Homare Sawa

Homare Sawa (澤 穂希, Sawa Homare; born 6 September 1978) be a Japanese former professional footballer wey play as a forward anaa a midfielder. Chaw regard am as one of de greatest female footballers of all time, na Sawa get a professional club career wey dey span 24 seasons, mostly plus Nippon TV Beleza den INAC Kobe Leonessa. She sanso spend 22 years plus de Japan national team, most notably captaining dem to a FIFA Women's World Cup win insyd 2011 den an Olympic silver medal finish insyd 2012.

Sawa make ein club debut insyd 1991 at de age of 12, wey she go on to win five titles plus Nippon TV Beleza between 1991 den 1999 before she depart to de United States to play football insyd de Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA). Na she play give two WUSA clubs, de Atlanta Beat den de Denver Diamonds, before she return to de Japanese league insyd 2004. Sawa win anoda nine titles plus Nippon TV Beleza insyd four years, buh na she san lef de club insyd 2008. Dat year, na Japan reach dema first Olympic medal match at de Summer Olympics, wey na Sawa be Japan ein top scorer of de tournament.

Insyd 2011, na Sawa captain de Japan national team at de 2011 World Cup. Insyd Germany, Japan advance to dema first final of a major international tournament, wer na Sawa score Japan ein match-tying goal in extra time, wey allow Japan to win de match on penalties. She fini de tournament plus de Golden Ball as de tournament ein best player den de Golden Boot as de tournament ein top scorer. Later insyd de year, na dem name Sawa de 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of de Year, de first Asian person regardless of gender to receive a major year-end individual award. She later captain Japan to a silver medal finish at de 2012 Summer Olympics wey na she then retire from international football for de first time immediately after de completion of de tournament.

Sawa return to ein role insyd de Japan national team to play insyd de 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, ein sixth World Cup den de final major international tournament of ein career. Japan reach dema second-ever Women's World Cup final dat year, den after a runner-up finish, she retire from international football for de second den final time. At de end of de year, after she win de 2015 Empress's Cup plus INAC Kobe Leonessa, she retire from football completely. She retire from club football plus 11 league titles den 8 domestic cup titles insyd de Japanese League, wey na dem sanso name am to de league ein Best XI for 11 seasons.

Sawa remain de leader insyd both caps den goals give Japan, plus 205 den 83 respectively.

 Early life 

Na dem born Sawa insyd Fuchū, Tokyo on 6 September 1978. She begin dey play football at de age of six. While na she dey watch ein older bro train, na ein coach invite am make she join de boys dema team on de pitch.

 Club career 

 NTV Beleza 
Insyd 1991, dem long consider am Japan ein finest female footballer, na dem promote Sawa to Yomiuri Beleza (later NTV Beleza) from youth team by manager Kazuhiko Takemoto. Na she make ein debut insyd L.League, Japan ein highest domestic league, at de young age of 12. She play as forward wey na she play 136 matches wey she score 79 goals insyd League. Na dem sanso select am Best Eleven 5 times (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997 den 1998).

Insyd 1999, na NTV Beleza cancel Sawa ein contract, wey force am make she move abroad to de United States.

 Atlanta Beat 
Plus de birth of de Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) insyd 2001, na Sawa find einself she dey play insyd de highest-level professional women's league insyd de United States, for de Atlanta Beat. Plus Asian compatriot Sun Wen insyd de team, she score de first goal insyd de club ein history, wey na she be a centerpiece of de Beat ein three seasons insyd de league, helping dem into de playoffs each year. Despite ein diminutive stature at  tall den , she hold ein own plus de mostly larger den more physical players, wey na she regularly dey among de team den league leaders in fouls taken.

 Nippon TV Beleza 
Dey follow de WUSA ein demise insyd 2003, Sawa return to Japan, wer na she play plus powerhouse Nippon TV Beleza. Insyd 2004, na dem name am Women's Player of de Year for de Asian Football Confederation. She play de club til 2008. De club win L.League championship for four years in a row (2005–2008). Na dem sanso select am L.League MVP awards insyd 2006 den 2008.

 Washington Freedom 
On 24 September 2008, na dem select Sawa by de Washington Freedom insyd de first round of de 2008 WPS International Draft. Na she be a fixture insyd de Freedom midfield thru de league ein first two seasons insyd 2009 den 2010.

 Nippon TV Beleza den INAC Kobe Leonessa 
Sawa return to Japan temporarily at de end of de 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, wey na she join Nippon TV Beleza on loan. At de end of 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season, she return to Nippon TV Beleza.

Insyd January 2011, Sawa move to INAC Kobe Leonessa secof financial strain at Nippon TV Beleza, plus international players; Shinobu Ohno, Yukari Kinga, den Chiaki Minamiyama. De club win de L.League championship three years in a row (2011–2013).

 Career statistics 

 Club 
+Appearances den goals by club, season den competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOdaTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsYomiuri Beleza1991135——1992203——1993175——19941711——19951816——19961714——19971814——19981611——199900——Total136790000Denver Diamonds1999—2000—TotalAtlanta Beat2001193———1932002217———2172003153———153Total55130000005513Nippon TV Beleza200465——2005211653——26192006171332——201520072064520—2611200821741——258Total85472000Washington Freedom2009203——102032010213———213Total416000010416Nippon TV Beleza (loan)20094241——83Nippon TV Beleza2010—10——10INAC Kobe Leonessa201116440——20420121723040—242201360—Total3367010000506Career total

 International 
+Appearances den goals by national team den yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan19934419946119958019961031997713199810419998020001120018620028520031210200482200593200617720071462008157200910201015320111452012101201320201481201581Total20583

 Scores den results dey list Japan ein goal tally first, score column dey indicate score after each Sawa goal.

+List of international goals wey Homare Sawa scoreNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition16 December 1993Sarawak State Stadium, Kuching, MalaysiaPhilippinesUnknown15–01993 AFC Women's Championship234520 August 1994SlovakiaSlovakiaUnknown2–2Slovakia international Women's Cup610 July 1996Fort Lauderdale, United StatesAustraliaUnknown2–2Friendly7815 July 1996Fort Lauderdale, United StatesSwedenUnknown1–3Friendly95 December 1997Guangzhou, ChinaGuamUnknown21–01997 AFC Women's Championship101112131415167 December 1997Guangzhou, ChinaIndia1–01–01997 AFC Women's Championship179 December 1997Guangzhou, ChinaHong KongUnknown9–01997 AFC Women's Championship18192014 December 1997Guangzhou, ChinaChinese Taipei1–02–01997 AFC Women's Championship212–0228 December 1998Bangkok, ThailandThailandUnknown6–0Football at the 1998 Asian Games2312 December 1998Bangkok, ThailandVietnamUnknown8–0Football at the 1998 Asian Games24252617 December 2000Phoenix, United StatesUnited States1–11–1Friendly274 December 2001Taipei, TaiwanSingaporeUnknown14–02001 AFC Women's Championship282930318 December 2001Taipei, TaiwanGuamUnknown11–02001 AFC Women's Championship32339 April 2002Poitiers, FranceCanada2–13–2Friendly343–1354 October 2002Changwon, South KoreaVietnam3–03–0Football at the 2002 Asian Games367 October 2002Masan, South KoreaSouth Korea1–01–0Football at the 2002 Asian Games379 October 2002Changwon, South KoreaChina2–02–2Football at the 2002 Asian Games389 June 2003Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Philippines7–015–02003 AFC Women's Championship3911 June 2003Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandGuamUnknown7–02003 AFC Women's Championship404113 June 2003Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandMyanmarUnknown7–02003 AFC Women's Championship4215 June 2003Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandChinese TaipeiUnknown5–02003 AFC Women's Championship434412 July 2003National Stadium, Tokyo, JapanMexico1–02–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Play-offs4520 September 2003Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United StatesArgentina1–06–02003 FIFA Women's World Cup462–04727 September 2003Gillette Stadium, Boston, United StatesCanada1–01–32003 FIFA Women's World Cup4818 April 2004National Stadium, Tokyo, JapanVietnamUnknown7–0Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualification4918 December 2004Nishigaoka Stadium, Tokyo, JapanChinese Taipei6–011–0Kirin Challenge Cup5021 May 2005Nishigaoka Stadium, Tokyo, JapanNew Zealand1–06–0Kirin Challenge Cup513–05228 May 2005RussiaRussiaUnknown2–0Friendly5310 March 2006ItalyScotlandUnknown4–0Friendly5419 July 2006Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, AustraliaVietnam1–05–02006 AFC Women's Asian Cup552–05619 July 2006Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, AustraliaChinese Taipei4–111–12006 AFC Women's Asian Cup579–15830 November 2006Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha, QatarJordan10–013–0Football at the 2006 Asian Games5913–06010 March 2007National Stadium, Tokyo, JapanMexico1–02–02007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification Play-off617 April 2007Tokyo, JapanVietnam1–02–0Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification6215 April 2007ThailandThailand1–04–0Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification633 June 2007Tokyo, JapanKorea6–06–1Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification644 August 2007VietnamVietnam7–08–0Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification6512 August 2007Tokyo, JapanThailand1–05–0Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics qualification6618 February 2008Chongqing, ChinaNorth Korea3–23–22008 EAFF Women's Football Championship675 July 2008Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamChina1–01–32008 AFC Women's Asian Cup688 July 2008Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamAustralia3–03–02008 AFC Women's Asian Cup6924 July 2008Kobe, JapanAustraliaUnknown3–0Friendly706 August 2008Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Qinhuangdao, ChinaNew Zealand}}2–22–22008 Summer Olympics7112 August 2008Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, ChinaNorway4–15–12008 Summer Olympics7215 August 2008Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Qinhuangdao, ChinaChina1–02–02008 Summer Olympics7320 May 2010Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, ChinaMyanmar2–08–02010 AFC Women's Asian Cup747–07530 May 2010Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu, ChinaChina2–02–02010 AFC Women's Asian Cup761 July 2011BayArena, Leverkusen, GermanyMexico1–04–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup773–0784–07913 July 2011Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, GermanySweden2–13–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup8017 July 2011Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, GermanyUSA2–22–2 (3–1 (Penalty shoot-out)2011 FIFA Women's World Cup8111 July 2012National Stadium, Tokyo, JapanAustralia3–03–0Friendly (Kirin Challenge Cup 2012)8222 May 2014Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamChina1–02–12014 AFC Women's Asian Cup8324 May 2015Kagawa Marugame Stadium, Kagawa, JapanNew Zealand1–01–0Friendly (MS&AD Nadeshiko Cup 2015)

 Matches den goals she score at World Cup den Olympic tournaments 
GoalMatchDateLocationOpponentLineupMinScoreResultCompetition Sweden 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup11995-06-05Karlstad GermanyStart0–1 LGroup stage21995-06-07Karlstad BrazilStart2–1 WGroup stage31995-06-09Västerås Swedenoff 76' (on Etsuko Handa)0–2 LGroup stage Atlanta 1996 Women's Olympic Football Tournament41996-07-21Birmingham, AL GermanyStart2–3 LGroup stage51996-07-23Birmingham, AL BrazilStart0–2 LGroup stage61996-07-25Washington, D.C. NorwayStart0–4 LGroup stage USA 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup71999-06-19San Jose, CA CanadaStart1–1 DGroup stage81999-06-23Portland, OR RussiaStart0–5 LGroup stage91999-06-26Chicago NorwayStart0–4 LGroup stage USA 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup1102003-09-20Columbus, OH Argentinaoff 80' (on Maruyama)131–06–0 WGroup stage2392–0112003-09-24Columbus, OH GermanyStart0–3 LGroup stage3122003-09-27Foxboro, MA CanadaStart201–01–3 LGroup stage Athens 2004 Women's Olympic Football Tournament132004-08-11Volos SwedenStart1–0 WGroup stage142004-08-14Piraeus NigeriaStart0–1 LGroup stage152004-08-20Thessaloniki United StatesStart1–2 LQuarter-final China 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup162007-09-11Shanghai EnglandStart2–2 DGroup stage172007-09-14Shanghai ArgentinaStart1–0 WGroup stage182007-09-17Hangzhou GermanyStart0–2 LGroup stage Beijing 2008 Women's Olympic Football Tournament4192008-08-06Qinhuangdao New ZealandStart; (c)862–22–2 DGroup stage202008-08-09Qinhuangdao United StatesStart0–1 LGroup stage5212008-08-12Shanghai NorwayStart704–15–1 WGroup stage6222008-08-15Qinhuangdao ChinaStart151–02–0 WQuarter-final232008-08-18Beijing United StatesStart2–4 LSemifinal242008-08-21Beijing GermanyStart0–2 LBronze medal match Germany 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup252011-06-27Bochum New ZealandStart; (c)2–1 WGroup stage7262011-07-01Leverkusen Mexicooff 83' (on Utsugi); (c)131–04–0 WGroup stage8393–09804–0272011-07-05Augsburg EnglandStart; (c)0–2 LGroup stage282011-07-09Wolfsburg GermanyStart; (c)1–0 aet WQuarter-final10292011-07-13Frankfurt SwedenStart; (c)602–13–1 WSemifinal11302011-07-17Frankfurt United StatesStart; (c)1172–22–2 (pso 3–1) (W)Final London 2012 Women's Olympic Football Tournament312012-07-25Coventry CanadaStart2–1 WGroup stage322012-07-28Coventry Swedenoff 59' (on Tanaka)0–0 DGroup stage332012-08-03Cardiff BrazilStart2–0 WQuarter-final342012-08-06London FranceStart2–1 WSemifinal352012-08-09London United StatesStart1–2 LGold medal match Canada 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup362015-06-08Vancouver Switzerlandoff 57' (on Kawamura)1–0 WGroup stage372015-06-12Vancouver Cameroonon 64' (off Sakaguchi)2–1 WGroup stage382015-06-16Winnipeg EcuadorStart2–1 WGroup stage392015-06-16Vancouver Netherlandson 80' (off Kawasumi)1–0 WRound of 16402015-06-27Edmonton Australiaon 90' (off Sakaguchi)2–1 WQuarter-final412015-07-05Vancouver United Stateson 33' (off Iwashimizu)2–5 LFinal

 Honors 
Yomiuri/Nippon TV Beleza

 Nadeshiko.League (8): 1991, 1992, 1993, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
 Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Football Tournament (7): 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009
 Nadeshiko League Cup: 2007

INAC Kobe Leonessa

 Nadeshiko.League: 2011, 2012, 2013
 Empress's Cup All-Japan Women's Football Tournament: 2011
 International Women's Club Championship: 2013
 Nadeshiko League Cup: 2013

Japan

 East Asian Football Championship: 2008, 2010
 Asian Games Gold Medal: 2010
 FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011
 Olympic Silver Medal: 2012
 AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014

Individual

 Nadeshiko League Best Eleven (11): 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
 AFC Women's Player of the Year: 2004, 2008
 Nadeshiko League MVP: 2006, 2008
 EAFF Women's Football Championship Best Player: 2008, 2010
 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2011
 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Shoe: 2011
 FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team: 2011
 FIFA World Player of the Year: 2011
 Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014
 IFFHS AFC Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
 IFFHS AFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020

 References 

 External links 

 Homare Sawa – FIFA competition record (archived)
 Homare Sawa at Soccerway 
 Homare Sawa at WorldFootball.net 
 Homare Sawa at Olympedia
 Homare Sawa at Olympics.com
 JFA players' Information

 FIFA 2007 Women's World Cup bio page at the Wayback Machine (archived 24 August 2007)
 2012 London Olympics player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2 May 2013)
 WPS Press Release at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 March 2009)

Category:1978 births
Category:1995 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:1999 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:2003 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:2007 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:2011 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Japan
Category:Asian Games footballers for Japan
Category:Asian Games silver medalists for Japan
Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for Japan
Category:Association football people wey komot Tokyo Metropolis
Category:Atlanta Beat (WUSA) players
Category:Denver Diamonds players
Category:Expatriate women's soccer players insyd de United States
Category:FIFA Women's Century Club
Category:FIFA Women's World Cup–winning players
Category:FIFA World Player of de Year winners
Category:Footballers at de 1994 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at de 1996 Summer Olympics
Category:Footballers at de 1998 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at de 2002 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at de 2004 Summer Olympics
Category:Footballers at de 2006 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at de 2008 Summer Olympics
Category:Footballers at de 2010 Asian Games
Category:Footballers at de 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:INAC Kobe Leonessa players
Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople insyd de United States
Category:Japanese women's footballers
Category:Japan women's international footballers
Category:Human
Category:Medalists at de 1994 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at de 1998 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at de 2002 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at de 2006 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at de 2010 Asian Games
Category:Medalists at de 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:Nadeshiko League players
Category:Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza players
Category:Olympic footballers for Japan
Category:Olympic medalists insyd football
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Japan
Category:People wey komot Fuchū, Tokyo
Category:USL W-League (1995–2015) players
Category:Washington Freedom (soccer) players
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:Women's Professional Soccer players
Category:Women's United Soccer Association players
Category:Nadeshiko League MVPs
Category:Asian Games gold medalists insyd football
Category:Asian Games silver medalists insyd football
Category:Asian Games bronze medalists insyd football