Aya Miyama

**Aya Miyama** (宮間 あや, *Miyama Aya*; born 28 January 1985) be a Japanese former footballer wey play give de Japan national team wey she start insyd 2003, den from 2012 to 2016 na she serve as captain of de team. She appear insyd four World Cups between 2003 den 2015, wey na she be part of de team wey win de 2011 World Cup give Japan. Miyama sanso lead Japan to a silver medal at de 2012 Summer Olympics insyd London.

## Club career

### Early career
Na dem born Miyama insyd Ōamishirasato, Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, on 28 January 1985. She start ein career as a football player insyd de club na ein poppie found. She later join Nippon TV Beleza insyd 1999 after she play plus dema youth team, buh na wen she dey insyd eleventh grade, she lef de team wey na she go de high school football club. Even among male players, na she keep dey play football.

Miyama join L.League side Okayama Yunogo Belle insyd 2001, wey na she receive an invitation from Midori Honda, de coach.

### WPS

On 24 November 2008, na dem select Miyama by de Los Angeles Sol of de U.S. Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) insyd de 2008 WPS International Draft, wey na she join Sol insyd 2009. Insyd de 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, na she get 6 assists buh no goals. Wen na dem disband de Sol insyd early 2010, na Saint Louis Athletica take am. Miyama signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Beat on 10 June 2010.

### Return to Japan
Miyama return to Okayama Yunogo Belle insyd September 2010. She lef de club at de end of de 2016 season.

## International career
At de 2007 World Cup dem hold insyd China, Miyama perform brilliantly insyd Japan ein match against England, wey she score de team ein two goals both from direct free kicks as na dem hold on to a draw. Insyd Japan ein first group stage match of de 2011 World Cup, she score de go-ahead goal insyd Japan ein win against New Zealand from anoda free kick insyd de 68th minute, wey na dem name am Player of de Match.

At de 2011 World Cup insyd Germany, Miyama score de winner – a curling free kick – to help Japan beat New Zealand, wey na she net Japan ein first goal insyd de final against de USA. Miyama sanso score Japan ein first penalty of de eventual penalty shoot-out insyd de final wich end 2–2 after extra time. Na ein team win 3–1 insyd de penalty shoot-out, wey make dem de first Asian team to win de World Cup. Insyd de moment of victory, na Miyama no join ein teammates in celebration, buh instead na she go de American players to hug den congratulate dem. Na dem report dis both by Hope Solo den de Japanese media as evidence of Miyama ein sportsmanship den respect give ein opponents.

Na dem name Miyama de AFC Women's Footballer of de Year insyd 2011, 2012 den 2015.

At de 2012 Summer Olympics, Miyama lead Japan to de silver medal as captain. At de 2015 World Cup, she sanso captain de team wey na dem loose insyd de final to de USA. At de 2016 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Japan fail to qualify for de 2016 Summer Olympics. Dey follow de tournament, she retire from de national team. She play 162 matches wey she score 38 goals for Japan.

## Career statistics

### Club

: *As of 21 November 2015*

### International

## Honors
**Japan**

* FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011; runner-up: 2015
* Summer Olympics runner-up: 2012
* AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014
* Asian Games Gold Medal: 2010
* East Asian Football Championship: 2008, 2010

**Individual**

* FIFA Women's World Cup All-Star Team: 2011
* FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze Ball: 2015
* AFC Women's Asian Cup Best player: 2014
* AFC Women's Player of de Year: 2011, 2012, 2015
* Algarve Cup Best player: 2012
* L.League Division 1 Best Eleven (6): 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
* L.League Division 2 Best Player: 2004
* L.League Division 2 top scorer: 2004
* FIFPro: FIFA FIFPro World XI 2015
* IFFHS AFC Woman Team of de Decade 2011–2020

## References


## External links

* Aya Miyama – FIFA competition record (archived)
* Aya Miyama at Soccerway 
* Aya Miyama at WorldFootball.net 
* Japan Football Association
* Okayama Yunogo Belle player profile Archived 27 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine
* Aya Miyama at Olympedia 
* Aya Miyama at Olympics.com
* Aya Miyama – London 2012 at Team Japan (in Japanese) (in English)
* Aya Miyama – Beijing 2008 at Team Japan (in Japanese) (in English)