Kōji Nakata

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

Koji Nakata

Personal information
Full name	Koji Nakata
Date of birth	(1979-07-09) July 9, 1979
Place of birth	Otsu, Shiga, Japan
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997	Teikyo High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2004	Kashima Antlers	144	(27)
2005–2006	Olympique Marseille	9	(0)
2006–2008	Basel	62	(3)
2008–2014	Kashima Antlers	122	(6)
Total		337	(36)
National team
1999	Japan U-20	7	(0)
2000	Japan U-23	3	(0)
2000–2007	Japan	57	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Nakata was born in Otsu on July 9, 1979. After graduating from Teikyo High School, he joined J1 League club Kashima Antlers in 1998. Japan national team players Masashi Motoyama, Mitsuo Ogasawara and Hitoshi Sogahata are Nakata's contemporaries. He debuted as defensive midfielder in first season and the club won the champions 1998 J1 League. From 2000, he became a regular player and constituted midfielder with Yasuto Honda, Bismarck, Motoyama and Ogasawara. In 2000, the club won all three major title in Japan J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. In 2001, the club won J1 League and he was also elected Best Eleven. the club also won 2002 J.League Cup. Nakata moved from Japanese giants Kashima Antlers to France at the start of 2005 when former Japan national team manager Philippe Troussier, then the Olympique Marseille coach, signed him in a deal. After an understandably unhappy season in France (Troussier was sacked just a few months later), the frozen-out Nakata jumped at the chance to leave and by early 2006 had moved to Switzerland's top team Basel where he played as a defender. Nakata returned to Kashima Antlers in July 2008. He played at many defensive position, defensive midfielder, left side-back and center-back. The club won the champions 2008, 2009 J1 League, 2010 Emperor's Cup, 2011 and 2012 J.League Cup. He retired end of 2014 season.

Although Nakata played as defensive midfielder at the club, he played as left-back of three backs defense at U-20, U-23 and Senior national team under manager Philippe Troussier. In April 1999, Nakata played for U-20 Japan at 1999 World Youth Championship. He played all 7 matches with defender Kazuki Teshima and Shigeki Tsujimoto, and Japan won the 2nd place. On February 5, 2000, Nakata debuted for Japan national team against Mexico. In September, he was selected U-23 Japan for 2000 Summer Olympics. Although he played as regular player, he got hurt in third match against Brazil and he could not play after the match. In 2001 and 2002, Nakata played all matches for Japan including 2001 Confederations Cup and 2002 World Cup. At Confederations Cup, Japan won the 2nd place. At 2002 World Cup, he played full-time all 4 matches. After 2002 World Cup, Nakata played as defensive midfielder under new manager Zico. Although his opportunity to play decreased, he was elected Japan for many competition, 2003, 2005 Confederations Cup, 2004 Asian Cup and 2006 World Cup. At 2004 Asian Cup, he played 4 matches and scored 2 goals in semifinal and final, and Japan won the champions. He played 57 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 2007.

Statistics

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
1998	Kashima Antlers	J1 League	5	1	0	0	0	0	-		5	1
1999			17	4	2	0	1	0	-		20	4
2000			29	4	5	2	2	2	-		36	8
2001			25	8	3	1	6	0	-		34	9
2002			29	6	5	0	3	0	-		37	6
2003			18	3	0	0	2	2	3	0	23	5
2004			21	1	3	2	2	0	-		26	3
France			League		Coupe de France		Coupe de la Ligue		Europe		Total
2004/05	Olympique Marseille	Ligue 1	5	0	0	0	-		-		5	0
2005/06			4	0	1	0	-		3	0	8	0
Switzerland			League		Schweizer Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2005/06	Basel	Super League	10	1	0	0	-		-		10	1
2006/07			34	1	5	0	-		9	0	48	1
2007/08			18	1	2	1	-		3	0	23	2
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
2008	Kashima Antlers	J1 League	9	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	12	0
2009			22	1	4	0	1	0	2	0	29	1
2010			32	3	6	1	1	0	6	2	45	6
2011			26	2	1	0	3	0	6	1	36	3
2012			5	0	0	0	2	0	-		7	0
2013			25	0	2	0	6	0	-		33	0
2014			3	0	0	0	1	0	-		4	0
Country	Japan		266	33	31	6	31	4	19	0	347	43
	France		9	0	1	0	-		3	0	13	0
	Switzerland		62	3	7	1	-		12	0	81	4
Total			337	36	39	7	31	4	34	0	441	47

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2000	7	0
2001	13	0
2002	13	0
2003	7	0
2004	6	2
2005	8	0
2006	2	0
2007	1	0
Total	57	2