Maya Yoshida - Player Profile
Maya Yoshida - Player Profile
Maya Yoshida - Player Profile
What do we know about Maya Yoshida?
Maya Yoshida was born in Nagasaki, Japan in August 1988. He has played for three different clubs in three different countries during his career.
- Nagoya Grampus (Japan)
- VVV-Venlo (Holland)
- Southampton (England)
Yoshida started his career at Nagoya Grampus, where Arsenal's Arsene Wenger used to be manager. He scored the team's first ever goal in the AFC Champions League for Grampus, before moving to Holland at the end of 2009. In 2011, Yoshida scored with a bicycle kick straight from a corner, for Dutch team VVV-Venlo. The goal was voted 'Goal of the season 2011-12', in the Dutch Premier League.Maya Yoshida moved to Southampton in August 2012. "To come to the Premier League has been one of my biggest dreams since I was a child," Yoshida said. "I am very grateful to be able to become a Saint.” He scored his first goal for the club against Sunderland, in November 2013.
What is Yoshida's style of play?
Yoshida is 1m89 tall – a good height for a central defender. But at the beginning of his career, for Nagoya Grampus, he played in midfield. When he was promoted to the first team in 2007, he moved to centre-back.
The Southampton manager who signed him, Nigel Adkins, said: “Maya has a good physical presence.” But Yoshida does not depend only on his physique and is a very versatile player. Adkins also said: "He is comfortable on both the right- and left-hand side as he is good with both feet.” For that reason, Yoshida has also played at left and right back.
What do we know about the Japanese national team?
Japan went to the World Cup for the first time in 1998, and have qualified for every World Cup since then, including the 2002 World Cup that was organised by Japan and South Korea. The first time they played in the Asian Cup was in 1988, but they have won it a record four times, the last in 2011. Japan won the bronze medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Maya Yoshida has played over 30 times for the Japanese national team.
In Brazil, at the 2014 World Cup, Japan played Colombia, Greece and Ivory Coast in their group. Unfortunately they didn't win a game.
How popular is football in Japan?
The incredible popularity of football in Japan began in 1993, when the Japan Professional Football League (The J-League) was formed. It was a fully professional league that attracted foreign players (for example Zico of Brazil, Gary Lineker of England and Salvatore Schillaci of Italy), and many more spectators than the old Japan Soccer League. Japanese football can now present excellent marketing opportunities. Maya Yoshida is on the cover of the FIFA 14 video game with Lionel Messi! "Hopefully it will encourage fans at home to pick up the controller and play as Saints!" Yoshida says.
Which other Japanese players have played in the Premier League?
Maya Yoshida is not the first Japanese player in the Premier League. The first was Junichi Inamoto, who was signed by Arsene Wenger, for Arsenal in 2000. Inamoto went on to play for Fulham, West Brom and Cardiff City. Other famous Japanese players to have played in the Premier League include:
- Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers)
- Ryo Miyaichi (Arsenal)
- Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)
Shinji Kagawa became the first Japanese player to win the Premier League title in 2012/13.
What do we know about Southampton FC?
Southampton FC began in 1885 as a church football team, which is why their nickname is ‘The Saints’. Their best position in the top division was in 1983-84 when they finished second. As a second division team, they won the FA Cup in 1976 in a famous final against Manchester United (1-0). Southampton is a city on the south coast of England.
What did you understand?
Can you put the words in the correct order?
Did you know......?
- Maya Yoshida is a centre-back, but wears the number 3 at Southampton, the number traditionally worn by a left back.
- Yoshida’s favourite food in England is apple pie and custard.
- Football in Japan is often called ‘sakkā’, a word which comes from the English ‘soccer’.
- The symbol of the Japan Football Association is a mythical bird with three legs called the ‘Yatagarasu’.
- The nickname of the Japan national team is ‘Samurai Blue’, or a combination of the name of the coach and the name of the country, e.g. ‘Zaccheroni Japan’, or ‘Zac Japan’ (The Japanese coach is Italian: Alberto Zaccheroni).
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Comments
24/01/2023
points
What do you think?
• I don't know whether any FIFA's rule about shirt numbers.I remember a kit number that correspond to the plate number of player's hometown:-)
Riddle
• Why do some fans turn their back to the pitch during the match? There are two probabilities. Their team is clearly ahead.. They are protesting manager or players. For whatever purpose it isn't polite action.
Note
• According to Hegira calendar the holy three months have begun (This year on January 23, 2023).In Turkey, people celebrate it.There is a tradition called "Şivlilik" similiar to "Trick or treating". Children knock the neighbors doors and pick up sweets.
24/01/2023 17:44
Tottenham Hotspur
5558
What do you think?
• I don't know whether any FIFA's rule about shirt numbers.I remember a kit number that correspond to the plate number of player's hometown:-)
Riddle
• Why do some fans turn their back to the pitch during the match? There are two probabilities. Their team is clearly ahead.. They are protesting manager or players. For whatever purpose it isn't polite action.
Note
• According to Hegira calendar the holy three months have begun (This year on January 23, 2023).In Turkey, people celebrate it.There is a tradition called "Şivlilik" similiar to "Trick or treating". Children knock the neighbors doors and pick up sweets.
31/05/2021
points
I don't think that the shirts number is relevant nowadays. Actually in the PL we see a goalkeeper playing with number 10.
31/05/2021 19:05
Arsenal
1512
I don't think that the shirts number is relevant nowadays. Actually in the PL we see a goalkeeper playing with number 10.
19/06/2020
points
As far as I remember , Lothar Matthäus was a defensive midfielder for the German team and he used to wear No. 10 which is famously worn by the attacking players and playmakers.
19/06/2020 17:07
Manchester United
6539
As far as I remember , Lothar Matthäus was a defensive midfielder for the German team and he used to wear No. 10 which is famously worn by the attacking players and playmakers.
18/06/2016
points
Ronaldo used to wear jersey number 99 at AC-DC Milan
18/06/2016 23:31
Manchester United
4779
Ronaldo used to wear jersey number 99 at AC-DC Milan
18/06/2016
points
I would like to wear number 9 jersey
18/06/2016 23:29
Manchester United
4779
I would like to wear number 9 jersey
18/06/2016
points
Great impact he has had on his team
18/06/2016 23:27
Manchester United
4779
Great impact he has had on his team
18/06/2016
points
Yes Henry Thierry used to wear number 14
18/06/2016 23:27
Manchester United
4779
Yes Henry Thierry used to wear number 14
20/03/2016
points
Gheorghe Hagi used to wear number 10.
20/03/2016 14:03
Leicester City
1761
Gheorghe Hagi used to wear number 10.
01/03/2016
points
Balloteli wears number 45.
01/03/2016 12:59
Liverpool
3705
Balloteli wears number 45.
27/11/2015
points
Guys, which shirt number do or would you prefer to wear being a professional football player and why? Mine is No 8) 'cause I like dribbling and No 8 is shaped just the way I dribble)))
27/11/2015 11:42
Arsenal
2453
Guys, which shirt number do or would you prefer to wear being a professional football player and why? Mine is No 8) 'cause I like dribbling and No 8 is shaped just the way I dribble)))
25/11/2015
points
Grealish in Villa number 40, Wilson in Man.Utd 47, Markovic in L'pool 50, Yaya Toure in City 42, Anelka in Chelsea 39..
25/11/2015 21:47
Arsenal
3557
Grealish in Villa number 40, Wilson in Man.Utd 47, Markovic in L'pool 50, Yaya Toure in City 42, Anelka in Chelsea 39..
17/11/2015
points
I think now some players wear uncommon shirt numbers in connection to something personal or just to stand out.
17/11/2015 12:45
Arsenal
2453
I think now some players wear uncommon shirt numbers in connection to something personal or just to stand out.
02/11/2015
points
Many players have different numbers that are not connected to their position on the pitch now. It was not the case one decade ago.
02/11/2015 09:40
Arsenal
3557
Many players have different numbers that are not connected to their position on the pitch now. It was not the case one decade ago.
07/01/2015
points
I know a lot of players with shirt numbers are not connected to their position on the pitch, for example Yaya Touré shirt number is 42.
Ten years ago (I think), that was the rule that shirt numbers must be connected with position on the pitch, for example number 9 is for striker.
07/01/2015 14:47
West Ham United
538
I know a lot of players with shirt numbers are not connected to their position on the pitch, for example Yaya Touré shirt number is 42.
Ten years ago (I think), that was the rule that shirt numbers must be connected with position on the pitch, for example number 9 is for striker.