Japanese FootballerJ.League PlayerKashima AntlersMidfielder

Daichi Kawashima

Daichi Kawashima (born 1986) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Kashima Antlers, Montedio Yamagata, and Giravanz Kitakyushu, transitioning to coaching in 2020.

1. Overview

Daichi Kawashima (川島 大地Kawashima DaichiJapanese, born November 21, 1986) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture, he embarked on his football journey from a young age, developing his skills through various youth, school, and university teams. His professional playing career saw him represent several prominent Japanese clubs, including Kashima Antlers, Montedio Yamagata, and Giravanz Kitakyushu. After his retirement as a player in 2020, Kawashima transitioned into a coaching career, taking on various roles within Giravanz Kitakyushu.

2. Early Life and Youth Career

Kawashima's formative years in football, from his childhood introduction to the sport through his university education, were crucial in shaping his development as a player and laying the groundwork for his professional career.

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Daichi Kawashima was born on November 21, 1986, in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. His journey in football began early; in the second grade of elementary school, he joined the Hamano Soccer Sports Youth Team (波野サッカースポーツ少年団) in Ibaraki Prefecture, along with his elder brother. During his time in elementary school, he actively participated in various youth tournaments, including the Ibaraki Prefectural competition of the All Japan Youth Soccer Tournament. Kawashima has stated that he gained extensive experience during this developmental period by playing every position on the field except for goalkeeper.

q=Kashima, Ibaraki|position=right

2.2. School and Amateur Career

Kawashima continued his football progression through his academic years. He attended Kashima Municipal Kashima Junior High School and subsequently Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima High School, where he was an active member of their respective school football clubs. It was during his junior high school period that he began to consistently play in his primary professional position, operating on the left side of the midfield. His talent was recognized early, leading to his selection for the Ibaraki Prefectural representative teams during both his junior high and high school tenures. While in high school, he also participated in the Kanto regional block tournament of the National Sports Festival.

Upon his graduation from high school, Kawashima received offers from several clubs within the J.League. However, he chose to forgo immediate professional entry and instead enrolled at Tokai University. At Tokai University, he was a key member of the university's football club, competing in both Division 1 and Division 2 of the Kanto University Soccer League. In 2008, he was selected for the B-team of the Kanto University Opening Festival select squad. Despite this recognition, 2008 brought a significant challenge when Kawashima suffered a severe left knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture in March, necessitating surgery. This injury kept him sidelined for the initial part of the Kanto University League season, but he made a successful return to play by late October. In November 2008, he received an official offer from Kashima Antlers, and following competition from other interested clubs, his professional contract with the club was finalized.

3. Professional Playing Career

Kawashima's professional football career spanned over a decade, marked by his tenures at three different Japanese clubs, where he experienced both successes and challenging injuries.

3.1. Kashima Antlers

Daichi Kawashima officially joined Kashima Antlers in January 2009, making his professional debut alongside players such as Park Joo-ho, Tomohiko Miyazaki, and Yuya Osako. During his initial season with the club in 2009, he participated in matches within the J.League Satellite League. His progress was, however, unfortunately interrupted on October 5, 2009, when he sustained a serious left knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a training session. This injury required surgery, which was performed on October 27, and he faced a diagnosis of a six-month recovery period. Following a two-year loan spell, Kawashima returned to Kashima Antlers for the 2013 season.

3.2. Montedio Yamagata (loan)

From 2011, Kawashima embarked on a two-year loan spell with Montedio Yamagata. During this period, he gained valuable first-team experience before completing his loan and returning to his parent club, Kashima Antlers, for the 2013 season.

3.3. Giravanz Kitakyushu

In 2014, Kawashima made a permanent transfer to Giravanz Kitakyushu. He quickly made an impact, earning his first starting appearance for the club and scoring his first league goal on April 13, 2014, in a J2 League match against Júbilo Iwata. Regrettably, in the same match where he scored his debut goal, he suffered another significant injury, a right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear, which forced him to be sidelined for an extended period.

q=Kitakyushu, Fukuoka|position=right

From the 2015 season, Kawashima took on the additional responsibility of player-chairman for Giravanz Kitakyushu, succeeding Shuto Suzuki. In his first year in this leadership role, he was a consistent performer, appearing in 34 league matches. He maintained a strong presence in the following season, playing in 30 league matches in 2016. However, his playing appearances gradually decreased in subsequent years due to various factors. By the 2019 season, his playing time became significantly limited, with him featuring in only 6 league matches and 2 matches in the Emperor's Cup. At the conclusion of the 2019 season, Kawashima's contract with Giravanz Kitakyushu expired, marking the end of his longest tenure with a professional club.

3.4. Retirement from Playing

Daichi Kawashima officially announced his retirement from professional football in April 2020. His retirement announcement was coupled with the news that he would immediately transition into a coaching role within the very same club he had just retired from, Giravanz Kitakyushu.

4. Playing Style and Position

Daichi Kawashima primarily played as a midfielder throughout his professional football career. Standing at 66 in (168 cm) and weighing 141 lb (64 kg), his playing style was characterized by his versatility, a trait developed from having experienced various positions during his youth. While he explored different roles, he eventually specialized and became known for his effectiveness on the left side of the midfield, a position he consistently occupied from his junior high school days. Kawashima's dominant foot was his left foot.

5. Club Statistics

The following table details Daichi Kawashima's club appearances and goals across various domestic league and cup competitions throughout his professional career.

Club performanceLeagueEmperor's CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ. League CupAFCTotal
2009Kashima AntlersJ1 League0000000000
20100000000000
2011Montedio YamagataJ1 League1300021-151
2012J2 League2000--20
2013Kashima AntlersJ1 League000000-00
2014Giravanz KitakyushuJ2 League4100--41
201534220--362
201630120--321
2017J3 League15120--171
201811000--110
20196120--81
Career Total11568021001257
  • J.League first appearance: June 11, 2011 (J1 League, Round 14, Montedio Yamagata vs. Kashima Antlers at ND Soft Stadium Yamagata)
  • J.League first goal: April 13, 2014 (J2 League, Round 7, Giravanz Kitakyushu vs. Júbilo Iwata at Honjo Athletic Stadium)

6. Honors

Daichi Kawashima achieved collective success with his teams, securing several titles during his playing career.

  • Tokai University Soccer Club**
    • Kanto University Soccer League Division 2: 2006
  • Kashima Antlers**
    • J1 League: 2009
    • Emperor's Cup: 2010
    • FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP: 2009, 2010
    • Suruga Bank Championship: 2013

7. Coaching Career

Following his retirement as a professional player, Daichi Kawashima transitioned into a coaching role, focusing on youth development within his former club, Giravanz Kitakyushu.

  • Giravanz Kitakyushu**
    • School Coach: April 2020 - January 2021
    • U-14 Manager: January 2021 - February 2022
    • U-18 Coach: February 2022 - present