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Eiji Kawashima
	Kawashima at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Eiji Kawashima
Date of birth	March 20, 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Strasbourg Alsace
Youth career
1998–2000	Urawa Higashi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
2001–2003	Omiya Ardija
2004–2006	Nagoya Grampus Eight
2007–2010	Kawasaki Frontale
2010–2012	Lierse
2012–2015	Standard Liège
2015–2016	Dundee United
2016–2018	Metz
2018–	Strasbourg Alsace
National team
2003	Japan U-20
2008–2019	Japan
Honours
Kawasaki Frontale
Representing Japan
AFC Asian Cup
AFC U-20 Asian Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of the 2019/20 season

Eiji Kawashima (川島永嗣, Kawashima Eiji, born March 20, 1983) is a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography

Kawashima was born in Saitama on March 20, 1983. After graduating from Urawa Higashi High School, he joined his local club Omiya Ardija in J2 League in 2001. He played many matches from 2003. In 2004, he moved to J1 League club Nagoya Grampus Eight. However he could not play many matches behind Seigo Narazaki who playing for the Japan national team. In 2007, he moved to Kawasaki Frontale. He became a first choice goalkeeper from first season. Kawasaki also won the 2nd place in the 2008 and 2009 J1 League. In summer 2010, he moved to Belgian Pro League club Lierse and played in 2 seasons. In 2012, he moved to Standard Liège. Although he played as first choice goalkeeper until 2014, he lost his position in 2015 and he left the club end of 2014/15 season. After half year blank, he signed with Scottish Premiership club Dundee United. However the club was relegated to Scottish Championship end of the 2015/16 season. In 2016, he moved to French Ligue 1 club Metz. In 2018, he moved to Strasbourg Alsace.

In 2003, Kawasahima was selected the Japan U-20 national team for 2003 World Youth Championship and played all 5 matches. In February 2008, he was selected the Japan national team for 2008 East Asian Football Championship. At this tournament, he debuted against North Korea on February 17. However he could not play many matches behind Seigo Narazaki. In 2010, he was selected the Japan for 2010 World Cup. In May, he became a first choice goalkeeper instead Narazaki just before the 2010 World Cup. Kawashima played all 4 matches at the 2010 World Cup and Japan qualified to the knockout stage. After the 2010 World Cup, Narazaki retired from national team and Kawashima became a egular goalkeeper under new manager Alberto Zaccheroni. In 2011, he played at 2011 Asian Cup and won the champions. He also played at 2013 Confederations Cup, 2014 World Cup and 2015 Asian Cup. Although he lost his position behind Shusaku Nishikawa from 2015, Kawashima played many matches again from 2017. In 2018, he was selected the Japan for 2018 World Cup. He played all 4 matches and Japan qualified to the knockout stage. He also played at 2019 Copa América. He played 91 games for Japan until 2019.

Kawashima helped develop a program to improve the foreign language skills of Japanese athletes and coaches who play and coach internationally. He is fluent in English and Italian. He works to improve speaking and listening skills in Dutch, French and Portuguese skills.^[1]

Statistics

^[2]^[3]

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
2001	Omiya Ardija	J2 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2002			8	0	4	0	-		-		12	0
2003			33	0	0	0	-		-		33	0
2004	Nagoya Grampus Eight	J1 League	4	0	0	0	8	0	-		12	0
2005			3	0	1	0	6	0	-		10	0
2006			10	0	0	0	4	0	-		14	0
2007	Kawasaki Frontale	J1 League	34	0	4	0	3	0	7	0	48	0
2008			34	0	1	0	1	0	-		36	0
2009			34	0	1	0	3	0	9	0	47	0
2010			11	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	17	0
Belgium			League		Belgian Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2010/11	Lierse	Pro League	23	0	2	0	-		-		25	0
2011/12	Lierse	Pro League	30	0	6	0	-		-		36	0
2012/13	Standard Liège	Pro League	30	0	0	0	-		-		30	0
2013/14			27	0	1	0	-		9	0	37	0
2014/15			11	0	1	0	-		7	0	19	0
Scotland			League		Scottish Cup		Scottish League Cup		Europe		Total
2015/16	Dundee United	Premiership	16	0	3	0	0	0	-		19	0
France			League		Coupe de France		Coupe de la Ligue		Europe		Total
2016/17	Metz	Ligue 1	5	0	1	0	0	0	-		6	0
2017/18	Metz	Ligue 1	29	0	1	0	0	0	-		30	0
2018/19	Strasbourg Alsace	Ligue 1	1	0	0	0	0	0	-		1	0
2019/20			0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2020/21
Country	Japan		171	0	11	0	25	0	22	0	229	0
	Belgium		141	0	10	0	-		16	0	167	0
	Scotland		16	0	3	0	0	0	-		19	0
	France		35	0	2	0	0	0	-		37	0
Total			363	0	26	0	25	0	22	0	436	0

^[4]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2008	1	0
2009	7	0
2010	8	0
2011	12	0
2012	11	0
2013	14	0
2014	11	0
2015	7	0
2016	1	0
2017	9	0
2018	7	0
2019	3	0
Total	91	0

References

↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz. "Language skills key for Kawashima," Archived 2012-08-24 at the Wayback MachineJapan Times June 17, 2012; excerpt, "Kawashima noted how vital it is to be able to communicate with teammates and coaches in their native languages... 'and that leads to maximizing your performance'"; retrieved 2012-8-29 ()
↑ Eiji Kawashima at National-Football-Teams.com
↑ Eiji Kawashima at J.League (in Japanese)
↑ Japan National Football Team Database(in Japanese)