1. Early Life and Education
Shohei Abe's early life and academic pursuits were deeply intertwined with his burgeoning football career.
1.1. Childhood and Youth Football
Shohei Abe began his football journey in his first year of elementary school, joining the Kurotaki Soccer Club in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. During his junior high years, he was recommended to join the Yokohama Flügels junior youth team, an affiliate of the professional club. He continued to play with this team until its dissolution in 1998, a period foundational for his development as a young footballer.
1.2. High School and University Years
Abe attended Funabashi Municipal Funabashi High School, where his football career continued to flourish. In his third year, he was the captain of the team, wearing the number 10 jersey and playing as a midfielder. He led his high school team to participate in the 80th National High School Soccer Championship. Following high school, Abe enrolled at the University of Tsukuba. During his university tenure, he transitioned his playing position to defender, primarily as a side-back. Standing at 67 in (171 cm) and weighing 154 lb (70 kg), he adapted his high physical ability to defensive roles. In his fourth year, his skills were recognized, leading to his selection for the Universiade Japan national team. Notable classmates from his time at the University of Tsukuba included Yoichi Akiba, Jungo Fujimoto, and Yoji Nakano.
2. Playing Career
Shohei Abe's professional playing career began in 2006 and saw him play for several clubs across Japan's J.League divisions, marked by consistent performance and key contributions to his teams.
2.1. Nagoya Grampus
Abe started his professional career with Nagoya Grampus in the 2006 season. In his debut season, he made 12 appearances across all competitions. Under the guidance of then-manager Sef Vergoossen, Abe gradually increased his playing opportunities from the middle of the 2007 season and established himself as a regular starter. He often played as a left side-back or side-half in both three-back and four-back systems, and occasionally filled in as a center-back due to team injuries. His strong defensive performance, despite his relatively small physique, earned him the team's rookie of the year award for 2007. There were even considerations for Vergoossen to take Abe to PSV Eindhoven after his departure from Nagoya in 2007.
In 2008, under new manager Dragan Stojković, Abe continued to be a key player, appearing in all 34 league matches as a left-back. He also notably changed his jersey number to 6. On June 8, he scored his first professional goal in a J.League Cup match against Urawa Red Diamonds. In December of the same year, he received his first call-up to the Japan national football team and was selected for the J.League Awards Excellent Player Award. He was also part of the national team squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in January 2009. Abe maintained his position as a regular left-back, playing nearly every match until his contract with Nagoya Grampus expired at the end of the 2013 season. During his eight years with the club, he made 226 league appearances, contributing to Nagoya's 2010 J1 League title and the 2011 Japanese Super Cup victory.
2.2. Ventforet Kofu (First Stint)
On January 7, 2014, Abe transferred to Ventforet Kofu on a free transfer. He played two seasons with the club, making 75 appearances across all competitions and scoring twice. On August 23, 2014, he scored his first J.League goal in a match against Gamba Osaka. This goal, achieved in his 247th J1 League match, set a record for the slowest first goal in J1 history, surpassing the previous record held by Hiroyoshi Kuwabara (244 matches). During this period, Abe consistently started all matches as a left wing-back, playing a crucial role in Ventforet Kofu's ability to maintain their J1 League status for two consecutive years.
2.3. JEF United Chiba
On December 15, 2015, Abe completed a permanent transfer to JEF United Chiba, marking his first experience playing in the J2 League. In his sole season with the club in 2016, he made 34 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal.
2.4. Ventforet Kofu (Second Stint)
In March 2017, Abe returned to Ventforet Kofu on a loan spell from JEF United Chiba. On May 7, in the 10th round of the J1 League against Júbilo Iwata, he reached a significant milestone, making his 300th career appearance in the J1 League. He became the 92nd player in the league's history to achieve this feat. After his loan expired, Abe completed a permanent transfer back to Ventforet Kofu on December 30, 2017. He continued to contribute to the team through the 2018 season.
2.5. Shibuya City FC / Tokyo City FC
On February 19, 2019, it was announced that Abe had joined Tokyo City FC on a permanent transfer. The club later rebranded to Shibuya City FC in 2020. Abe continued his playing career with Shibuya City FC, participating in the Tokyo Prefectural Social Football League.
2.6. C Grosso Chita
On February 26, 2024, Shohei Abe's transfer to C Grosso Chita was announced, signifying his current playing status with the club.
3. Managerial Career
Shohei Abe transitioned into a coaching role while still actively playing, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to football beyond the field.
On December 1, 2021, Abe was officially appointed as the player-manager for Shibuya City FC, a role he took on for the 2022 season. In this capacity, he balanced his duties as a player with the responsibilities of leading the team from the sidelines. His player-manager role was dissolved on January 8, 2023, following the appointment of Tatsuya Masushima as the new manager for Shibuya City FC.
4. International Career
Shohei Abe received recognition for his performances at the club level with call-ups to the Japan national football team. He was first called up in December 2008 and was subsequently selected for the squad participating in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in January 2009. While he was a part of the national team setup, he did not make any official senior international appearances.
5. Club Statistics
Shohei Abe's comprehensive club statistics across various competitions are detailed below.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2002 | University of Tsukuba | - | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 1 | |||||
| 2006 | Nagoya Grampus | J1 League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 12 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2008 | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | - | 44 | 1 | |||
| 2009 | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 46 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | Ventforet Kofu | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 39 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2016 | JEF United Chiba | J2 League | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | Ventforet Kofu | J1 League | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 25 | 1 | |
| 2018 | J2 League | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | Tokyo City FC/Shibuya City FC | Tokyo League Div 2 Block 1 | - | - | - | |||||||
| 2020 | Tokyo League Div 2 Block 3 Group A | - | - | - | ||||||||
| 2021 | Tokyo League Div 1 | - | - | - | ||||||||
| Total | 355 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 421 | 6 | ||
6. Honours
Shohei Abe has achieved several notable honours throughout his playing career:
- Nagoya Grampus
- J1 League: 2010
- Japanese Super Cup: 2011
7. Legacy and Jersey Number Retirement
Shohei Abe left a significant and lasting impact on the clubs he played for, particularly Shibuya City FC. On December 20, 2023, it was announced that Abe would depart Shibuya City FC following the expiry of his contract. In recognition of his "significant contribution" to the team, Shibuya City FC made the decision to permanently retire his jersey number, 6. This honor symbolizes his enduring legacy and the profound appreciation for his service and dedication to the club.