Kengo Nakamura

is a Japanese football (soccer) midfielder who currently plays for Kawasaki Frontale of the J. League.

Career

He started playing football when he was in the first grade at the local primary school, playing for in Fuchū, Tokyo. The team reached the top 16 in the National Boy's Soccer Tournament when he was in the fifth grade. He was an athlete oath taker and was selected as one of the 20 excellent players of the competition at the Tokyo Boys Invitational Tournament when he was in the sixth grade.

He was educated at and played for Higashi Kurume High School and Chuo University. When he was at Chuo, the team experienced the relegation to Kanto University League Division 2 but Nakamura as a team captain led the team to bounce back to the top division.

In 2003, he joined Kawasaki Frontale after a successful trial and made his debut in the opening league game of the season. His first professional goal came on April 9, 2003 against Montedio Yamagata. Club manager Takashi Sekiduka converted him to a defensive midfielder from an attacking midfielder in 2004 and Nakamura quickly established himself as a linchpin of the team. In the 2006 season, he scored 10 goals for his club and was selected as a member of 2006 J-League Team of the Year.

He made his senior national team debut on October 4, 2006, in a friendly match against Ghana national football team. His first goal for Japan came on October 11, 2006 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India national football team. He is a member of the Japan team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals.

He is a bachelor of arts (English).

Playing style

K.Nakamura is a playmaking midfielder usually employed by Kawasaki Frontale on the central midfield. His view can supply pass very widely over the wide range.

Besides passing, Nakamura is also an adept dribbler with determination and strength. He has managed to score through dribbling past defenses for his club. His goals and assists were instrumental in taking Kawasaki Frontale to the knock-out stages of the ACL 2007.

Honors

Individual honors

- J-League Best eleven: 2006, 2007

National team career statistics

Appearances in major competitions

Goals for senior national team