Etsuko Handa

is a former Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.

Etsuko Handa

Personal information
Full name	Etsuko Handa
Date of birth	(1965-05-10) May 10, 1965
Place of birth	Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Shimizudaihachi SC
1989–1996	Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies	131	(71)
Total		131	(71)
National team
1981–1996	Japan	75	(19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Handa was born in Shizuoka on May 10, 1965. She played for her local club Shimizudaihachi SC and Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies (formerly Shimizu FC Ladies). In 1989, at Shimizu FC Ladies, the club won championship in Nadeshiko League first season. And she was named first MVP awards in the league. In 1993 season, she scored 14 goals and she became top scorer. She was selected Best Eleven 4 times (1989, 1990, 1993 and 1994).

In June 1981, when Handa was 16 years old, she selected the Japan national team for 1981 AFC Championship. At this competition, on June 7, she debuted against Chinese Taipei. This match is Japan team first match in "International A Match". On June 13, she scored a goal against Indonesia. This goal is Japan national team first goal in "International A Match". And Japan won the match (1-0). This is Japan national team first victory. She also played at 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 AFC Championship, 1990, 1994 Asian Games. She was a member of Japan for 1991, 1995 World Cup and 1996 Summer Olympics. She played 75 games and scored 19 goals for Japan until 1996.

Statistics

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1981	5	1
1982	0	0
1983	0	0
1984	3	0
1985	0	0
1986	13	2
1987	4	0
1988	3	1
1989	9	6
1990	6	4
1991	8	2
1992	0	0
1993	5	3
1994	5	0
1995	7	0
1996	7	0
Total	75	19