Akira Narahashi

Akira Narahashi
Personal information
Full name	Akira Narahashi
Date of birth	November 26, 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth	Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1987–1989	Chiba Eiwa High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1990–1996	Bellmare Hiratsuka
1997–2006	Kashima Antlers
2007	Shonan Bellmare
Total
National team
1994–2003	Japan
Honours
Shonan Bellmare
Kashima Antlers
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Akira Narahashi (名良橋晃, Narahashi Akira, born November 26, 1971) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Narahashi was born in Chiba on November 26, 1971. After graduating from Chiba Eiwa High School in 1990, he joined Fujita Industries (later Bellmare Hiratsuka, Shonan Bellmare) playing in the Japan Soccer League Division 2. In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and the club joined new league Japan Football League. The club won the champions in 1993 and was promoted to J1 League. In 1994, the club won the Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club also won 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

Narahashi moved to Kashima Antlers in 1997. The presence of Jorginho at Kashima propelled his decision to move as he aspired to learn the trade under the Brazilian international full back. In 2000, the club won all three major title in Japan; J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup first time in J1 League history. The club won J1 League 3 times, J.League Cup 3 times and Emperor's Cup 2 times. From the mid 2000s, his opportunities to play decreased. At the end of the 2006 season, Kashima announced that they wouldn't renew his contract.

Narahashi returned to Bellmare in February 2007 but was released in August 2007. On February 1, 2008, he announced his retirement from professional football.

On September 27, 1994, Narahashi debuted for the Japan national team against Australia. He competed with Hiroshige Yanagimoto to be the right side-back. When Yanagimoto got hurt in 1997, Narahashi became a regular. At 1998 World Cup qualification, Japan qualified for the first time in the country's history. He played in all 3 matches at the 1998 World Cup.

After the 2002 World Cup, in October, Narahashi was selected Japan by new manager Zico for the first time in 4 years. He was also selected for Japan for 2003 Confederations Cup, but he did not play in the competition. He played 38 games for Japan from 1994 to 2003.

Statistics

^[1]^[2]

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
1990–91	Fujita Industries	JSL Division 2	25	5			1	0	-		26	5
1991–92		JSL Division 2	25	3			3	0	-		28	3
1992		Football League	18	1	4	0	-		-		22	1
1993		Football League	17	5	1	0	5	0	-		23	5
1994	Bellmare Hiratsuka	J1 League	39	2	4	0	1	0	-		44	2
1995			46	4	2	0	-		-		48	4
1996			29	1	3	0	14	1	-		46	2
1997	Kashima Antlers	J1 League	17	1	5	0	7	1	-		29	2
1998			33	5	4	0	1	0	-		38	5
1999			15	2	2	1	7	1	-		24	4
2000			26	3	4	0	7	1	-		37	4
2001			27	3	3	0	6	0	-		36	3
2002			25	1	5	0	8	0	-		38	1
2003			27	1	0	0	4	0	3	0	34	1
2004			12	0	0	0	4	0	-		16	0
2005			11	0	3	0	0	0	-		14	0
2006			3	0	0	0	0	0	-		3	0
2007	Shonan Bellmare	J2 League	1	0	0	0	-		-		1	0
Country	Japan		396	37	40	1	68	4	3	0	507	42
Total			396	37	40	1	68	4	3	0	507	42