Kōji Nakata

Football player infobox| playername= Kōji Nakata
fullname = Kōji Nakata
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|7|9
cityofbirth = Otsu, Shiga
countryofbirth = Japan
height = height|m=1.82
currentclub = Kashima Antlers
clubnumber =
position = Left Back, Centre Back, Defensive midfielder
youthyears = 1995-97
youthclubs = Teikyo H.S.
years = 1998-04 2005-06 2006-2008 2008-
clubs = Kashima Antlers Olympique Marseille FC Basel Kashima Antlers
caps(goals) = 144 0(27) 009 00(0) 062 00(3) 005 00(0)
nationalyears = 2000-
nationalteam = flagicon|Japan Japan
nationalcaps(goals) = 057 00(2)
pcupdate = 28 August 2008
ntupdate = 28 August 2008

Kōji Nakata (中田浩二 "Nakata Kōji"; born 9 July 1979 in Otsu, Shiga, Japan) is a Japanese football (soccer) player who played at both the Football World Cup 2002, and the Football World Cup 2006. He currently plays for Kashima Antlers in the J. League.

Football career

The 'other Nakata', as he is known to most non-Japanese fans, is a left-footed midfielder. A very versatile player, Nakata has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders for Japan. Although his preferred position is at defensive midfield, his versatility means he can also operate as left wing-back, his normal position with FC Basel.

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 understandbly 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 FC Basel where he played as a defender. Kōji was highly rated by Japan coach Zico and is sometimes compared to Junichi Inamoto, also a defensive midfielder for Japan.Fact|date=December 2007 He returned to J. League club Kashima Antlers in July 2008.

Honors and awards

Individual Honors

* J. League Best Eleven: 2001
* J. League Cup MVP: 2000

Team Honors

*FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up: 2001
*FIFA World Youth Championship Runner-up: 1999
*Asian Cup Champions: 2004
*J. League Champions: 1998, 2000, 2001
*J. League Cup Champions: 2000, 2002
*Emperor's Cup Champions: 2000
*Swiss Super League Champions: 2008
*Swiss Cup Champions: 2007, 2008

Club Career Stats

Last update: 7 May 2007

National team

*
*
*
* (Champions)
*
*

International Goals

External links

* [http://www.wldcup.com/Asia/overseas/nakatako/nakatako.html Rising Sun News profile]
* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/php/spieler.php?id=3688 National Football Teams]