Shintaro Harada
Encyclopedia
Shintaro Harada (born November 8, 1980 in Sayama, Saitama
) is a Japanese
footballer. He currently plays for Pittsburgh Riverhounds
in the USL Professional Division.
when their then manager Ossie Ardiles handed him his debut. Shin continued in the team that season, playing against international legends such as Bebeto
and helped guide his team to their first League Championship (Stage 1). Shin played alongside Japanese national hero Shunsuke Nakamura
, who also started his career at Yokohoma. In 2002 acquired by Omiya Ardija
and then Tokushima Vortis
.
He played part of the 2005 season and all of the 2006 season for ALO's Hokuriku
of the Japan Football League
in Japan. After successful spells in J-League Shin decided to move abroad in 2007 and entered the open trials for the newly-formed Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division
, arriving with a little bit of English and his boots.
Harada has become USL-2 All-League regular by making his fourth consecutive appearance on an All-League team. He was also the Most Valuable Defender finalist in 2009, and earned that award in 2010. He is nominated as 2010 USL Second Division Most Valuable Player
.
During the 2008 off-season, several Major League Soccer
clubs showed interest in him, and invited to take part in their trials such by Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake
, and San Jose Earthquakes
, but due to injury had to return to Palace for the 2009 season.
Following his impressive performances in the 2009 season, Harada went on trial at Baltimore's English parent club, Crystal Palace
.
After an unheard 3 months of training with Crystal Palace F.C.
, he was selected as the "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" on Crystal Palace F.C.
's official club magazine, and featured also on Major League Soccer
's expansion team Philadelphia Union's official website as a strong candidate for the club's tryout.
On March 22, 2010, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
announced the signing of Harada to a contract for the 2010 season.
While in the second division, Harada won the league's Best 11 for 4 consecutive years. He re-signed with Pittsburgh, now playing in the USL Pro
league, on February 21, 2011.
|1999||rowspan="3"|Yokohama F. Marinos
||rowspan="3"|J. League 1||0||0||0||0||1||0||1||0
|-
|2000||16||1||0||0||2||0||18||1
|-
|2001||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2002||Omiya Ardija
||J. League 2
||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||2||0
|-
|2003||rowspan="2"|Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
||rowspan="2"|Football League
||27||1||3||0||colspan="2"|-||30||1
|-
|2004||22||2||1||0||colspan="2"|-||23||2
|-
|2005||Tokushima Vortis
||J. League 2
||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||2||0
|-
|2005||rowspan="2"|ALO's Hokuriku
||rowspan="2"|Football League
||11||0||3||0||colspan="2"|-||14||0
|-
|2006||27||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||27||0
|-
|2007||rowspan="3"|Crystal Palace Baltimore||rowspan="3"|USL Second Division
||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||21||0
|-
|2008||19||1||4||0||colspan="2"|-||23||0
|-
|2009||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||21||0
|-
|2010||rowspan="2"|Pittsburgh Riverhounds
||rowspan="2"|USL PRO
||17||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||18||0
|-
|2011||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
107||4||7||0||3||0||117||4
78||1||7||0||colspan="2"|-||85||1
183||5||14||0||3||0||202||5
|}
, and FC Barcelona
's Josep Guardiola
.
Sayama, Saitama
, formerly known as Irumagawa, is a city located in Saitama, Japan. Sayama translates as "sitting on a mountain”. The city was founded on July 1, 1954....
) is a Japanese
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 currently plays for Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL Professional Division.
Japan
‘Shin’ as he is known, started his professional career as a 19-year-old for Yokohama F. MarinosYokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...
when their then manager Ossie Ardiles handed him his debut. Shin continued in the team that season, playing against international legends such as Bebeto
Bebeto
José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known as 'Bebeto', is a former football forward, a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup...
and helped guide his team to their first League Championship (Stage 1). Shin played alongside Japanese national hero Shunsuke Nakamura
Shunsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Yokohama F. Marinos in J. League Division 1. He is one of the most prominent and successful Asian players to have played in Scotland and on 13 September 2006 became the first Japanese player to score in the UEFA Champions League and the second Asian...
, who also started his career at Yokohoma. In 2002 acquired by Omiya Ardija
Omiya Ardija
is a professional football club which play in the J. League Division 1, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. Its "hometown" as designated by the league is the whole of Saitama city, which is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds...
and then Tokushima Vortis
Tokushima VORTIS
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture...
.
He played part of the 2005 season and all of the 2006 season for ALO's Hokuriku
ALO's Hokuriku
were a Japanese football club based in Toyama, the capital city of Toyama Prefecture. They played in the Japan Football League. Their team colour was blue....
of the Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
in Japan. After successful spells in J-League Shin decided to move abroad in 2007 and entered the open trials for the newly-formed Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
, arriving with a little bit of English and his boots.
United States
In his first season in Baltimore, Harada was named to the USL Second Division All-League Second-Team, and followed that up by being named in the USL Second Division All-League First-Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010.Harada has become USL-2 All-League regular by making his fourth consecutive appearance on an All-League team. He was also the Most Valuable Defender finalist in 2009, and earned that award in 2010. He is nominated as 2010 USL Second Division Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
During the 2008 off-season, several Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
clubs showed interest in him, and invited to take part in their trials such by Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
, and San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, but due to injury had to return to Palace for the 2009 season.
Following his impressive performances in the 2009 season, Harada went on trial at Baltimore's English parent club, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
.
After an unheard 3 months of training with Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, he was selected as the "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" on Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
's official club magazine, and featured also on Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
's expansion team Philadelphia Union's official website as a strong candidate for the club's tryout.
On March 22, 2010, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
announced the signing of Harada to a contract for the 2010 season.
While in the second division, Harada won the league's Best 11 for 4 consecutive years. He re-signed with Pittsburgh, now playing in the USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
league, on February 21, 2011.
Club career statistics
|-|1999||rowspan="3"|Yokohama F. Marinos
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...
||rowspan="3"|J. League 1||0||0||0||0||1||0||1||0
|-
|2000||16||1||0||0||2||0||18||1
|-
|2001||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2002||Omiya Ardija
Omiya Ardija
is a professional football club which play in the J. League Division 1, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. Its "hometown" as designated by the league is the whole of Saitama city, which is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds...
||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...
||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||2||0
|-
|2003||rowspan="2"|Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
Tokushima VORTIS
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture...
||rowspan="2"|Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
||27||1||3||0||colspan="2"|-||30||1
|-
|2004||22||2||1||0||colspan="2"|-||23||2
|-
|2005||Tokushima Vortis
Tokushima VORTIS
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture...
||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...
||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|-||2||0
|-
|2005||rowspan="2"|ALO's Hokuriku
Kataller Toyama
Kataller Toyama is a football club in Japan that was formed from the merger of the old ALO's Hokuriku and YKK AP F.C. clubs. They currently play in J...
||rowspan="2"|Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
||11||0||3||0||colspan="2"|-||14||0
|-
|2006||27||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||27||0
|-
|2007||rowspan="3"|Crystal Palace Baltimore||rowspan="3"|USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||21||0
|-
|2008||19||1||4||0||colspan="2"|-||23||0
|-
|2009||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||21||0
|-
|2010||rowspan="2"|Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
||rowspan="2"|USL PRO
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
||17||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||18||0
|-
|2011||||||||||colspan="2"|-||||
107||4||7||0||3||0||117||4
78||1||7||0||colspan="2"|-||85||1
183||5||14||0||3||0||202||5
|}
Playing style
Proved as a quality utility player who plays both holding midfielder, and center defender by being selected to All-League First-Team for both positions. Known for his accurate distribution, and play making in the middle as the control tower. Admires the Mexican National Team's Rafael MárquezRafael Márquez
Rafael Márquez Álvarez is a Mexican footballer who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and the Mexico national team. He plays as a centre back or defensive midfielder....
, and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's Josep Guardiola
Josep Guardiola
Josep "Pep" Guardiola i Sala , is a Spanish football manager and former player. Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career with FC Barcelona, whom he currently manages. He was part of Johan Cruyff's dream team that won Barcelona's first European Cup....
.
Personal
- 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Player Finalist
- 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender
- 2010 - USL Second Division All-League First Team
- 2009 - Crystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace F.C.Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
: "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" - 2009 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team
- 2009 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender Finalist
- 2008 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team
- 2007 - USL Second Division All-League Second-Team