is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for the Japan national team.
He played for several clubs, including Bellmare Hiratsuka, Avispa Fukuoka and Thespa Kusatsu. He played for the Japan national team (4 matches) and was a participant at the 1998 World Cup.
Club career Kojima started playing football when he was in the 5th grade and was converted to a goalkeeper at high school. After graduating from Doshisha University in 1988, Kojima joined Fujita Industries (later Bellmare Hiratsuka) playing in the Japan Soccer League Division 1. He became a regular starting member of the team in 1994. He had been playing for the club as an employee of Fujita Industries but turned professional in January 1995.
At the end of 1998, Bellmare released their main players including Kojima as well as Wagner Lopes, Hong Myung-bo, Kazuaki Tasaka and Yoshihiro Natsuka due to their financial problems. Kojima moved to Avispa Fukuoka. He further moved to Thespa Kusatsu in 2002 that played in the Gunma Prefectural League division 2. As a player - assistant coach, he was instrumental in the team's promotion to the Japan Football League, then J2 League. His last competitive game was against Consadole Sapporo on December 3, 2005 and he announced his retirement from the game in January 2006.
International career In January 1995, Kojima was selected by the Japan national team for the 1995 King Fahd Cup, but did not play any game in the tournament. He played on June 6, 1995 against Brazil in the Umbro Cup. He played four games for Japan until 1996.Japan National Football Team Database He was in the squad for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup and 1998 FIFA World Cup as reserve goalkeeper but did not play any game in the tournament.
After retirement Kojima is currently an advisor for Kusatsu. He also serves as a pundit for NHK, as of February 2010.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBellmare Hiratsuka1988–89JSL Division 150501989–907000701990–91JSL Division 22010301991–920000001992Football League00—00199300001994J1 League4105010470199547020—490199629030150470199721030002401998340340Avispa Fukuoka1999J1 League290203034020003001020330200180001090Thespa Kusatsu2002Prefectural Leagues6030—902003Regional Leagues12020—1402004Football League26050—3102005J2 League23010—240Career total32002702303700
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan199530199610Total40
Honours
Emperor's Cup: 1994
Asian Cup Winner's Cup: 1995
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database