspan="2"|–||0||0||1||0||1||0
|-
|1993||15||0||0||0||0||0||15||0
|-
|1994||27||0||0||0||0||0||27||0
|-
|1995||37||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||37||0
|-
|1996||25||0||5||0||14||0||44||0
|-
|1997||24||0||0||0||6||0||30||0
|-
|1998||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1999||0||0||0||0||2||0||2||0
|-
|2000||rowspan="2"|Oita Trinita
Oita Trinita
is a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita...
||rowspan="2"|J. League 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
||37||0||0||0||0||0||37||0
|-
|2001||38||0||2||0||2||0||42||0
283||0||12||0||32||0||327||0
283||0||12||0||32||0||327||0
|}
|-
|1992||3||0
|-
|1993||2||0
|-
|1994||2||0
|-
|1995||5||0
|-
|1996||5||0
|-
!Total||17||0
|}
International
Japan- AFC Asian CupAFC Asian CupThe AFC Asian Cup is an international association football tournament run by the Asian Football Confederation . It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and automatically qualifies for the FIFA...
(1): 19921992 AFC Asian CupThe Asian Football Confederation's 1992 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan between October 29 and November 8. The host nation, Japan, defeated the defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final in Hiroshima.-Stadiums:...
(champions)