# Takahito Soma

Takahito Soma (相馬 崇人, Sōma Takahito, born December 10, 1981) is a former Japanese football player.

## Playing career

Soma was born in Kawasaki on December 10, 1981. After playing for Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) youth team, he went on to Kokushikan University. When he was a Kokushikan University student, he joined J1 League club Tokyo Verdy in 2003. In September 2004, he became a regular left side back instead regular player Atsuhiro Miura left Verdy for Japan national team. Verdy won the champions in 2004 Emperor's Cup. Although Soma also played as regular player in 2005, Verdy finished at the 17th place in 2005 season and was relegated to J2 League.
In 2006, Soma moved to J1 club Urawa Reds. He played many matches as substitute left side midfielder because Alessandro Santos played as regular player. In 2007, Although Santos left the club, Soma could not play many matches behind Tadaaki Hirakawa. In 2008, Soma became a regular player as left side midfielder. Reds won the champions in 2006 J1 League, 2006 Emperor's Cup and 2007 AFC Champions League in 3 seasons.
On January 12, 2009, after a three-year contract with the Urawa Reds had come to an end, Soma decided to forgo contract extension talks to pursue a career overseas in Europe. On January 29, 2009 Soma signed with Marítimo of the Primeira Liga, on a one-and-a-half-year contract. At the end of this contract, he left Portugal and signed with 2. Bundesliga club Energie Cottbus.
In July 2011, Soma returned to Japan and joined J1 League club Vissel Kobe. Although he could not play many matches for injury in 2011, he played as regular left side back in 2012. However Vissel finished at the 16th place in 2012 season and was relegated to J2 League. Although his opportunity to play decreased for injury in 2013, Vissel was returned to J1 in a year. After six seasons with Vissel, he announced his retirement.

## Club statistics

| Club performance | Club performance | Club performance | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | Japan | Japan | League | League | Emperor's Cup | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | J.League Cup | AFC | AFC | Total | Total |
| 2000 | Kokushikan University | Football League | 7 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | Kokushikan University | Football League | 5 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | Kokushikan University | Football League | 2 | 0 | | | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 0 |
| 2003 | Tokyo Verdy | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | Tokyo Verdy | J1 League | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 2 |
| 2005 | Tokyo Verdy | J1 League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 40 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 0 | - | - | 58 | 2 |
| 2006 | Urawa Reds | J1 League | 18 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | - | - | 30 | 2 |
| 2007 | Urawa Reds | J1 League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6* | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 2008 | Urawa Reds | J1 League | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | 58 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 89 | 6 |
| Portugal | Portugal | Portugal | League | League | Taça de Portugal | Taça de Portugal | Taça da Liga | Taça da Liga | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| 2008/09 | Marítimo | Primeira Liga | 10 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 0 |
| 2009/10 | Marítimo | Primeira Liga | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 2 |
| Germany | Germany | Germany | League | League | DFB-Pokal | DFB-Pokal | DFB Ligapokal | DFB Ligapokal | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| 2010–11 | Energie Cottbus | 2. Bundesliga | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 |
| Japan | Japan | Japan | League | League | Emperor's Cup | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | J.League Cup | AFC | AFC | Total | Total |
| 2011 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 1 |
| 2012 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 38 | 2 |
| 2013 | Vissel Kobe | J2 League | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 20 | 1 |
| 2014 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 0 |
| 2015 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 0 |
| 2016 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 22 | 3 |
| Total | Total | Total | 114 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 1 | – | – | 141 | 7 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 274 | 15 | 21 | 0 | 50 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 354 | 18 |
(*) Includes 3 matches at FIFA Club World Cup

## Awards and honours
### Club

Tokyo Verdy
* Emperor's Cup: 2004
Urawa Reds
* AFC Champions League: 2007
* J1 League: 2006
* Emperor's Cup: 2006
* Japanese Super Cup: 2006