Akinori Nishizawa

Akinori Nishizawa
Personal information
Full name	Akinori Nishizawa
Date of birth	June 18, 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1992–1994	Shimizu Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1995–2000	Cerezo Osaka
1995–1996	→Volendam (loan)
2000–2001	Espanyol
2001	Cerezo Osaka
2001–2002	Bolton Wanderers
2002–2006	Cerezo Osaka
2007–2008	Shimizu S-Pulse
2009	Cerezo Osaka
Total
National team
1997–2002	Japan
Honours
Cerezo Osaka
Shimizu S-Pulse
Representing Japan
FIFA Confederations Cup
AFC Asian Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Akinori Nishizawa (西澤明訓, Nishizawa Akinori, born June 18, 1976) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Nishizawa was born in Shizuoka on June 18, 1976. After graduating from Shimizu Higashi High School, he joined J1 League club Cerezo Osaka in 1995. He moved to Spanish club Espanyol in December 2000. In July 2001, he moved to English club Bolton Wanderers. During his brief spell playing Bolton Wanderers, he is best remembered for scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Walsall in the League Cup. In 2002, he returned to Cerezo Osaka was relegated to J2 League from 2002. The club won the 2nd place in 2002 and was promoted to J1 League. In 2006, the club was relegated to J2 League. He moved to his local club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2007. He returned to Cerezo Osaka in 2009 and he retired end of 2009 season.

On May 21, 1997, he debuted for the Japan national team against South Korea. Although he played 4 games and scored 2 goals at 1998 World Cup qualification in 1997, he was not selected Japan for 1998 World Cup. In 2000, he played for Japan for the first time in 3 years. At 2000 Asian Cup in October, he played all 6 games and scored 5 goals. Japan won the champions. At 2001 Confederations Cup, he also played 4 games and scored 1 goals. Japan won the 2nd place. He was selected Japan for 2002 World Cup and played 1 game. This match was his last game for Japan. He played 29 games and scored 10 goals for Japan until 2002.

Statistics

^[1]^[2]

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1995	Cerezo Osaka	J1 League	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		League Cup		Total
1995/96	Volendam	Eerste Divisie	0	0					0	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1996	Cerezo Osaka	J1 League	14	3	2	0	11	5	17	8
1997			19	7	2	1	2	2	23	10
1998			32	7	1	0	4	1	37	8
1999			30	11	2	4	3	2	35	17
2000			29	15	0	0	3	2	32	17
Spain			League		Copa del Rey		Copa de la Liga		Total
2000/01	Espanyol	La Liga	6	0	2	0	-		8	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
2001	Cerezo Osaka	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
England			League		FA Cup		Football League Cup		Total
2001/02	Bolton Wanderers	Premier League	0	0	0	0	3	1	3	1
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
2002	Cerezo Osaka	J2 League	34	8	1	0	-		35	8
2003		J1 League	24	7	5	1	4	1	33	9
2004			29	8	1	0	5	1	35	9
2005			28	10	2	0	8	4	38	14
2006			33	8	1	0	6	4	40	12
2007	Shimizu S-Pulse	J1 League	22	0	3	2	6	1	31	3
2008	Shimizu S-Pulse	J1 League	21	5	0	0	8	2	29	7
2009	Cerezo Osaka	J2 League	18	1	0	0	-		18	1
Country	Japan		333	90	20	8	60	25	413	123
	Netherlands		0	0					0	0
	Spain		6	0	2	0	-		8	0
	England		0	0	0	0	3	1	3	1
Total			339	90	22	8	63	26	424	124