JapaneseFootballerFootball CoachOsaka

Kentaro Kawasaki

Kentaro Kawasaki is a former Japanese professional football midfielder who played for several Japanese clubs and later became a youth football coach.

1. Early Life and Youth Career

Kentaro Kawasaki's formative years in football began in his hometown, where he developed as a promising young player.

1.1. Birth and Childhood

Kentaro Kawasaki was born on December 18, 1982, in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

1.2. Youth Career

Kawasaki started his football journey within the youth system of Cerezo Osaka, a prominent Japanese club, where he played from 1995 to 2000. During his time in the youth ranks, his talent was recognized at a national level, leading to his selection for various Japan youth national teams, including the U-18 Japan national team in 1999.

2. Professional Playing Career

Kentaro Kawasaki's professional career spanned a decade, during which he experienced varied levels of playing time and contributed to different clubs across Japan's football leagues.

2.1. Cerezo Osaka and Early Professional Years

In 2001, Kawasaki achieved a significant milestone by being promoted to the senior team of Cerezo Osaka, a club competing in the J1 League. However, he found playing opportunities extremely limited during his initial two seasons with the club, making no appearances in J1. In September 2002, in pursuit of more game time, he moved on a loan to Sagawa Express Osaka, a club then playing in the JFL (now known as Sagawa Shiga FC). During this brief loan spell, he managed to play several matches, gaining valuable experience.

2.2. Montedio Yamagata

Following his loan spell, Kawasaki made a permanent move to Montedio Yamagata, a J2 League club, in 2003. In his inaugural season with the team, he saw considerable action, often being deployed as a substitute player and notably featuring as a left side-back. He played many matches during this period, scoring his first J2 League goal on April 5, 2003, against Yokohama FC at Yamagata Park Stadium. His J.League debut was on March 15, 2003, in a J2 match against Shonan Bellmare at Hiratsuka Stadium. However, his opportunities to play diminished considerably from the 2004 season onwards. He was eventually released by Montedio Yamagata at the conclusion of the 2005 season, leading him to consider retiring from professional football.

2.3. Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo

After participating in a J.League joint tryout, Kawasaki decided to continue his career and joined Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (then known as Consadole Sapporo), another J2 League club, in 2006. Despite the move, he continued to face challenges in securing regular playing time over his two seasons with the club. Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in the Emperor's Cup campaign in 2006, where he became a regular starter. His accurate crosses and incisive dribbling from the left flank were instrumental in helping the team reach the semi-finals of the tournament. This performance earned him a re-signing with Consadole Sapporo. However, his league appearances remained minimal in 2007, and he played only two matches before once again being released at the end of the season.

2.4. Kataller Toyama and Retirement

On January 23, 2008, Kentaro Kawasaki made his final club move, joining Kataller Toyama, which was then in the JFL. In his initial year with the club, injuries limited his appearances, preventing him from establishing himself as a regular starter. Despite this, he played a sufficient number of matches to contribute to Kataller Toyama's successful promotion to the J2 League at the end of the 2008 season. In June 2009, he finally secured a regular starting position, partly due to an injury to his teammate Kazuaki Kamizono. He went on to make 35 appearances during the 2009 season and notably scored one goal against J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale in the third round of the Emperor's Cup. In 2010, his playing opportunities once again declined. At the end of the 2010 season, he was released by Kataller Toyama and subsequently announced his retirement from professional football.

3. National Team Career

Kentaro Kawasaki represented Japan at the youth level. He was part of the Japan youth national teams and notably selected for the U-18 Japan national team in 1999.

4. Post-Playing Career

Following his retirement from professional football, Kentaro Kawasaki transitioned into the field of football coaching, dedicating himself to the development of young players.

4.1. Coaching Career

In 2011, Kawasaki embarked on his coaching journey by joining Vissel Kobe as a school coach, a position he held for five years until 2015. His dedication and expertise led to his promotion to Chief School Coach at Vissel Kobe, where he served from 2016 to 2017. Since 2018, he has continued his commitment to youth football as a member of the coaching staff and representative of the DESEO Soccer School.

5. Playing Statistics

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupTotal
2001Cerezo OsakaJ1 League00000000
2002J2 League0000-00
2002Sagawa Express OsakaFootball League6020-80
2003Montedio YamagataJ2 League21132-243
200414000-140
20053000-30
2006Consadole SapporoJ2 League4040-80
20072010-30
2008Kataller ToyamaFootball League13000-130
2009J2 League35121-372
201017010-180
Career total1152133001285

6. Personal Life and Anecdotes

Kentaro Kawasaki's football influences extended beyond his immediate teammates. He has publicly stated that his role model as a player was the former South Korean national team midfielder Yoon Jong-hwan. Yoon Jong-hwan was a teammate of Kawasaki's during their time at Cerezo Osaka, and the two maintained a close personal friendship off the field.

7. Overall Career Evaluation

Kentaro Kawasaki's career in Japanese football was characterized by flashes of potential, particularly his skill as a left-sided midfielder known for accurate crosses and sharp dribbling, as showcased during the 2006 Emperor's Cup. Despite being a product of a top club's youth system and making it to the J.League, a consistent challenge throughout his career was securing and maintaining regular playing opportunities. He often found success in lower divisions, playing a key role in Kataller Toyama's promotion to J2. While injuries and competition sometimes limited his impact, his tenacity allowed him to prolong his career across multiple clubs. Following his playing days, Kawasaki found a new purpose in coaching, actively contributing to the development of young football talent in Japan.