#22 Yuji Nakazawa Country: Japan Height: 1.87 m6-2 Birthdate: 25/02/1978 Position: Defender Weight: 78 kg172 lbs Birthplace: Yoshikawa, Japan Team: Yokohama F.Marinos League: J-League

Bio

Nakazawa announced his retirement from international football after Japan failed to advance to the knockout stage in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but his hiatus didn't last long. As a result, the 32-year-old captain will be in South Africa hoping to lead Samurai Blue to a better finish this time around. Nakazawa is the emotional leader of this squad, as well as a strong defender and a dangerous weapon when he moves upfield for free kicks and corner kicks. He scored three goals in 12 appearances in qualifiers leading up to the 2010 Cup, a very strong scoring rate for a defender. He's one of two players on coach Takeshi Okada's Cup team with more than 100 caps, having helped Japan to Asian Cup titles in 2000 and 2004 and a fourth-place finish in 2007. Nakazawa, the 1999 Japan League rookie of the year, has been named to the J-League's Best Eleven five times. He was also the league's MVP and the Japanese football of the year in 2004. Now in his ninth season with Yokohama F Marinos, Nakazawa would no doubt love to add a trip to the World Cup's knockout stage to his already impressive resume.

Player Stats