Naohiro Takahara

Naohiro Takahara (高原 直泰, Takahara Naohiro, born June 4, 1979) is a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Naohiro Takahara
高原 直泰

Takahara with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Naohiro Takahara
Date of birth	(1979-06-04) June 4, 1979
Place of birth	Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	Okinawa SV
Number	10
Youth career
1995–1997	Shimizu Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2002	Júbilo Iwata	105	(58)
2001	→ Boca Juniors (loan)	6	(1)
2002–2006	Hamburg	97	(13)
2006–2008	Eintracht Frankfurt	38	(12)
2008–2010	Urawa Reds	63	(10)
2010	→ Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan)	12	(4)
2011–2012	Shimizu S-Pulse	46	(9)
2013–2014	Tokyo Verdy	41	(11)
2014–2015	SC Sagamihara	54	(11)
2016–	Okinawa SV
Total		462	(129)
National team
1995	Japan U-17	3	(1)
1998–1999	Japan U-20	16	(16)
1998–2000	Japan U-23	11	(4)
2000–2008	Japan	57	(23)
Teams managed
2016–2019	Okinawa SV
Honours Júbilo Iwata Winner J1 League 1999 Winner J1 League 2002 Runner-up J1 League 1998 Runner-up J1 League 2001 Winner J.League Cup 1998 Runner-up J.League Cup 2001 Shimizu S-Pulse Runner-up J.League Cup 2012 Representing Japan AFC Asian Cup 2000 Lebanon FIFA U-20 World Cup 1999 Nigeria AFC U-19 Championship 1998 Thailand AFC U-16 Championship 1994 Qatar
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of December 31, 2015

Biography

Takahara was born in Mishima on June 4, 1979. After graduating from Shimizu Higashi High School, he joined J1 League club Júbilo Iwata in 1998. In 1998, the club won J.League Cup and he was selected "New Hero awards". In 1999, the club won J1 League and 1998–99 Asian Club Championship. The club also won the 2nd place 1999–00 and 2000–01 Asian Club Championship. In August 2001, he moved to Boca Juniors on loan. In February 2002, he returned to Júbilo Iwata. The club won the champions and he became a top scorer with 26 goals in 27 matches. End of 2002 season, he moved to German Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. In 2006, he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt. In 2008, he returned to Japan and joined Urawa Reds. However his opportunity to play decreased in 2010 and he moved to K-League club Suwon Samsung Bluewings in July. In 2011, he returned to Japan and joined Shimizu S-Pulse. From 2013, he played for Tokyo Verdy, SC Sagamihara and Okinawa SV.

In August 1995, Takahara was selected Japan U-17 national team for 1995 U-17 World Championship. He played all 3 matches and scored 1 goal. In April 1999, he was also selected Japan U-20 national team for 1999 World Youth Championship. He played all 7 matches and scored 3 goals. Japan won the 2nd place. In February 2000, he was selected Japan national team for 2000 Asian Cup qualification. At this qualification, on February 13, he debuted against Singapore. He played all 3 matches and 3 goals and Japan won the qualify for 2000 Asian Cup.

In September, he was selected Japan U-23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played all 4 matches and scored 3 goals in first match and quarterfinal. In October, he played at 2000 Asian Cup. He played 5 matches and scored 5 goals. Japan won the champions. However he missed the 2002 World Cup, because of lung disease (venous thrombosis).

After 2002 World Cup, Takahara played at 2003 Confederations Cup. Although his convocation for Japan decreased due to the schedule, he played as regular player when he was elected Japan. In 2006, he was elected Japan for 2006 World Cup and he played all 3 matches. After 2006 World Cup, he played at 2007 Asian Cup. He played 6 matches and scored 4 goals, and became a top scorer. He played 57 games and scored 23 goals for Japan until 2008.

Statistics

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
1998	Júbilo Iwata	J1 League	20	5	2	0	6	4	-		28	9
1999			21	9	3	1	1	0	-		25	10
2000			24	10	0	0	2	0	-		26	10
2001			13	8	0	0	2	2	-		15	10
Argentina			League		Cup		League Cup		South America		Total
2001/02	Boca Juniors	Primera División	6	1	-		-		-		6	1
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
2002	Júbilo Iwata	J1 League	27	26	3	0	0	0	-		30	26
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		Premiere Ligapokal		Europe		Total
2002/03	Hamburger SV	Bundesliga	16	3	0	0	0	0	-		16	3
2003/04			29	2	3	1	3	1	2	0	37	4
2004/05			31	7	1	0	-		1	0	33	7
2005/06			21	1	2	1	-		10	0	33	2
2006/07	Eintracht Frankfurt	Bundesliga	30	11	4	4	-		5	2	39	17
2007/08			8	1	2	0	-		-		10	1
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
2008	Urawa Reds	J1 League	27	6	1	0	3	1	4	1	35	8
2009			32	4	0	0	8	2	-		40	6
2010			4	0	0	0	1	1	-		5	1
South Korea			League		Korean FA Cup		League Cup		Asia		Total
2010	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	K-League	12	4	1	0	-		1	0	14	4
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
2011	Shimizu S-Pulse	J1 League	28	8	1	0	4	1	-		33	9
2012			18	1	0	0	2	0	-		20	1
2013	Tokyo Verdy	J2 League	41	11	0	0	-		-		41	11
2014			0	0	0	0	-		-		0	0
2014	SC Sagamihara	J3 League	21	5	-		-		-		21	5
2015			33	6	-		-		-		33	6
Country	Japan		309	99	10	1	29	11	4	1	352	112
	Argentina		6	1	-		-		-		6	1
	Germany		135	25	12	6	3	1	18	2	168	34
	South Korea		12	4	1	0	-		1	0	14	4
Total			462	129	23	7	32	12	23	3	540	151

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2000	11	8
2001	4	0
2002	4	1
2003	8	2
2004	5	1
2005	7	2
2006	5	3
2007	9	6
2008	4	0
Total	57	23

Other websites

• Naohiro Takahara at Soccerway.com
• Naohiro Takahara at WorldFootball.net
• Naohiro Takahara at National-Football-Teams.com
• Naohiro Takahara at FBref.com
• Naohiro Takahara at J.League (in Japanese)