Naoki Yamada

is a Japanese footballer who plays for club FC Gifu.

Early life Yamada’s father is a former football player who played for Mazda SC and the Japan U-20 national team.

Youth career Yamada played for the Urawa Red Diamonds youth team from 2003-2008.

Professional career Yamada continued to play for the Urawa Red Diamonds in the senior squad from 2008-2019. He was part of the Urawa teams which finished second in the 2011 and 2013 J.League Cups, and in the 2014 J1 League. He was also part of the team which won the Emperor’s Cup in 2018.

Yamada played on loan to Shonan Bellmare from 2015-2017, and again in 2019, before transferring permanently to the club in 2020.

National team career In August 2007, Yamada was selected for the Japan U-17 national team competing at the 2007 U-17 World Cup. He wore the number 10 shirt for Japan and played the entire 90 minutes in all 3 matches.

Yamada made his senior national team debut on 27 May 2009, in a friendly match against Chile at Nagai Stadium in Osaka and assisted on a goal by Keisuke Honda.

Frequent injuries Yamada has suffered from frequent injuries that kept him out for several matches.

On 6 January 2010 during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match between Yemen and Japan, Yamada was forced to go out after 21 minutes after his right leg was exposed to a violent break after a challenge from Yemeni defender Ahmed Sadeq. This injury caused him to miss matches for a period of 3 months.

On 20 March 2012, Yamada suffered yet another injury with a break in the anterior cruciate ligament in a match between the Urawa Reds and Vegalta Sendai in the 2012 J. League Cup. The Urawa Reds announced his absence from matches for a period of 6 months. This injury also deprived him of the chance to play for Japan in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Career statistics

Club Updated to 20 February 2019.

International

International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition2005 15 November Paju National Football Center, Paju Macau U15 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification / Japan U15 17 November Paju National Football Center, Paju South Korea U15 2006 AFC U-17 Championship qualification / Japan U152006 3 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar Nepal U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 5 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar Singapore U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 7 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar South Korea U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 11 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar Iran U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 14 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar Syria U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U16 17 September Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar North Korea U16 2006 AFC U-17 Championship / Japan U162007 19 August Gwangyang Football Stadium, Gwangyang Haiti U17 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U17 22 August Gwangyang Football Stadium, Gwangyang Nigeria U17 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U17 25 August Goyang Stadium, Goyang France U17 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup / Japan U172009 1. 27 May Nagai Stadium, Osaka 2009 Kirin Cup 19 December Changwon Football Center, Changwon South Korea U20 Friendly / Japan U202010 2. 6 January Ali Muhesen Stadium, Sana'a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification2011 29 March JAR Stadium, Tashkent Uzbekistan U22 Friendly / Japan U22 10 August Sapporo Dome, Sapporo Egypt U22 Friendly / Japan U22

Honours

Japan AFC U-17 Championship: 2006 Kirin Cup: 2009