is a Japanese former footballer. Primarily a left back, she has over 100 caps for the Japan national team.
Club career Sameshima was born in Utsunomiya on 16 June 1987. She played youth football for Kawachi SC Juvenile between 1995 and 2002 and Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC from 2003 until 2005. In 2006, she joined TEPCO Mareeze, the club owned by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. During her time at Mareeze she lived in the J-Village Sports complex in Hirono near Fukushima, and like other players, she worked at the TEPCO-run Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to earn a living whilst playing for the club.Nadeshiko Japan resumes play in U.S. friendlies ESPN, 15 May 2011
Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster, during which the team were in a training camp in the south of the country, the club pulled out of the L.League for the remainder of the season. Sameshima then began training with the Boston Breakers in March 2011, before signing for the club permanently,Japan: Roster Our Game the first former Mareeze player to sign for another club.SOCCER/ Sameshima plays for fans, friends in disaster areas Asahi, 17 July 2011 She made her debut for the Breakers against Sky Blue on 12 June as a second-half substitute for Alex Scott,Breakers Draw With Sky Blue FC, Extend Unbeaten Streak to Two Women's Professional Soccer, 12 June 2011 becoming the first Japanese international to play for the club.Breakers Add Japanese International Aya Sameshima To Roster Women's Professional Soccer, 13 June 2011
On 19 September 2011, Sameshima joined French club Montpellier, joining compatriot Rumi Utsugi at the club.Signature d'Aya Sameshima Montpellier HSC, 22 September 2011 She returned to Japan to play for Vegalta Sendai in 2012, before joining Houston Dash in January 2014.Houston Dash sign Japanese international Aya Sameshima Houston Dynamo However, due to injuries she failed to contract, and rejoined Vegalta Sendai in July 2014. She subsequently signed for INAC Kobe Leonessa for the 2015 season.
National team career After playing for the Japanese team at the AFC U-19 Championship in 2006,News > April 2006 Bhangra Boys Sameshima made her full international debut on 10 March 2008, against Russia, and played in the 2008 Asian Cup that year, scoring the first goal in an 11–0 win over Chinese Taipei. In 2010, she played in the 2010 Asian Games, winning a gold medal as Japan won the tournament. In 2011, she was part of the Japan squad for the 2011 World Cup, playing in every match for the World Cup Champion Japanese team.Aya Sameshima Soccerway She was part of the Japanese team that won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also played in the 2015 World Cup where Japan were the runners-up. In 2018, she played at 2018 Asian Cup, helping Japan win the championship. She played 103 games and scored 5 goals for Japan.
Club statistics ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTEPCO Mareeze200617120-191200721830432811200821530-245200921131-24220101832053256Total98181319612025Boston Breakers201150--50Montpellier2011–1218050-230Vegalta Sendai20126321-842013900022112201460-3191Total2132153287INAC Kobe Leonessa2015 Career total1422120214917632
National team statistics Japan Football AssociationList of match in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 , 2016, 2017 , 2018, 2019 at Japan Football Association Japan national teamYearAppsGoals2008212009302010151201118020121402013302014212015121201630201713020181812019100202000202110Total1145
National team goals #DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 31 May 2008 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 0–1 0–11 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup 2 20 May 2010 Chengdu, China 8–0 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup 3 28 October 2014 BC Place, Vancouver 2–3 Friendly 4 12 June 2015 BC Place, Vancouver 2–1 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup 5 1 April 2018 Isahaya, Japan 7–1 Friendly
Honors FIFA Women's World Cup Winner, 2011 Football at the Asian Games Gold Medal, 2010 East Asian Football Championship Winner, 2010
See also List of women's footballers with 100 or more caps
References
External links
Japan Football Association