1. Overview
Shin Asahina (朝比奈 伸Asahina ShinJapanese), born on August 20, 1976, is a former Japanese professional football player who primarily played as a center-back. His playing career spanned from 1999 to 2009, during which he represented several notable clubs in Japan, including Gamba Osaka, Sagan Tosu, Roasso Kumamoto, Banditonce Kobe, and TDK. After retiring as a player, Asahina transitioned into various management and staff roles within Japanese football, contributing to club strengthening and academy operations at several organizations.
2. Life
2.1. Early life and education
Shin Asahina was born on August 20, 1976, in Fujieda, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He attended Shimizu Commercial High School (静岡市立清水商業高等学校Shizuoka Shiritsu Shimizu Shōgyō Kōtō GakkōJapanese) from 1992 to 1994. Following high school, he pursued his higher education at Doshisha University (同志社大学Dōshisha DaigakuJapanese) from 1995 to 1998, before embarking on his professional football career.
3. Playing career
Asahina's professional football journey is outlined below, highlighting his club affiliations, performance, and key milestones as a player. He typically played as a defender, specifically a center-back, throughout his career. He stands at 72 in (182 cm) tall and weighs 172 lb (78 kg).
3.1. Professional club career
Asahina began his professional football career in 1999, joining J1 League club Gamba Osaka after graduating from Doshisha University. Despite being anticipated as an immediate reinforcement for the center-back position, he made limited appearances during his four years with the club, playing only 16 league matches.
In 2003, Asahina made a complete transfer to J2 League club Sagan Tosu. He quickly became a regular center-back for two seasons and was appointed captain for the 2004 season. Although he was a core player for two years, his contract was not renewed by the club.
For the 2005 season, Asahina moved to Rosso Kumamoto, which was then competing in the Kyushu Soccer League. He was appointed as the club's first captain and played a crucial role in their successful promotion to the Japan Football League (JFL), starting from 2006.
In 2007, he joined Banditonce Kobe (now Cento Cuore HARIMA), playing in the Kansai Soccer League. His final professional club was TDK (now Blaublitz Akita), which he joined in 2008. He played for two seasons in the JFL before officially retiring from professional football at the end of the 2009 season.
Asahina made his J.League debut on April 14, 1999, in a match against Bellmare Hiratsuka at Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium. His first J.League goal was scored on April 5, 2003, against Avispa Fukuoka at Tosu Stadium.
3.2. Career statistics
Shin Asahina's career statistics across various leagues and competitions are detailed in the table below:
| 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 | Gamba Osaka | J1 League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | Sagan Tosu | J2 League | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 26 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 37 | 1 | |||
| 2005 | Rosso Kumamoto | Regional Leagues | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 16 | 2 | |
| 2006 | Football League | 31 | 8 | 1 | 0 | - | 32 | 8 | ||
| 2007 | Banditonce Kobe | Regional Leagues | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 12 | 2 | |
| 2008 | TDK | Football League | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 31 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | |||
| Total | 178 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 188 | 16 | ||
4. Post-retirement career
After concluding his playing career, Shin Asahina continued his involvement in the football industry, transitioning into various roles as a coach and administrator.
4.1. Management and staff roles
Following his retirement as a player in 2009, Shin Asahina transitioned into various administrative and technical roles within Japanese football. From 2010, he joined the strengthening department staff at his former club, Gamba Osaka. He served as a scout for eight years, from 2010 to 2017, focusing on identifying new talent. In 2018, he took on the role of academy operations manager at Gamba Osaka, overseeing the club's youth development programs.
From 2019 to 2020, Asahina worked as a strengthening staff member at Kyoto Sanga F.C.. He then moved to AC Nagano Parceiro, where he served in a similar strengthening staff capacity from 2021 to 2022. In 2023, Shin Asahina was appointed as the General Manager for Strengthening (強化部長Kyōka BuchōJapanese) at Blaublitz Akita, another of his former clubs.
5. Honors and achievements
Shin Asahina received the following individual honor during his playing career:
- Kansai Soccer League Division 1 Best XI: 2007