1. Early life and background
Masaru Hashiguchi was born on May 21, 1974, in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Standing at 70 in (177 cm) tall and weighing 141 lb (64 kg), Hashiguchi primarily played in a defensive role, specializing as a left-back.
1.1. Education and youth career
Hashiguchi's football journey began during his youth. He attended Daishogakuen High School (大商学園高等学校Daishō Gakuen KōtōgakkōJapanese) from 1990 to 1992, where he honed his skills. Following high school, he enrolled at Hannan University (阪南大学Hannan DaigakuJapanese) from 1993 to 1996, continuing his football career with the university's team.
2. Playing career
After completing his university education, Masaru Hashiguchi embarked on his professional football career, primarily playing in the J1 League, Japan's top professional football division.
2.1. Club career
Hashiguchi began his professional career in 1997 when he joined J1 League club Cerezo Osaka. During his time with Cerezo Osaka, he was actively involved in matches, particularly in 1998, when he made 21 league appearances as a left-sided defender. However, his playing time significantly decreased in 1999, where he appeared in only 4 league matches and scored 1 goal. In total, he made 25 league appearances for Cerezo Osaka during his three seasons with the club. Across all competitions, he played 31 matches and scored 2 goals.
In 2000, Hashiguchi transferred to Avispa Fukuoka, another J1 League club. Despite the move, he struggled to secure regular playing time and did not make any league appearances for the club that season. He featured in 2 matches in the J.League Cup.
2.2. Career statistics
The following table details Masaru Hashiguchi's professional club career statistics across various competitions in Japan.
| Club performance | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1997 | Cerezo Osaka | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| 1999 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 2000 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 2 | ||
3. Retirement
Masaru Hashiguchi retired from professional football at the end of the 2000 season, following his stint with Avispa Fukuoka.
4. External links
- [https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=2014 J. League Data Site Player Profile (in Japanese)]