is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for the Japan national team. Narazaki is the second highest number of J.League all-time appearances in history with 631 appearances.
Club career
Yokohama Flügels After graduating from Nara Ikuei High School in 1995, Narazaki joined the J1 League side Yokohama Flügels. In August 1995, regular goalkeeper Atsuhiko Mori was suspended for three months due to violence against referee. On 16 August 1995, Narazaki debuted against Bellmare Hiratsuka to replace MoriJ.League and Narazaki became the regular goalkeeper. In the 1996 season, Flügels finished in third place and Narazaki was also selected in the Best Eleven award. He contributed to the club winning the 1998 Emperor's Cup. However, Flügels was merged with cross-town team Yokohama Marinos and Flügels was dissolved at the end of the 1998 season.
Nagoya Grampus In 1999, Narazaki moved to Nagoya Grampus Eight (later Nagoya Grampus) with Flügels teammate Motohiro Yamaguchi. In 1999, Grampus were the champions of the Emperor's Cup for two years in a row, the second time in two years for Narazaki. In 2008, Grampus appointed new manager Dragan Stojković who played for Grampus until 2001. Grampus, under Stojković, reached third place in the J1 League and Narazaki was selected in the Best Eleven award. In 2010, Grampus won the J1 League and were champions for the first time in the club's history. Narazaki also became the first goalkeeper to receive the J.League Most Valuable Player award. In 2016 season, Grampus finished in 16th place of 18 clubs and was relegated to J2 League for the first time in the club history. In the 2017 J2 League season, the club finished third and were returned to the top flight. However, his opportunities to play decreased behind Yohei Takeda until summer.J.League In 2018, Narazaki was effectively relegated to second choice behind new Australian signing Mitchell Langerak and did not make a single appearance.J.League
Narazaki announced his retirement from football on 8 January 2019. He was 42 years old.
International career On 15 February 1998, Narazaki made his international debut for Japan national team against Australia.Japan National Football Team Database After the debut, he battles with Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi for the position for 10 years. He was selected Japan for 1998 World Cup. However, Kawaguchi played all three of Japan's matches at the tournament.
In 2000, Narazaki was selected Japan U23 national team as over age for 2000 Summer Olympics and played full time in all 4 matches. Although he could hardly play in the match in 2001, he played many matches in 2002. At 2002 World Cup in Japan, he played all 4 matches and Japan qualified to the knockout stage first time in their history.
Narazaki played many matches as regular goalkeeper until summer 2004. Although he was selected Japan for 2004 Asian Cup, he could not play for injury.kirin.co.jp His rival Kawaguchi performed brilliantly at Asian Cup and Japan won the champions. After Asian Cup, Narazaki lost regular position behind Kawaguchi. Although Narazaki was selected Japan for 2006 World Cup, he did not play in a match.
Although Narazaki could not play many matches until 2007, he became a regular goalkeeper because Kawaguchi was injured in 2008. Narazaki was named in the 2010 World Cup squad as one of two Japanese players (the other being Kawaguchi) to be selected for 4 consecutive World Cups. However, despite performing impressively in the qualifiers, he was benched for the tournament in favour of his former understudy Eiji Kawashima. He would make one last appearance for Japan when he captained the team to a 2–1 victory over Guatemala on 7 September 2010 before retiring from international duty. He played 77 games for Japan.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionNippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 155 out of 289)ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsYokohama Flügels1995J1 League23020——250199623020140—39019972405070—36019983405000—390Total1040140210—1390Nagoya Grampus Eight1999J1 League2505040—34020003002020—34020012801060—35020023003000—33020032802060—36020042602000—28020053201000—33020062402020—28020072902040—350Nagoya Grampus20083001020—330200926030006035020103400000—3402011240302060340201232040107034020133401060—41020143402060—42020153400060—40020162701030—3102017J2 League29000——2902018J1 League000000—00Total55603505001906600Career total66004907101907990
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan199820199930200090200110200210020031202004902005402006002007102008120200960201080Total770
Honors
Club Yokohama Flügels Emperor's Cup: 1998
Nagoya Grampus J1 League: 2010 Emperor's Cup: 1999 Japanese Super Cup: 2011
International Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2004
Individual J.League Most Valuable Player: 2010 J.League Best Eleven: 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Profile at Nagoya Grampus