Atsushi Yanagisawa (柳沢 敦, Yanagisawa Atsushi, born May 27, 1977) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for Japan national team.

Atsushi Yanagisawa
柳沢 敦
Personal information
Full name Atsushi Yanagisawa[1]
Date of birth (1977-05-27) May 27, 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Imizu, Toyama, Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1993–1995 Toyama Daiichi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2003 Kashima Antlers 178 (71)
2003–2004 Sampdoria 15 (0)
2004–2006 Messina 29 (0)
2006–2007 Kashima Antlers 42 (9)
2008–2010 Kyoto Sanga FC 85 (21)
2011–2014 Vegalta Sendai 66 (7)
Total 415 (108)
International career
1997 Japan U-20 5 (4)
2000 Japan U-23 4 (1)
1998–2006 Japan 58 (17)
Medal record
Kashima Antlers
Winner J1 League 1996
Winner J1 League 1998
Winner J1 League 2000
Winner J1 League 2001
Winner J1 League 2007
Runner-up J1 League 1997
Winner J.League Cup 1997
Winner J.League Cup 2000
Winner J.League Cup 2002
Runner-up J.League Cup 1999
Runner-up J.League Cup 2003
Runner-up J.League Cup 2006
Winner Emperor's Cup 1997
Winner Emperor's Cup 2000
Winner Emperor's Cup 2007
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2002
Vegalta Sendai
Runner-up J1 League 2012
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2000 Lebanon
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He is best known for playing the majority of his career at Kashima Antlers, in addition to his spells with Italian sides Sampdoria and Messina.

Yanagisawa earned 58 caps for the Japan national team, and represented them at two World Cups, the 2000 Olympics and the 2000 Asian Cup.[2]

Club career

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Yanagisawa was born in Imizu on May 27, 1977. After graduating from high school, he joined Kashima Antlers in 1996. He debuted in May 1996. In 1997, he became a regular player and was selected Rookie of the Year awards. In 1990s, the club won the champions at 1996, 1998 J1 League, 1997 J.League Cup and 1997 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club won 3rd place at 1998–99 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000, the club won all three major title in Japan; J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. In 2001, the club won J1 League for two consecutive seasons and he was selected Japanese Footballer of the Year awards. In 2002, the club won J.League Cup.

In June 2003, Yanagisawa moved to Italian Serie A club Sampdoria. He moved to Messina in 2004.

In March 2006, Yanagisawa returned to Kashima Antlers. In 2007, the club won J1 League and Emperor's Cup. However his opportunity to play decreased behind young player Yuzo Tashiro and Shinzo Koroki. He moved to Kyoto Sanga FC in 2008. He scored 14 goals which is top score in Japanese player in the league. However he could not scored many goals from 2009. He moved to Vegalta Sendai in 2011. In March 2011, 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred in wide area including Sendai. Although he did not play many matches, the club won the 4th place in 2011 and second place in 2012. He retired end of 2014 season.

International career

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In June 1997, Yanagisawa was selected Japan U20 national team for 1997 World Youth Championship. At this competition, he wore the number 10 shirt for Japan and played all five matches and scored four goals.

On February 15, 1998, Yanagisawa debuted for Japan national team against Australia. From 1999, he was selected Japan well by manager Philippe Troussier.

In September 2000, he also was selected Japan U23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played in all four matches and scored a goal against United States in Quarterfinal.

In October, he also played at 2000 AFC Asian Cup and Japan won the champions. In 2002, he was selected Japan for 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played as forward with club teammate Takayuki Suzuki in three games. He also played at 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played 58 games and scored 17 goals for Japan until 2006.[3]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[4][5]
Club Season League National cup League cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kashima Antlers 1996 J1 League 8 5 1 0 6 1 15 6
1997 25 8 5 2 9 2 39 12
1998 32 22 1 0 5 0 38 22
1999 26 9 2 0 3 1 31 10
2000 26 6 3 1 3 0 32 7
2001 26 12 1 1 5 2 32 15
2002 27 7 5 1 3 0 35 8
2003 8 2 0 0 0 0 8 2
Total 178 71 18 5 34 6 230 82
Sampdoria 2003–04 Serie A 15 0 3 0 18 0
Messina 2004–05 Serie A 22 0 4 1 26 1
2005–06 7 0 0 0 7 0
Total 29 0 4 1 33 1
Kashima Antlers 2006 J1 League 23 4 2 1 3 1 28 6
2007 19 5 5 2 6 2 30 9
Total 42 9 7 3 9 3 58 15
Kyoto Sanga FC 2008 J1 League 32 14 2 0 6 1 40 15
2009 22 4 2 1 5 1 29 6
2010 31 3 2 0 5 3 38 6
Total 85 21 6 1 16 5 107 27
Vegalta Sendai 2011 J1 League 17 1 0 0 1 0 18 1
2012 16 2 2 0 4 0 22 2
2013 20 3 1 0 0 0 21 3
2014 13 1 1 1 0 0 14 2
Total 66 7 4 1 5 0 75 8
Career total 415 108 36 11 64 14 521 133

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[3]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 1998 2 0
1999 4 0
2000 10 4
2001 6 5
2002 9 0
2003 5 2
2004 8 2
2005 10 4
2006 4 0
Total 58 17
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Yanagisawa goal.
List of international goals scored by Atsushi Yanagisawa
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 June 6, 2000 Rabat, Morocco   Jamaica 4–0 Hassan II International Cup
2 June 18, 2000 Yokohama, Japan   Bolivia 2–0 2000 Kirin Cup
3
4 October 14, 2000 Sidon, Lebanon   Saudi Arabia 4–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup
5 August 15, 2001 Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan   Australia 3–0 Friendly
6 July 1, 2001 Sapporo, Japan   Paraguay 2–0 2001 Kirin Cup
7
8 October 7, 2001 Southampton, England   Nigeria 2–2 Friendly
9 November 7, 2001 Saitama, Japan   Italy 1–1 Friendly
10 October 8, 2003 Tunis, Tunisia   Tunisia 1–0 Friendly
11 October 11, 2003 Bucharest, Romania   Romania 1–1 Friendly
12 February 12, 2004 Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan   Iraq 2–0 Friendly
13 July 9, 2004 Ōita, Japan   Slovakia 3–1 2004 Kirin Cup
14 June 8, 2005 Bangkok, Thailand   North Korea 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
15 June 16, 2005 Hanover, Germany   Mexico 1–2 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
16 September 7, 2005 Rifu, Miyagi, Japan   Honduras 5–4 Friendly
17

Honors

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Kashima Antlers

Japan

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. March 21, 2014. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2019.
  2. ^ Atsushi YanagisawaFIFA competition record (archived)
  3. ^ a b "Japan National Football Team Database". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
  4. ^ Vegalta Sendai on December 4, 2014 (in Japanese)
  5. ^ J.League Data Site (in Japanese)
  6. ^ "Youngster takes top award". Asian Football Confederation. 14 May 1998. Archived from the original on 1998-05-14.
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