1. Early Life and Youth Career
Kohei Shimoda's early life and youth career established the foundation for his professional football path, encompassing his childhood introduction to the sport, his development through various youth clubs, and his notable high school performances.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Kohei Shimoda was born on April 8, 1989, in Niida, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, Japan. He began playing football in the third grade of elementary school, joining a local sports club in Akita.
1.2. Youth Football Career
Shimoda started his youth football career with the Niida Red Stars from 1998 to 2001. During his time with FC Akita from 2002 to 2004, he transitioned to playing as a defensive midfielder. In his third year of junior high school, he participated in the Prince Takamado Trophy All Japan Youth (U-15) Football Tournament, a significant national competition.
1.3. High School Career
From 2005 to 2007, Shimoda attended Akita Commercial High School, where he continued to develop his football skills. During this period, he was noted for his physical prowess, athleticism, and strong tackling abilities, which contributed to his dynamic playing style. His robust presence on the field earned him the nickname "Inamoto of Michinoku," comparing him to the prominent Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto. He was also known by the nickname "Shimo" among teammates.
2. Club Career
Shimoda's professional club career involved playing for several teams across different J.League divisions, marked by various loan spells and significant contributions before his retirement.
2.1. FC Tokyo (2008-2012)
In 2008, Kohei Shimoda joined FC Tokyo after being a highly sought-after talent, with interest also coming from clubs like Nagoya Grampus. Upon joining, he expressed his aspiration to become a player like Yasuyuki Konno. Despite not making any official first-team appearances during his initial years (2008 and 2009), he demonstrated his capabilities in satellite league matches and training games, proving that his defensive and play-starting abilities were effective against regular players.
2.1.1. Loan to Mito HollyHock (2009-2010)
In May 2009, Shimoda was loaned to Mito HollyHock in the J2 League, a move orchestrated by manager Takashi Kiyama, who valued Shimoda as a "tough player who is strong defensively and can run for 90 minutes." Just three days after the announcement, Shimoda made his professional debut on May 30, 2009, as a starter in a J2 match against Vegalta Sendai at Kasamatsu Stadium. He became a valuable utility player in defense. However, in September 2009, he suffered a left knee anterior cruciate ligament injury during a J2 match against Yokohama FC, sidelining him for over six months.
His loan was extended for the 2010 season, and he returned to play in May 2010 in a J2 match against Roasso Kumamoto, demonstrating his strong ball-winning ability. Although he initially struggled for consistent starts due to Mito's preference for offensive players in defensive midfield, Shimoda became a regular starter from the end of the season. Teammate Masafumi Owada praised his strength in duels and skill at winning the ball. Manager Kiyama also commended Shimoda's defensive contributions, noting his excellent positioning in intercepting opponent attacks and initiating offensive plays.
2.1.2. Loan to FC Machida Zelvia (2012)
After the completion of his loan spell at Mito, Shimoda returned to FC Tokyo in 2011. While his opportunities were limited due to Shuto Takahashi establishing himself as a regular defensive midfielder, Shimoda made his first start for FC Tokyo in a J2 match against Shonan Bellmare. He displayed intense pressing and high defensive awareness, effectively covering a wide area of the field.
In March 2012, Shimoda was loaned to FC Machida Zelvia. He quickly became a consistent starter for the team and scored his first professional goal on April 22, 2012, in a J2 match against Ventforet Kofu at Yamanashi Chugin Stadium. However, his aggressive ball-winning style led to another long-term injury. Although he returned towards the end of the season, his loan contract expired, and he departed from the team.
2.2. V-Varen Nagasaki (2013-2014)
In 2013, Kohei Shimoda made a permanent transfer to V-Varen Nagasaki. There, he was primarily deployed as a stopper within a three-back defensive system, recognized for his strength in one-on-one situations. During his time at V-Varen Nagasaki, he also participated in the 2013 J1 Promotion Play-off, playing one match. In April 2013, during a J2 match against Roasso Kumamoto, he was involved in an incident where he headbutted an opposing player, which was deemed "violent conduct" and resulted in a one-match suspension. He showed improvement in reducing unnecessary rough plays during his time at Nagasaki. His contract with the club expired at the end of the 2014 season.
2.3. Blaublitz Akita (2015-2017)
In 2015, Shimoda returned to his hometown by making a permanent transfer to Blaublitz Akita. He played his final years as an active professional player with the club. In 2017, he contributed to Blaublitz Akita's achievement of winning the J3 League title. He officially announced his retirement from professional football in December 2017.
3. National Team Career
Kohei Shimoda's national team career saw him represent Japan at multiple youth and age-group levels in international tournaments, showcasing his talent on a broader stage.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Shimoda was consistently selected for Japan's youth national teams throughout his developing career.
- In 2005, he was part of the U-16 Japan national team that won the Hokkaido International Youth Football Tournament.
- In 2006, he represented the U-17 Japan national team in the Sanix Cup International Youth Football Tournament. He also played for the U-18 Tohoku representative team in the Sendai Cup International Youth Football Tournament, where he was recognized as the Most Impressive Player (MIP) and finished fourth.
- In 2007, he was part of the U-18 Japan national team at the Australia Youth Olympic Festival and again played for the U-18 Tohoku representative team in the Sendai Cup, finishing second.
- In 2008, as part of the U-19 Japan national team, he participated in the SBS Cup International Youth Football Tournament, Fluida Vejle International Youth Tournament (finishing 7th), and the Sendai Cup (finishing 2nd). He also competed in the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia, where Japan reached the quarterfinals. During the tournament, he notably played as a defensive midfielder alongside Shinji Kagawa in the match against the U-19 Saudi Arabia team.
- In 2009, he was selected for the U-20 Japan national team and participated in the Qatar International Youth Tournament, where Japan finished third.
- In 2011, he was named as a preliminary registrant for the U-22 Japan national team for the London Olympics Asian final qualifiers.
4. Playing Style
Kohei Shimoda was primarily a midfielder, specializing in the defensive midfielder role, but was also capable of playing as a defender. He was right-footed. His playing style was characterized by a combination of physical strength, athleticism, and a strong defensive work ethic. He was known for his effective ball-winning abilities, tough tackling, and dynamic play. Shimoda's strengths included his resilience in duels, his ability to run for the full 90 minutes, and his excellent positional awareness, which allowed him to intercept opposition attacks and initiate offensive movements from deep within the midfield.
5. Retirement and Post-retirement Activities
After a decade-long professional career, Kohei Shimoda transitioned from playing to roles in coaching and corporate engagement within the football community, marking a new phase in his involvement with the sport.
5.1. Retirement Announcement
Kohei Shimoda officially announced his retirement from professional football in December 2017, concluding his playing career with Blaublitz Akita.
5.2. Post-retirement Activities
Following his retirement, Shimoda remained involved in football. In 2018, he joined Tokyo Football Club, taking on a role as a school coach for his former club, FC Tokyo. In 2020, he further expanded his career by joining [https://crushon.co.jp/ CrushOn Co., Ltd.], a company with activities related to sports and business.
6. Career Statistics
This section provides a detailed overview of Kohei Shimoda's professional club appearances and goals, including his international club competition statistics.
6.1. Club Statistics
| 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 | ||||||
| 2008 | FC Tokyo | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2009 | Mito HollyHock | J2 League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | FC Tokyo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | FC Machida Zelvia | J2 League | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 17 | 1 | |
| 2013 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2015 | Blaublitz Akita | J3 League | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 36 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 17 | 1 | |||
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | |||
| Total | 134 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 3 | ||
6.2. International Club Statistics
Kohei Shimoda also participated in international club competitions:
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | FC Tokyo | AFC Champions League | 0 | 0 |
7. Honours
Kohei Shimoda achieved several team and individual distinctions throughout his playing career.
7.1. Team Honours
- FC Tokyo
- J2 League: 2011
- Emperor's Cup: 2011
- Blaublitz Akita
- J3 League: 2017
- U-16 Japan National Team
- Hokkaido International Youth Football Tournament: 2005
7.2. Individual Honours
- Sendai Cup International Youth Football Tournament: Most Impressive Player (MIP) in 2006.