Naoki Matsuda

Japanese association football player (1977-2011)

Naoki Matsuda (松田 直樹, Matsuda Naoki, March 14, 1977 – August 4, 2011) was a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Naoki Matsuda
Personal information
Full name Naoki Matsuda
Date of birth (1977-03-14)March 14, 1977
Place of birth Kiryu, Gunma, Japan
Date of death August 4, 2011(2011-08-04) (aged 34)
Place of death Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1992–1994 Maebashi Ikuei High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2010 Yokohama F. Marinos 385 (17)
2011 Matsumoto Yamaga FC 15 (1)
Total 400 (18)
National team
1993 Japan U-17 4 (1)
1995 Japan U-20 4 (0)
1996–2000 Japan U-23 5 (0)
2000–2005 Japan 40 (1)
Honours
Yokohama F. Marinos
Winner J1 League 1995
Winner J1 League 2003
Winner J1 League 2004
Runner-up J1 League 2000
Runner-up J1 League 2002
Winner J.League Cup 2001
Representing  Japan
FIFA Confederations Cup
Silver medal – second place 2001 Korea-Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2000 Lebanon
Gold medal – first place 2004 China
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

change

Matsuda was born in Kiryu on March 14, 1977. After graduating from Maebashi Ikuei High School, he joined Yokohama Marinos (later Yokohama F. Marinos) in 1995. From first season, he became a regular player and played as right back of three defense with Japan national team players Masami Ihara and Norio Omura. The club won the champions in 1995 J1 League. In 2000s, he mainly played as center back with Yuji Nakazawa or Yuzo Kurihara, also played defensive midfielder. The club won the champions in 2001 J.League Cup, 2003 and 2004 J1 League. Although he played as central player of Marinos in 16 seasons, he was sacked end of 2010 season.

In August 1993, Matsuda was selected the Japan U-17 national team for 1993 U-17 World Championship. He played full-time in all 4 matches and scored 1 goal. In April 1995, he was also selected the Japan U-20 national team for 1995 World Youth Championship and he played full-time in all 4 matches.

In July 1996, Matsuda was selected the Japan U-23 national team for 1996 Summer Olympics and he played full-time in all 3 matches. Although Japan won 2 matches, Japan lost at First round. At this time, Japan won Brazil in first game. It was known as "Miracle of Miami" (マイアミの奇跡) in Japan.

On 5 February 2000, Matsuda debuted for the Japan national team against Mexico. After the debut, he played many matches as one of three backs defense. In September, he was selected U-23 Japan for 2000 Summer Olympics 2nd time. However he played only 2 matches instead Koji Nakata got injured in the third game.

In October 2000, Matsuda was selected Japan for 2000 Asian Cup. He played 3 matches and Japan won the champions. In 2001, he was also selected Japan for 2001 Confederations Cup. He played 4 matches and Japan won the 2nd place. At 2002 World Cup, he played full-time in all 4 matches. After 2002 World Cup, he did not play in many matches. He was selected Japan for 2004 Asian Cup. Although Japan won the champions, he played only 5 minutes. On 29 January 2005, he played and scored a goal against Kazakhstan. Although this goal is his first goal for Japan, this game became his last game for Japan. He played 40 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 2005.

In 2011, Matsuda moved to Japan Football League club Matsumoto Yamaga FC. Although he played for qualify for promote to J2 League, in August 2, he collapsed for myocardial infarction during training. On August 4, he died at the age of 34. His last match against Honda on July 23 was his400th game in the league. At the end of the season, the club won promotion to the J2 League.

During practice on August 2, 2011, he collapsed from a heatstroke and a heart attack. He was rushed to hospital.[1] He was put on life support, but died from "sudden cardiac failure" on August 4.[2]

Statistics

change

[3][4]

Club statistics League CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeague Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AsiaTotal
1995 Yokohama Marinos J1 League 33 1 1 0 - - 34 1
1996 16 0 1 0 11 2 - 28 2
1997 31 2 2 0 6 0 - 39 2
1998 12 0 1 0 4 1 - 17 1
1999 Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League 27 0 3 0 2 0 - 32 0
2000 24 2 2 1 3 0 - 29 3
2001 29 0 1 0 9 0 - 39 0
2002 25 2 1 0 0 0 - 26 2
2003 20 0 0 0 5 0 - 25 0
2004 24 1 1 0 4 0 4 0 33 1
2005 27 1 1 0 4 1 4 0 36 2
2006 29 4 0 0 9 3 - 38 7
2007 8 1 2 0 5 0 - 15 1
2008 30 1 3 0 7 0 - 40 1
2009 31 1 3 0 10 2 - 44 3
2010 19 1 3 0 3 0 - 25 1
2011 Matsumoto Yamaga FC Football League 15 1 0 0 - - 15 1
Country Japan 400 18 25 1 82 9 8 0 515 28
Total 400 18 25 1 82 9 8 0 515 28

[5]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
2000 14 0
2001 10 0
2002 12 0
2003 0 0
2004 3 0
2005 1 1
Total 40 1

References

change
  1. "Former Japan defender Naoki Matsuda dies of heart attack aged 34," Archived 2012-10-19 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian (UK. August 4, 2011; retrieved 2011-10-22.
  2. Hughes, Rob. "A Soccer Player’s Tragic Death." New York Times (US). August 4, 2011; retrieved 2011-10-22.
  3. Naoki Matsuda at National-Football-Teams.com  
  4. Naoki Matsuda at J.League (in Japanese)  
  5. Japan National Football Team Database

Other websites

change