{{short description|Japanese footballer}} {{Infobox football biography |name=Takuya Yamada<br/>山田 卓也 |image=yamada.jpg |image_size=200 |caption= |fullname=Takuya Yamada |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1974|8|24}} |birth_place=Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan |death_date= |death_place= |height={{Height|m=1.78}} |position=Defender, Midfielder |currentclub= |clubnumber= |youthyears1=1990–1992|youthclubs1=Toin Gakuen High School |youthyears2=1993–1996|youthclubs2=Komazawa University |years1=1997–2005|clubs1=Tokyo Verdy|caps1=235|goals1=22 |years2=2006|clubs2=Cerezo Osaka|caps2=20|goals2=0 |years3=2007–2008|clubs3=Yokohama FC|caps3=50|goals3=5 |years4=2009|clubs4=Sagan Tosu|caps4=43|goals4=1 |years5=2010–2014|clubs5=Tampa Bay Rowdies|caps5=113|goals5=4 |years6=2015|clubs6=FC Imabari|caps6=4|goals6=0 |years7=2016|clubs7=Nara Club|caps7=13|goals7=1 |years8=2017|clubs8=FC Imabari|caps8=0|goals8=0 |totalcaps=478|totalgoals=33 |nationalyears1=2003–2004|nationalteam1=Japan|nationalcaps1=4|nationalgoals1=0 |manageryears1=|managerclubs1= |medaltemplates= {{Medal|Team|Tokyo Verdy}} {{Medal|W|Emperor's Cup|2004}} {{Medal|Country|{{Fb|JPN}}}} {{Medal|Competition|AFC Asian Cup}} {{Medal|G|2004 China|}} }} {{Nihongo|'''Takuya Yamada'''|山田 卓也|Yamada Takuya|born August 24, 1974}} is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
==Club career== Yamada attended Toin Gakuen High School, where he led the school to the final four in the National Championship. Played at Komazawa University before turning professional where he won a variety of different national titles, including the gold medal for Japan at the 1995 Summer Universiade.
He turned professional in 1997, playing for Verdy Kawasaki (later ''Tokyo Verdy'') in the then-fledgling J1 League. He played as right side-back and midfielder. Yamada stayed with Verdy for the next eight years, clocking up almost 300 appearances for the club. He was one of the iconic players of J1 League's early years, known for his physical and charismatic strength on the field. The supporters' group honored him with the name of "Mr. Verdy" when he served as Verdy's captain for three years. He was also nicknamed "The Terminator", due to his combative style.
He moved to Cerezo Osaka for the 2006 season, but never fully settled with the club. In December 2006, Yamada surprised the Australian football community by arriving unannounced for a trial with Adelaide United.<ref>{{cite news|last=A-League|first=Hyundai|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=6406&pageid=11|title=Yamada Trains with Reds|publisher=Hyundai A-League|date=2006-12-20|access-date=2006-12-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306115719/http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay|archive-date=2011-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lato|first=Daniel|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20956022-5006373,00.html|title=Reds eye surprise arrival|publisher=Adelaide Advertiser|date=2006-12-20|access-date=2006-12-21}}</ref> However, in January, 2007, Adelaide United signed with a Brazilian attacking midfielder Diego Walsh from Miami FC who had a more advanced visa status meaning Walsh was likely to be available sooner to play for Adelaide United.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lato|first=Daniel|url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21036688-5006373,00.html|title=United signs Diego|publisher=Adelaide Advertiser|date=2007-01-10|access-date=2007-01-10}}</ref>
From Australia, Yamada flew to the United States for an invitational tryout with several Major League Soccer clubs, including New England Revolution,<ref>{{cite web |title=Archived |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20070314mu.html |website=www.japantimes.co.jp |publisher=The Japan Times |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309054709/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20070314mu.html |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |language=en |date=2007-03-14}}{{dl|date=April 2023}}</ref> but was not offered a contract. After returning to Japan, Yokohama FC of the J.League immediately announced its interest towards Yamada and signed him on 3 June 2007. Yamada served as captain for the 2008 season.
For the 2009 season, Yamada transferred to Sagan Tosu due to the head coach Yasuyuki Kishino's strong recruitment. On January 1, 2010, Yamada signed with FC Tampa Bay (later ''Tampa Bay Rowdies'') for their 2010 inaugural team roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.a-league.com/view_news.php?id=7521|title=FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Sign Iconic Japanese Midfielder Takuya Yamada}}</ref> He became the first Japanese player to serve as co-captain in USSF Division 2. Yamada re-signed with Tampa Bay, now playing in the North American Soccer League, on December 27, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4141288|title=FC Tampa Bay Re-Signs Takuya Yamada|date=27 December 2010}}</ref>
Yamada remained with Tampa Bay through the 2011 season. On October 5, 2011, the club announced that Yamada would return for the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fctampabay.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1397 |title=News |access-date=2011-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011232656/http://www.fctampabay.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1397 |archive-date=2011-10-11 }}</ref> It was the second straight season Yamada scored the game-winner in the home opener.<ref>[http://www2.tbo.com/sports/sports/2012/apr/16/rowdies-edge-edmonton-1-0-in-home-opener-ar-392995/ Rowdies edge Edmonton 1-0 in home opener]</ref> Started all 28 regular season matches and 2 post-season matches... Played in all 2,520 regular season minutes, the most in the NASL, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl 2012, he was also selected to the NASL 2012 Best XI.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=3405|title=NASL Announces 2012 Best XI}}</ref> Yamada continued to play for Tampa Bay for the 2013 season where he started in 22 matches in NASL season. Played in 1966 minutes and played in 100th official match for Rowdies on August 24, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/yamada-goes-from-unknown-to-rowdies-stalwart/2138076/|title=Yamada goes from unknown to Rowdies stalwart|date=24 August 2013}}</ref> On February 10, 2014, the club announced that Yamada will return for the 2014 season as the club's longest tenured player.<ref>[http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/detail/uuid/1uoei0jety6tx19t4woduj8gq5#.UxYYm_ldXUV LONGEST TENURED ROWDIE TAKUYA YAMADA AND FORWARD DEVIN DEL DO RETURN FOR THE 2014 SEASON] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114414/http://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/detail/uuid/1uoei0jety6tx19t4woduj8gq5 |date=2015-09-24 }}</ref> He left the club end of 2014 season.
He returned to Japan in 2015 and he joined FC Imabari in July. He moved to Nara Club in 2016 and played until end of the season. He returned to FC Imabari in August 2017. He retired in November 2017.
==National team career== Yamada was the world champion for the 1995 Summer Universiade.
In December 2003, he was selected Japan national team for 2003 East Asian Football Championship. At this tournament, on December 7, he debuted against Hong Kong. He was also selected Japan for 2004 Asian Cup. Although he did play in the match, Japan won the champions. He played as defensive midfielder. He played 4 games for Japan until 2004.<ref name="JNFTD">[http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/yamada_takuya.html Japan National Football Team Database]</ref>
==Playing style== The organizer on the pitch with his computerized accurate short, and long passes. He is a utility player as a midfielder, and defender, who is also capable both on the flank and middle. Yamada is also a hard nose player to go tight, and tough against whoever he is matching up with. Also, equipped with sharp overlaps to score when needed. Natural leader on and off the field who served as captain in three clubs.
==Club statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! colspan=3 | Club performance ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total |- ! Season ! Club ! League ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals |- ! colspan=3 |Japan ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Emperor's Cup ! colspan=2 | J.League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total |- |1997||rowspan="4"|Verdy Kawasaki||rowspan="4"|J1 League||22||1||0||0||3||0||25||1 |- |1998||7||0||3||0||4||0||14||0 |- |1999||29||3||4||0||4||0||37||3 |- |2000||30||4||2||0||5||0||37||4 |- |2001||rowspan="5"|Tokyo Verdy||rowspan="5"|J1 League||29||2||3||0||2||0||34||0 |- |2002||28||1||1||0||6||1||35||2 |- |2003||30||10||3||0||6||0||39||10 |- |2004||27||1||5||2||4||2||36||5 |- |2005||33||0||1||0||5||1||39||1 |- |2006||Cerezo Osaka||J1 League||20||0||0||0||6||0||26||0 |- |2007||rowspan="2"|Yokohama FC||J1 League||19||1||2||0||colspan="2"|-||21||1 |- |2008||J2 League||31||4||2||0||colspan="2"|-||33||4 |- |2009||Sagan Tosu||J2 League||43||1||2||0||colspan="2"|-||45||1 |- ! colspan=3 |United States ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Open Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2010||rowspan="2"|FC Tampa Bay||D2 Pro League||29||0||||||||||29||0 |- |2011||NASL||24||1||||||||||24||1 |- |2012||rowspan="3"|Tampa Bay Rowdies||rowspan="3"|NASL||28||3||2||0||||||30||3 |- |2013||22||0||2||0||||||24||0 |- |2014||10||0|||||||||||10||0 |- ! colspan=3 |Japan ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Emperor's Cup ! colspan=2 | J.League Cup ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2015||FC Imabari||Regional Leagues||4||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||5||0 |- |2016||Nara Club||Football League||13||1||2||0||colspan="2"|-||15||1 |- |2017||FC Imabari||Football League||0||0||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||0||0 |- !rowspan=2| Country !!colspan=2| Japan !365||29||31||2||45||4||441||35 |- !colspan=2|United States !113||4||4||0||0||0||117||4 |- !colspan=3|Total !478||33||35||2||45||4||558||39 |}
==National team statistics== <ref name="JNFTD"/> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=3 | Japan national team |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2003||1||0 |- |2004||3||0 |- !Total||4||0 |}
==Honors and awards== ===Tampa Bay Rowdies=== *'''North American Soccer League:''' ** '''Champion (1)''' 2012
===Personal=== * 2010: Co-Captain of FC Tampa Bay * 2008: Captain of Yokohama FC * 2002-2005: Captain of Tokyo Verdy
===Club=== * 2012: NASL Best XI * 2005: J.League XEROX Super Cup Champion * 2004: J.League Emperor's Cup Champion * 2004: AFC Asian Cup Champions * 1996: All-Japan University Best 11 * 1995: Universiade Fukuoka (World University Games), Japanese College National Team – World Champion (Gold Medal) * 1995: All-Japan University Best 11 * 1993: All-Japan High School Select Team
===International=== * 2004 Asian Cup (Champion)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{NFT}} * [http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/yamada_takuya.html Japan National Football Team Database] * {{J.League player}} * {{Soccerway}}
{{Japan squad 2004 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamada, Takuya}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Komazawa University alumni Category:Football people from Tokyo Category:Japanese men's footballers Category:Japan men's international footballers Category:J1 League players Category:J2 League players Category:Japan Football League players Category:Tokyo Verdy players Category:Cerezo Osaka players Category:Yokohama FC players Category:Sagan Tosu players Category:FC Imabari players Category:Nara Club players Category:Japanese expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players Category:USSF Division 2 Professional League players Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies players Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:2004 AFC Asian Cup players Category:AFC Asian Cup–winning players Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football midfielders