Ayumi Hara

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born in Hachioji, Tokyo on February 21, 1979, Hara began her youth football career at Sugino Moyogusa SS, where she played from 1986 to 1990. Following this, she joined the youth organization of Yomiuri Nippon Beleza, known as Menina, playing there from 1991 to 1992. While still in her third year of junior high school, in 1993, she was promoted to the senior Yomiuri Nippon Beleza team.

2.1. Youth Club Career

Hara's foundational training took place at Sugino Moyogusa SS from 1986 to 1990. She then advanced to the Yomiuri Nippon Soccer Club Ladies Menina from 1991 to 1992. Her talent led to her promotion to the senior Nippon TV Beleza squad in 1993, at just 14 years old, while she was still a junior high school student.

2.2. Professional Club Career

Hara began her professional club career in 1993, debuting for Yomiuri Nippon Beleza (later known by various names including Yomiuri Seiyu Beleza, Yomiuri Beleza, NTV Beleza, and ultimately Nippon TV Beleza). During her initial tenure with the club, she played a pivotal role in their success, contributing to their victory in the 1993 5th Japan Women's Football League. With Beleza, she also won the Empress's Cup in 1994 and 1998. She formed a formidable partnership with teammates Homare Sawa and Yoe Kato, a trio affectionately known as the "Genius Trio." In the 2000 season, she was recognized as the L.League's Most Valuable Player and was part of the Best Eleven in both 1999 and 2000. She served as captain for both Beleza and the national team in 2000, becoming the youngest-ever captain for the women's national team.

By 2002, a reduction in playing time at Beleza and challenges with national team call-ups led her to transfer to Iga FC Kunoichi. She played for Iga FC Kunoichi until 2005. Despite initially deciding to retire in 2005 due to the difficulty of balancing her work and football career, she received a professional contract offer from INAC Leonessa (now INAC Kobe Leonessa) in 2006, a club that had just been promoted to the Nadeshiko League's first division. She accepted the offer, leveraging her extensive experience to support the newly promoted team. She remained with INAC Kobe Leonessa until 2009, when she announced her retirement on December 27.

However, Hara made a return to professional football in July 2013, joining AS Elfen Sayama FC (later AS Elfen Saitama) as both a coach and a player. She played for the club until the end of the 2014 season. Throughout her club career, she made a total of 245 appearances across three clubs in the L.League, scoring 65 goals. She was also selected for the L.League Best Eleven three times (1999, 2000, and 2008).

2.3. National Team Career

Ayumi Hara's international career with the Japan national team spanned from 1998 to 2008, during which she made significant contributions to the team's international presence.

Hara made her debut for Japan on May 17, 1998, at the age of 18, in a match against the United States. She went on to play 42 games for the national team, scoring 2 goals. After a period of not being called up, she made a return to the national squad in December 2004 for a friendly match against Chinese Taipei. She served as the national team captain in 2000, becoming the youngest player to hold this role for the Japanese women's team.

4.1. Club Honors

With Yomiuri Nippon Beleza / NTV Beleza, she achieved:

• Japan Women's Football League
  • Champions: 1993, 2000, 2001
• All-Japan Women's Selected Football Tournament
  • Winners: 1994
• Empress's Cup
  • Winners: 1994, 1998

4.2. Individual Honors

Hara's individual accolades in the Japan Women's Football League include:

• Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: 2000
• Best Eleven: 1999, 2000, 2008

5.1. Club Statistics

5.2. National Team Statistics

Hara represented the Japan national team for over a decade, making 42 appearances and scoring 2 goals.

5.3. International Goals

Ayumi Hara scored two goals for the Japan national team in international competitions: