Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
The goalkeeper who wore the captain's armband for Japan from 2006 to 2008 and appeared in four World Cup squads.
via Wikipedia: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi · see source
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (川口 能活, Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu; born 15 August 1975), also known as Yoshi Kawaguchi, is a Japanese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He earned 116 international caps for Japan, making him one of the ten most capped players in the history of the team. He served as captain from 2006 to 2008 and was part of the Japanese squads at the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, the 2004 and 2007 AFC Asian Cups, and the 1999 Copa América.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 15 August 1975
- Birthplace
- Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan
- Height
- 1.80 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Goalkeeper
- Total caps
- 527
Lore & Background
Kawaguchi's international career began with a clean sheet against Brazil at the Atlanta Olympics. He played in Japan's first ever World Cup game in 1998, a 1-0 defeat to Argentina, and his stellar performance kept all three Japanese defeats to just one-goal margins. In 2001, he was Japan's first-choice goalkeeper as the team finished runner-up in the Confederations Cup. He is a noted penalty stopper, making two saves in the shootout against Jordan in the 2004 Asian Cup quarter-final and saving from Croatia's Darijo Srna in the 2006 World Cup. During the 2007 Asian Cup, he made two saves from Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill in the penalty shootout against Australia, earning Man of the Match. In August 2006, he was given the captain's armband because new manager Ivica Osim felt former captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto was not getting enough playing time at his domestic club. An injury in 2008 sidelined him, and long-time rival Seigo Narazaki became first-choice keeper. Despite a broken leg in a J1 League clash against Kyoto Sanga, Kawaguchi made a full and quick recovery and was included in the 2010 World Cup squad, one of two Japanese players named to their fourth consecutive World Cup. He was appointed captain during team training on 21 May 2010. He was not picked under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, and with Eiji Kawashima impressing in the 2011 Asian Cup, his international career effectively ended.
Reader's Guide
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is Japan's most-capped goalkeeper and overall third most-capped player with 116 caps, six behind second-placed Masami Ihara with 122 caps. He was part of four World Cup squads (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010), playing in Japan's first ever World Cup game in 1998. He was the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2001 Confederations Cup runner-up finish and the 2004 Asian Cup victory. He served as captain from 2006 to 2008. His international career effectively ended after the 2011 Asian Cup, as he was not picked by coach Alberto Zaccheroni and youngster Eiji Kawashima impressed.
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