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Takuya Yamada
山田卓也
Personal information
Full name	Takuya Yamada
Date of birth	August 24, 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth	Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1990–1992	Toin Gakuen High School
1993–1996	Komazawa University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1997–2005	Tokyo Verdy
2006	Cerezo Osaka
2007–2008	Yokohama FC
2009	Sagan Tosu
2010–2014	Tampa Bay Rowdies
2015	FC Imabari
2016	Nara Club
2017	FC Imabari
Total
International career
2003–2004	Japan
Medal record
Tokyo Verdy
Representing Japan
AFC Asian Cup
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Takuya Yamada (山田卓也, Yamada Takuya, born August 24, 1974) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Yamada attended Toin Gakuen High School, where he led the school to the final four in the National Championship. Played at Komazawa University before turning professional where he won a variety of different national titles, including the gold medal for Japan at the 1995 Summer Universiade.

He turned professional in 1997, playing for Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) in the then-fledgling J1 League. He played as right side-back and midfielder. Yamada stayed with Verdy for the next eight years, clocking up almost 300 appearances for the club. He was one of the iconic players of J1 League's early years, known for his physical and charismatic strength on the field. The supporters' group honored him with the name of "Mr. Verdy" when he served as Verdy's captain for three years. He was also nicknamed "The Terminator", due to his combative style.

He moved to Cerezo Osaka for the 2006 season, but never fully settled with the club. In December 2006, Yamada surprised the Australian football community by arriving unannounced for a trial with Adelaide United.^[1]^[2] However, in January, 2007, Adelaide United signed with a Brazilian attacking midfielder Diego Walsh from Miami FC who had a more advanced visa status meaning Walsh was likely to be available sooner to play for Adelaide United.^[3]

From Australia, Yamada flew to the United States for an invitational tryout with several Major League Soccer clubs, including New England Revolution,^[4] but was not offered a contract. After returning to Japan, Yokohama FC of the J.League immediately announced its interest towards Yamada and signed him on 3 June 2007. Yamada served as captain for the 2008 season.

For the 2009 season, Yamada transferred to Sagan Tosu due to the head coach Yasuyuki Kishino's strong recruitment. On January 1, 2010, Yamada signed with FC Tampa Bay (later Tampa Bay Rowdies) for their 2010 inaugural team roster.^[5] He became the first Japanese player to serve as co-captain in USSF Division 2. Yamada re-signed with Tampa Bay, now playing in the North American Soccer League, on December 27, 2010.^[6]

Yamada remained with Tampa Bay through the 2011 season. On October 5, 2011, the club announced that Yamada would return for the 2012 season.^[7] It was the second straight season Yamada scored the game-winner in the home opener.^[8] Started all 28 regular season matches and 2 post-season matches... Played in all 2,520 regular season minutes, the most in the NASL, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl 2012, he was also selected to the NASL 2012 Best XI.^[9] Yamada continued to play for Tampa Bay for the 2013 season where he started in 22 matches in NASL season. Played in 1966 minutes and played in 100th official match for Rowdies on August 24, 2013.^[10] On February 10, 2014, the club announced that Yamada will return for the 2014 season as the club's longest tenured player.^[11] He left the club end of 2014 season.

He returned to Japan in 2015 and he joined FC Imabari in July. He moved to Nara Club in 2016 and played until end of the season. He returned to FC Imabari in August 2017. He retired in November 2017.

National team career

Yamada was the world champion for the 1995 Summer Universiade.

In December 2003, he was selected Japan national team for 2003 East Asian Football Championship. At this tournament, on December 7, he debuted against Hong Kong. He was also selected Japan for 2004 Asian Cup. Although he did play in the match, Japan won the champions. He played as defensive midfielder. He played 4 games for Japan until 2004.^[12]

Playing style

The organizer on the pitch with his computerized accurate short, and long passes. He is a utility player as a midfielder, and defender, who is also capable both on the flank and middle. Yamada is also a hard nose player to go tight, and tough against whoever he is matching up with. Also, equipped with sharp overlaps to score when needed. Natural leader on and off the field who served as captain in three clubs.

Club statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1997	Verdy Kawasaki	J1 League	22	1	0	0	3	0	25	1
1998			7	0	3	0	4	0	14	0
1999			29	3	4	0	4	0	37	3
2000			30	4	2	0	5	0	37	4
2001	Tokyo Verdy	J1 League	29	2	3	0	2	0	34	0
2002			28	1	1	0	6	1	35	2
2003			30	10	3	0	6	0	39	10
2004			27	1	5	2	4	2	36	5
2005			33	0	1	0	5	1	39	1
2006	Cerezo Osaka	J1 League	20	0	0	0	6	0	26	0
2007	Yokohama FC	J1 League	19	1	2	0	-		21	1
2008	Yokohama FC	J2 League	31	4	2	0	-		33	4
2009	Sagan Tosu	J2 League	43	1	2	0	-		45	1
United States			League		Open Cup		League Cup		Total
2010	FC Tampa Bay	D2 Pro League	29	0					29	0
2011	FC Tampa Bay	NASL	24	1					24	1
2012	Tampa Bay Rowdies	NASL	28	3	2	0			30	3
2013			22	0	2	0			24	0
2014			10	0					10	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
2015	FC Imabari	Regional Leagues	4	0	1	0	-		5	0
2016	Nara Club	Football League	13	1	2	0	-		15	1
2017	FC Imabari	Football League	0	0	-		-		0	0
Country	Japan		365	29	31	2	45	4	441	35
Country	United States		113	4	4	0	0	0	117	4
Total			478	33	35	2	45	4	558	39

National team statistics

^[12]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2003	1	0
2004	3	0
Total	4	0

Honors and awards

Tampa Bay Rowdies

North American Soccer League:
- Champion (1) 2012

Personal

2010: Co-Captain of FC Tampa Bay
2008: Captain of Yokohama FC
2002-2005: Captain of Tokyo Verdy

Club

2012: NASL Best XI
2005: J.League XEROX Super Cup Champion
2004: J.League Emperor's Cup Champion
2004: AFC Asian Cup Champions
1996: All-Japan University Best 11
1995: Universiade Fukuoka (World University Games), Japanese College National Team – World Champion (Gold Medal)
1995: All-Japan University Best 11
1993: All-Japan High School Select Team