1. Overview
Kazuhiko Tanabe, born on June 3, 1981, is a former Japanese association football player who primarily played as a midfielder. His professional career spanned from 1999 to 2006, during which he played for Shonan Bellmare (formerly Bellmare Hiratsuka) and Yokogawa Musashino FC. After retiring from professional football, Tanabe transitioned into the business sector, joining Adidas Japan.
2. Personal Information
Kazuhiko Tanabe (田辺 和彦Tanabe KazuhikoJapanese) was born on June 3, 1981, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. He stands at 69 in (175 cm) tall and weighed 154 lb (70 kg) during his playing career. His primary position was midfielder.
3. Youth Career and Education
Tanabe began his football development in his local area before joining the youth system of a professional club.
3.1. Youth Clubs
Tanabe's early football journey included playing for the Kanazawa Minami Junior Soccer Club, which was formerly known as the Kanazawa Minami Soccer Sports Youth Team. He also attended Kanazawa Municipal Izumi Junior High School. Following his junior high education, he joined the Bellmare Hiratsuka Junior Youth team. From 1997 to 1999, he was part of the Bellmare Hiratsuka Youth team, which was affiliated with the professional club.
4. Professional Career
Tanabe's professional career began with Bellmare Hiratsuka and concluded with Yokogawa Musashino FC, spanning several seasons in Japan's professional and semi-professional leagues.
4.1. Debut
In 1999, while still part of the Bellmare Hiratsuka youth team, Tanabe was registered as a Type 2 player, allowing him to participate in professional matches. He made his professional debut on November 27, 1999, in the final match of the 1999 J1 League season's second stage. This match was against Júbilo Iwata and took place at Iwata Stadium.
4.2. Shonan Bellmare
After his debut, Tanabe was promoted to the top team of Bellmare Hiratsuka in 2000. The club was subsequently relegated to the J2 League in the same year. During his tenure with Shonan Bellmare (which Bellmare Hiratsuka was renamed to), he played in many matches, often featuring as an offensive midfielder. However, he did not consistently secure a regular starting position. His contract with Shonan Bellmare expired at the end of the 2003 season, concluding his time with the club from 1999 to 2003.
4.3. Yokogawa Musashino FC
In 2004, Tanabe moved to Yokogawa Musashino, a club competing in the Japan Football League (JFL), Japan's third-tier league at the time. At Yokogawa Musashino, he established himself as a regular and key player, making frequent appearances over three seasons. He remained with the club until the end of the 2006 season.
4.4. Retirement
Kazuhiko Tanabe retired from professional football at the conclusion of the 2006 season. His decision to retire coincided with his graduation from Teikyo University, where he had re-enrolled to complete his education.
5. Career Statistics
The following table details Kazuhiko Tanabe's professional club statistics across various competitions.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1999 | Bellmare Hiratsuka | J1 League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | Shonan Bellmare | J2 League | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2004 | Yokogawa Musashino | Football League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2005 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| 2006 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 128 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 136 | 6 | ||
6. Post-career Activities
Following his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2006 season, Kazuhiko Tanabe embarked on a new career path in the business sector. He joined Adidas Japan, a subsidiary of the global sportswear manufacturer.