Yuji Nakazawa

is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography
Nakazawa was born in Yoshikawa on February 25, 1978. After graduating from Misato Technical High School, he moved to Brazil in 1996. In 1998, he returned to Japan and signed with J1 League club Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) as a trainee. He signed professional contract in 1999. In 1999, he became a regular center back and was selected "Rookie of the Year award" and Best Eleven. In 2002, he moved to Yokohama F. Marinos. The club won the champions in the 2003 and 2004 J1 League. He was also selected "MVP award" and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" in 2004 season. He played as regular center back for long time. He retired end of the 2018 season at the age of 40.

On September 8, 1999, Nakazawa debuted for the Japan national team against Iran. In 2000, he was selected the Japan U-23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics and played all 4 matches. He also played at 2000 Asian Cup and won the champions. However his opportunity to play decreased after the 2000 Asian Cup. From autumn 2003, he became a regular player as center back with Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. In 2004, he participated in the 2004 Asian Cup. He played all 6 matches and scored 3 goals, and Japan won the champions again. He also played at 2006 World Cup. In 2007, he played in the 2007 Asian Cup, but this time the team failed to defend the title and finished the 4th place. In 2010, he was selected Japan for 2010 World Cup. He played all 4 matches as center back with Marcus Tulio Tanaka. Nakazawa played 110 games and scored 17 goals for Japan until 2010.

Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionYokohama F. Marinos ClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupAsiaOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTokyo Verdy1999J1 League2813120––33220002942030––34420012600020––280Total8355170––956Yokohama F. Marinos2002J1 League2712000––29120032942072––38620042711000203033120052731030401036320062313020––28120073221070––40220083343130––39520093231030––36320102200021––24120113315050––43120123335030––41320133413180––45220143420021501039320153403030––40020163435060––45320173412000––36120182211020––251Total510313825641105062037Career total593364336341105071543

International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan1999102000622001202002102003402004155200512120061212007132200816420091422010140Total11017

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakazawa goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Yuji NakazawaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 13 February 2000 Macau, China   3–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification2 3 9 June 2004 Saitama, Japan   7–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification4 5 24 July 2004 Chongqing, China   4–1 2004 AFC Asian Cup6 7  3 August 2004  Jinan, China    4–3  2004 AFC Asian Cup8  7 August 2005  Daegu, South Korea    1–0  2005 East Asian Football Championship9  10 February 2006  San Francisco, United States    2–3  Friendly10  1 June 2007  Fukuroi, Japan    2–0  2007 Kirin Cup11  25 July 2007  Hanoi, Vietnam    2–3  2007 AFC Asian Cup12  28 January 2008  Tokyo, Japan    3–0  Friendly13  6 February 2008  Saitama, Japan    4–1  2010 FIFA World Cup qualification14  2 June 2008  Yokohama, Japan    3–0  FIFA World Cup qualification15  14 June 2008  Bangkok, Thailand    3–0  FIFA World Cup qualification16  4 February 2009  Tokyo, Japan    5–1  Friendly17  8 October 2009  Shizuoka, Japan    6–0  2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honours
Yokohama F. Marinos
 J1 League: 2003, 2004
 Emperor's Cup: 2013

Japan
 AFC Asian Cup: 2000, 2004

Individual
 AFC Asian Cup Best Eleven – 2004
 J.League Most Valuable Player – 2004
 J.League Rookie of the Year – 1999
 J.League Best Eleven – 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013
 J.League 20th Anniversary Team
 J.League 30th Anniversary Team
 Japanese Footballer of the Year – 2004
 Selected to AFC All Star Team – 1999
 East Asian Football Championship Best Defender – 2008
 AFC Asian Cup All-time XI: 2023

References

Other websites

Category:1978 births
Category:Living people
Category:Footballers from Saitama Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:J1 League players
Category:Tokyo Verdy players
Category:Yokohama F. Marinos players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Category:2000 AFC Asian Cup players
Category:AFC Asian Cup-winning players