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Shunsuke Nakamura (中村 俊輔 ''Nakamura Shunsuke'', born June 24 , 1978 ) is a Japanese Football (soccer) player who currently plays for Celtic of the Scottish Premier League . He has won the Asian Cup in 2000 and 2004 with the Japanese National Football Team , and was named Most Valuable Player in the 2004 competition. He has also appeared in the 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of the Japanese Under-23 team. In his first season with Celtic, Nakamura helped the club win the Scottish Premier League and Scottish League Cup . His contributions to the Japanese National Football Team include 15 goals. His former clubs include Yokohama F. Marinos and Reggina , for whom he scored 38 and 11 goals respectively before moving to Celtic on 25 July 2005 for a fee of around 2.5 million pounds. PLAYING STYLE Nakamura is an attacking Midfielder whose plays the role of the playmaker behind the strikers, but has also lined up on the left side of the midfield for Japan, and often plays on the right midfield for Celtic. He is known for his vision and touch, as well as a free kick specialist. He can create scoring opportunities for his teammates while also capable of scoring himself. Former Shimizu S-Pulse and Kashiwa Reysol manager and Tottenham Hotspur player Steve Perryman once remarked that Nakamura was so good, he "could open a tin of beans with his left foot" {Link without Title} . Slightly built at 178 cm tall, Nakamura has been criticized for lack of strength on the ball, and his physical weakness was one of the reason for his omission from Japan's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. However, he has addressed this shortcoming during his three seasons in Italy and he has flourished in the similarly physical Scottish football. Combined with the physical maturity, Nakamura's ability to create opportunities for teammates and unlock defenses, as well as his accuracy on set plays, have made him one of the most important player on the Japanese national team and a key player for his club sides. EARLY YEARS Born and raised in Yokohama , Japan, Nakamura began playing soccer competitively at age 5, playing with the local youth club side Misono FC until he entered junior high school. In fifth grade, he was selected for Yokohama's city all-star team's tour of the former Soviet Union , even though the team was only meant to include sixth graders. In 1991 at age 12, he joined Nissan F.C. Junior Youth, the youth division of Nissan Motors ' club side, which would become Yokohama Marinos when J. League began play in 1993 . However, Nakamura was not promoted to the Nissan F.C. Youth team In 1994 , and he enrolled at Toko Gakuen High School in Yokohama. There, Nakamura was named the most valuable player of Japan's national high school soccer tournament in 1995 , and led the school to the tournament final in 1996 . After graduation from Toko Gakuen in 1997 , Nakamura signed with the local club, Yokohama Marinos . NATIONAL TEAM Youth National Team (1996-2000) Nakamura's national team career with Japan started in 1996 as the only high school player selected to the Under-19 team for the Asia Youth Championship. The following year, he was a member of Japan's Under-20 team that finished in the final 8 of the FIFA World Youth Championship . In 1999 , Nakamura was selected a member of Japan's Under-23 team that won all its Asian qualifying matches in the run up to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Nakamura formed a lethal combination in the attacking midfield with Shinji Ono on a team that would form the core of the Japanese national team, and included Atsushi Yanagisawa , Junichi Inamoto and Naohiro Takahara . In Sydney, Japan reached the quarterfinal round. Under Troussier (2000-02) Nakamura made his senior national team debut pn February 13 , 2000 , in an Asian Cup qualifier match against Singapore . He scored his first national team goal against Brunei in the very next match on February 16 , 2000, also in Asian Cup qualifying. After helping Japan win Asian Cup 2000 , Nakamura appeared to have cemented his place in the national team, having played every match of the tournament. However, his national team career took a sharp turn in a friendly match on March 25 , 2001 , a humiliating 5-0 loss to France . He did not play for the team led by manager Philippe Troussier again until almost a year later, in a friendly match against Ukraine on March 21 , 2002 . Although Nakamura played in four friendly matches leading up to the , and was ultimately not picked for the World Cup squad {Link without Title} . Despite Nakamura's talents, Troussier could not find a place in his rigid, defensive-minded system. He believed Nakamura lacked the physique and stamina to play either the center or the left of the midfield, and had a surplus of players at both positions {Link without Title} . Under Zico (2002-06) After the World Cup, Troussier resigned as manager of Japan, and was replaced by former Brazil and Kashima Antlers star Zico . The new coach immediately brought the talented player back to the national team, starting Nakamura in his debut against Jamaica . Zico has lauded Nakamura's improvement since 2002, especially his physical development, stating, "Unquestionably, he has improved a great deal since his move to Serie A. He is the soul of our midfield." {Link without Title} . Nakamura has flourished under Zico's attacking style and earned his place as the central playmaker. He led Japan to the championship at and 2005 Confederations Cup , scoring a total of 4 goals in 6 matches. Nakamura was suspended for the as the main playmaker in Japan's attack {Link without Title} . CLUB CAREER Yokohama Marinos (1997-2002) In 1997 , 19-year-old Nakamura joined Yokohama Marinos of J. League (later merged with Yokohama Flugels and renamed 'Yokohama F. Marinos), a club whose youth side he had played for when it was known as Nissan Motors FC. He made his debut with Marinos on April 16 of that year against Gamba Osaka . Nakamura finished the season with 27 appearances and 5 goals. In 2000 , Nakamura had his best season in Yokohama, recording 5 goals and 11 assists, and winning the J. League Most Valuable Player award. Nakamura left Marinos during the 2002 season to join Reggina of Serie A , after the clubs agreed to a US$3.5 million transfer fee following a 6-month loan period {Link without Title} . Reggina (2002-2005) Following the disappointment of being omitted from Japan's final World Cup squad, Nakamura joined Italian club Reggina , newly promoted to Serie A . Expectations for Nakamura were high, as he was given the prestigious number 10 shirt from the start, and he responded by scoring in three consecutive matches early in the season. However, Nakamura struggled with injuries in the defensive-minded Serie A, appearing in just 18 matches in the 2003 - 2004 season, while the club struggled to avoid relegation all three seasons he played there. After three seasons in Italy, it was time to move on. Celtic (2005-Present) Nakamura expressed interest in playing in powerhouse Celtic . Although Japanese soccer observer and Celtic supporters {Link without Title} {Link without Title} . He recently won his first major career honours outside his native Japan, winning the Scottish Premier League and Scottish League Cup in what has been a successful first season in Scotland for Nakamura nicknamed "Super Naka" by the Celtic supporters. He is also on the sponsor of the football simualtion game "Winning Eleven" in the US and Japan. INDIVIDUAL HONORS
TEAM HONORS
TRIVIA A song has been written about him, ''Fantasista!'', by Christian "Ace" Codenotti , for a soccer-themed Eurobeat/Eurodance album released in 2002. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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