Tsubasa Endoh (遠藤 翼, Endō Tsubasa, born 20 August 1993) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward.
 Endoh playing for Toronto FC in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 August 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, Second Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2012 | JFA Academy Fukushima | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2015 | Maryland Terrapins | 85 | (12) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2017 | Toronto FC | 25 | (2) |
| 2017 | → Toronto FC II (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2018 | Toronto FC II | 14 | (8) |
| 2019–2021 | Toronto FC | 41 | (5) |
| 2019 | → Toronto FC II (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2022 | Melbourne City | 5 | (0) |
| 2022 | LA Galaxy II | 3 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Japan U15 | |||
| Japan U16 | |||
| Japan U17 | |||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 March 2016 | |||
College career
editEndoh played four years with Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland. In 2016, he attended the MLS Combine for draft-eligible players ahead of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, where he was named MVP.[1]
Career
editEndoh was drafted as the ninth overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC and signed with the club on 27 February 2016.[2] He made his professional debut on 6 March 2016 against the New York Red Bulls.[3] He scored his first MLS goal on 7 May 2016, in Toronto FC's home opener against FC Dallas, at the newly renovated BMO Field, which ended in a 1–0 victory.[4][5] At the end of 2017, he was released by the club, who declined to exercise their contract option on him.[6]
In 2018, he went on a month-long trial with Belgian second division club KFCO Beerschot Wilrijk, but was not offered a contract and returned to Canada.[7][8][9] On 2 August 2018, after not being offered a first-team deal, Endoh signed a USL contract with the second-team Toronto FC II.[10] He made an immediate impact, scoring two goals and adding an assist in his fifth game back against Louisville City.[11] He followed that up in his eighth game when he scored a hat trick against FC Cincinnati, his first career hat trick as a professional.[12]
On 16 January 2019, Endoh rejoined Toronto's first team in Major League Soccer, signing an MLS contract.[13] He made his first appearance of the season for Toronto on 26 June 2019,[14] scoring the fastest goal in club history, only 29 seconds into the game against Atlanta United; Toronto went on to win the game 3–2.[14][15]
In January 2022, Endoh signed a six month contract with Australian club Melbourne City in the A-League.[16][17]
In August 2022, he joined LA Galaxy II in the USL Championship, scoring two goals on his debut on 27 August against Monterey Bay FC.[18]
International career
editEndoh has represented Japan at the U15 through U17 levels.[8]
Personal life
editFrom 2005 to 2011, Endoh was part of the Japan Football Association Academy in Fukushima. Forced to leave after the Fukushima earthquake, he moved to the United States in 2011, going to the University of Maryland. Since leaving Japan he has learned to speak English, a language he could not speak well in 2011.[19]
In December 2022, he was diagnosed with acute leukemia.[20]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 14 September 2021[21]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Toronto FC | 2016 | MLS | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 3 | ||||
| Toronto FC II | 2017 | USL Championship | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | ||||
| 2018 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | ||||||
| 2019 | USL League One | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 34 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 11 | ||||||
| Toronto FC | 2019 | MLS | 13 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 17[a] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |||
| 2021 | 11 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 41 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 100 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 21 | ||
- ^ Includes three appearances in the MLS is Back Tournament group stage.
References
edit
- ^ Armstrong, Laura (5 March 2016). "TFC opener marks the beginning of Endoh". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Toronto FC Sign Tsubasa Endoh". Toronto FC. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Omata, Shohei (7 March 2016). "Tsubasa Endoh, Toronto FC Rookie, Debuts in his first Major League Soccer game". Nikkei Voice.
- ^ "GOAL: Tsubasa Endoh scores his first career MLS goal". Major League Soccer. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (7 May 2016). "Sebastian Giovinco razor-sharp in Toronto FC home opener in new-look BMO Field". Winnipeg Free Press. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Bedakian, Armen (14 December 2017). "Toronto FC declines options on eight players including Cooper, Cheyrou, Endoh". The Score.
- ^ Hernon, Matthew (7 May 2020). "Tsubasa Endoh overcomes obstacles to fulfill dream of playing soccer abroad". Japan Times.
- ^ a b Orlowitz, Dan (15 January 2020). "Toronto midfielder Tsubasa Endoh awaits breakthrough moment for MLS in Japan". Japan Times.
- ^ Kloke, Joshua (7 November 2019). "In a rise from USL to the MLS playoffs, Tsubasa Endoh has found his focus". The Athletic.
- ^ "Toronto FC II Sign Tsubasa Endoh". Toronto FC. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Grossi, James (29 August 2018). "TFC II shock USL with big win in Louisville". Waking the Red.
- ^ Grossi, James (18 September 2018). "Endoh hits a stunning hat-trick, but not enough as TFC II fall 4–3 away to league-leading FC Cincinnati". Waking the Red.
- ^ "Toronto FC sign Tsubasa Endoh, Jordan Hamilton". Toronto FC. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ a b Buffery, Steve (26 June 2019). "Shaffelburg's dazzling debut lifts TFC to a wild win over red-hot Atlanta". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Wharnsby, Tim (26 June 2019). "Toronto FC over Atlanta in a wild ride of late penalty kicks and record fast goals". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Former Toronto FC winger Tsubasa Endoh signs short-term deal with Melbourne City FC". Toronto Star. 1 February 2022.
- ^ "City Alm Strengthen with Japanese Signing". FTBL. 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Monterey Bay F.C. Falls 2-0 to LA Galaxy II at Cardinale Stadium". Our Sports Central. 27 August 2022.
- ^ Stejskal, Sam (27 February 2016). "Earthquake survivor Tsubasa Endoh fulfills pro dreams a long way from home". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Jacques, John (27 December 2022). "Tsubasa Endoh Shares Cancer Diagnosis". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Tsubasa Endoh at Soccerway