Atsushi Kawata (河田 篤秀, Kawata Atsushi, born September 18, 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Sagan Tosu.[1]

Atsushi Kawata
河田 篤秀
Personal information
Full name Atsushi Kawata
Date of birth (1992-09-18) September 18, 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Fujiidera, Osaka, Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Thespa Gunma
Number 32
Youth career
Miharadai FC
0000–2004 Izumi FC
2005–2007 Cerezo Osaka
2009–2010 Hannan University High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Hannan University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Albirex Niigata (S) 43 (19)
2017–2018 Albirex Niigata 50 (12)
2019–2021 Tokushima Vortis 86 (23)
2021–2023 Omiya Ardija 63 (14)
2023–24 Sagan Tosu 31 (3)
2024- Thespa Gunma 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 July 2024 @ 05:58(AEST)

During his time at Albirex Niigata (S), Kawata led the White Swans to being the first club in Singapore football history to achieve all the unprecedented sweep of all four of the league's major trophies, the 2016 S.League, 2016 Singapore Cup, 2016 Singapore League Cup and the 2016 Singapore Community Shield which led him to won the 2016 S.League Player Of The Year.[2]

Club career

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Albirex Niigata (Singapore)

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Atsushi Kawata signed for Albirex Niigata (S) for the 2015 S.League season. He made 30 appearances, scoring 11 goals in all competitions that season. He renewed his contract with the club for the 2016 S.League season.[3] He was also part of the Albirex Niigata (S) squad that won both the 2015 Singapore Cup and the 2015 Singapore League Cup.[4]

In the 2016 S.League season, Kawata was part of the team which completed an unprecedented sweep of all four of the league's major trophies.[5] As a result, he was named the 2016 S.League Player of the Year, scoring 20 goals and contributing 8 assists in all competitions.[6][7]

Albirex Niigata

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After a stellar 2016 season in Singapore, Kawata earned a move back to parent club, Albirex Niigata for the 2017 J1 League season.[8]

He scored his first goal for the club against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on 23 September 2017.[9] In the match, he scored twice and this was the first time he started a match for the team. He also scored on 21 October 2017 against Júbilo Iwata.

Tokushima Vortis

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On 6 January 2019, Kawata moved to J2 League club, Tokushima Vortis.[10] On 8 June 2019, he scored his first goal for the club against Machida Zelvia scoring the only goal in the match. On 24 August 2019, Kawata scored a 7-minute hat-trick in a league match against FC Ryukyu which resulted in a 6–1 win. He ended the 2019 season with 33 appearances scoring 14 goals and contributing 4 assists in all competitions.

Kawata was featured more often in the 2020 J2 League season where he would go on to make 39 appearances and scoring 9 goals in all competitions. Despite he scoring much lesser than the previous season, Kawata would go on to help Tokushima Vortis become the 2022 J2 League Champions thus promoting them to the top tier of the Japan football division, the J1 League. He also helped them to a semi-finals cup run in the 2020 Emperor's Cup which they lost 2–0 to Gamba Osaka.

Kawata goes on to have a bad start playing in the 2021 J1 League where he found himself scoring 1 goal in 24 matches. Midway throughout the season, Tokushima Vortis announced that will leave the club to venture for new challenges. In his time with Tokushima Vortis, he had played over 94 matches scoring 24 goals and contributing 4 assists in all competitions with the club.

Omiya Ardija

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On 21 July 2021, Kawata joined J2 League club, Omiya Ardija on a permanent deal. On 9 August 2021, he make his debut for the club against his former club, Albirex Niigata in a 2–2 draw. In the next game, he went on to score his first goal for the club against Blaublitz Akita. He went on to finished the season finding his form scoring 7 goals in 19 appearances for the club. He went on to make 64 appearances scoring 14 goals and contributing 3 assists in all competitions in his 2 years stay at Omiya Ardija.

Sagan Tosu

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On 28 March 2023, Kawata find himself transferring to J1 League club, Sagan Tosu donning the no.9 jersey which was previously worn by former 2010 FIFA World Cup winner, Fernando Torres. On 1 April 2023, he made his debut for the club in a match against FC Tokyo where he would go on to grab a win at the last kick of the game scoring in the 90 5 injury time from Jakub Slowik error.

Career statistics

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As of 13 August 2023.[11]
Singapore
Club Season League Singapore Cup Singapore League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Albirex Niigata (S) 2015 S.League 21 6 4 2 5 3 30 11
2016 S.League 22 13 4 3 4 4 30 20
Total 43 19 8 5 9 7 60 31
Japan
Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Albirex Niigata 2017 J1 League 11 3 0 0 2 0 13 3
2018 J2 League 39 9 2 0 0 0 41 9
Total 50 12 2 0 2 0 54 12
Tokushima Vortis 2019 J2 League 33[a] 14 0 0 33 14
2020 J2 League 37 9 2 0 39 9
2021 J1 League 16 0 1 0 6 1 23 1
Total 86 23 3 0 6 1 95 24
Omiya Ardija 2021 J2 League 19 7 0 0 19 7
2022 J2 League 40 7 0 0 40 7
2023 J2 League 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 63 14 0 0 0 0 63 14
Sagan Tosu 2023 J1 League 15 2 2 0 4 0 21 2
Career total 258 70 15 5 21 8 294 83
  1. ^ Includes J1/J2 promotion play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Albirex Niigata (S)

Tokushima Vortis

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "河田 篤秀:サガン鳥栖:Jリーグ". Jリーグ.jp(日本プロサッカーリーグ) (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Atsushi Kawata renews contract". Albirex Niigata (S). Dec 22, 2015. Retrieved Nov 2, 2016.
  3. ^ "Atsushi Kawata renews contract". Albirex Niigata (S). Dec 22, 2015. Retrieved Nov 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "Football: Albirex Niigata wins RHB Singapore Cup - Channel NewsAsia". Channel NewsAsia. Mediacorp. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Awesome Albirex Complete Sweep". The New Paper. Oct 30, 2016. Retrieved Nov 2, 2016.
  6. ^ "No surprises as Albirex reign supreme on S.League Awards Night". fourfourtwo.sg. Nov 2, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved Nov 2, 2016.
  7. ^ "Albirex win big again at S.League Awards night". Today. Nov 2, 2016. Retrieved Nov 2, 2016.
  8. ^ Lim, Wei Xiang (25 November 2016). "S.League Player of the Year off to Japanese First Division". FourFourTwo. FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Kawata stats 2017".
  10. ^ "Atsushi move club".
  11. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2023 Atsushi Kawata Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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