Masaaki Sawanobori

Masaaki Sawanobori
澤登正朗
Personal information
Full name	Masaaki Sawanobori
Date of birth	January 12, 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth	Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1985–1987	Tokai University Daiichi High School
College career
Years	Team
1988–1991	Tokai University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1992–2005	Shimizu S-Pulse
Total
International career
1993–2000	Japan
Medal record
Shimizu S-Pulse
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Masaaki Sawanobori (澤登正朗, Sawanobori Masaaki, born January 12, 1970) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

Sawanobori was born in Fujinomiya on January 12, 1970. After graduating from Tokai University, he joined new club Shimizu S-Pulse based in his local Shizuoka Prefecture in 1992. He played as regular player from first season. He was selected J.League Rookie of the Year in 1993. In 1996, the club won J.League Cup. In 1999, the club won the 2nd place in J1 League and he was selected Japanese Footballer of the Year awards. In Asia, the club also won 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 2001, the club won Emperor's Cup. He retired in 2005. He played 381 games and scored 85 goals in the league. Sawanobori was immensely popular at S-Pulse, and having spent his entire career at the club he was affectionately known as Mr S-Pulse.

National team career

In April 1993, Sawanobori was selected Japan national team for 1994 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on April 8, he debuted against Thailand. In 1994, he also played at 1994 Asian Games. In September 1999, he played for Japan for the first time in 5 years. In 2000, he played at 2000 Asian Cup qualification. This qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 16 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 2000.^[1]

Club statistics

Club performance			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
1992	Shimizu S-Pulse	J1 League	-		3	0	10	1	-		13	1
1993			35	7	4	2	1	0	-		40	9
1994			41	7	1	0	1	0	-		43	7
1995			40	13	1	0	-		-		41	13
1996			29	9	3	0	16	3	-		48	12
1997			31	11	3	1	6	0	-		40	12
1998			32	10	5	3	4	2	-		41	15
1999			28	9	3	0	4	1	-		35	10
2000			27	3	5	0	4	1	-		36	4
2001			26	9	5	2	2	1	-		33	12
2002			29	3	3	2	7	3	0	0	39	8
2003			14	2	4	0	2	0	1	1	21	3
2004			24	1	1	0	5	0	-		30	1
2005			25	1	1	0	5	0	-		31	1
Total			381	85	41	10	57	11	1	1	480	107

National team statistics

^[1]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1993	5	1
1994	6	1
1995	0	0
1996	0	0
1997	0	0
1998	0	0
1999	1	0
2000	4	1
Total	16	3

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	May 7, 1993	Dubai, United Arab Emirates	United Arab Emirates	1–1	Draw	1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2.	October 9, 1994	Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan	Myanmar	5–0	Won	1994 Asian Games
3.	February 16, 2000	Macau	Brunei	9–0	Won	2000 AFC Asian Cup Qualification