1. Overview
Keiichiro Nakano (中野 圭一郎Nakano KeiichiroJapanese, born March 29, 1976) is a former Japanese professional footballer who played primarily as a defender. He is widely recognized for his tenure with Albirex Niigata in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Following his playing career, Nakano transitioned into coaching, contributing to youth football development programs in Japan.
2. Personal Information
Keiichiro Nakano's personal details include his birth in Kagawa Prefecture, his physical attributes, and his educational background at Takamatsu Commercial High School and Kanoya National Institute of Fitness and Sports.
2.1. Birth and Early Life
Keiichiro Nakano was born on March 29, 1976, in Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Throughout his playing career, he primarily operated as a defender. He stands at 67 in (171 cm) tall and weighs 150 lb (68 kg).
2.2. Education
Nakano attended Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu Commercial High School from 1991 to 1993. After completing his high school education, he pursued higher studies at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya (鹿屋体育大学Kanoya Taiiku DaigakuJapanese) from 1994 to 1997.
3. Playing Career
Keiichiro Nakano's playing career spanned from 1998 to 2003 in professional leagues, followed by a period in amateur football. He played for Albirex Niigata and Japan Soccer College before his retirement from professional play, later joining Takasho Club.
3.1. Career Progression
After graduating from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Nakano began his professional career in 1998 by joining Albirex Niigata, which was then part of the Japan Football League (Old JFL). He quickly established himself as a regular player, primarily operating as a left side back from his inaugural season.
In 1999, Albirex Niigata was promoted to the newly formed J2 League. Nakano continued to be a prominent player for the club, making numerous appearances through the 1999 and 2000 seasons. However, his playing time significantly decreased in 2001. In 2002, he moved to Japan Soccer College, a club competing in the Prefectural Leagues. Japan Soccer College achieved promotion to the Regional Leagues in 2003. Nakano concluded his professional playing career at the end of the 2003 season. Years later, in 2008, he returned to the field, joining Takasho Club in the Kagawa Prefectural League, an amateur league.
3.2. Clubs
Keiichiro Nakano played for several clubs throughout his career, including professional and amateur teams.
3.2.1. Albirex Niigata
Nakano played for Albirex Niigata from 1998 to 2001. In 1998, the club was part of the Japan Football League. With the establishment of the J2 League in 1999, Albirex Niigata became a founding member, and Nakano continued with the team through the 2001 season. During his four years with the club, he made a total of 92 league appearances and scored 1 goal.
3.2.2. Japan Soccer College
From 2002 to 2003, Nakano played for Japan Soccer College. In 2002, the club competed in the Niigata Prefectural League 1st Division. The following year, in 2003, Japan Soccer College was promoted to the Hokushinetsu Football League, a regional league.
3.2.3. Takasho Club
After his retirement from professional football in 2003, Keiichiro Nakano joined Takasho Club in 2008. This club competes in the Kagawa Prefectural League, an amateur football league in Japan.
3.3. Statistics
The following table details Keiichiro Nakano's club performance, including appearances and goals, across various competitions during his professional career with Albirex Niigata.
| 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 | ||||||
| 1998 | Albirex Niigata | Football League | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| 1999 | J2 League | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | Japan Soccer College | Niigata Prefectural League 1st Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2003 | Hokushinetsu Football League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2008 | Takasho Club | Kagawa Prefectural League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 92 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 1 | ||
4. Coaching Career
Following his playing career, Keiichiro Nakano transitioned into football coaching, focusing on youth development within the Albirex Niigata organization and later contributing to the JFA's regional training programs.
Keiichiro Nakano embarked on a coaching career after his professional playing days. From 2002 to 2004, he served as a school coach for Albirex Niigata. He continued his involvement with the club's youth setup, becoming the manager for Albirex Niigata Junior Youth U-14 in 2005, followed by the U-15 team in 2006, and the U-13 team in 2007.
In 2017, Nakano was appointed as the Chief Coach of the JFA Training Center Kagawa U-15 Chusan. In this role, he is based at Uta-Village in Utazu Town and organizes monthly training sessions. His primary objective is to facilitate the development and emergence of many talented players from the Chusan region.