is a Japanese former footballer who played as a forward. He played for Japan national team.
Club career Nishizawa was born in Shizuoka on 18 June 1976. After graduating from Shimizu Higashi High School, he joined Cerezo Osaka in 1995. He moved to Spanish club Espanyol in December 2000. In July 2001, he moved to English club Bolton Wanderers. During his brief spell playing Bolton Wanderers, he is best remembered for scoring a dramatic late equaliser against Walsall in the League Cup. In 2002, he returned to Cerezo Osaka was relegated to J2 League from 2002. The club won the 2nd place in 2002 and was promoted to J1 League. In 2006, the club was relegated to J2 League. He moved to his local club Shimizu S-Pulse in 2007. He returned to Cerezo Osaka in 2009 and he retired end of 2009 season.
International career On 21 May 1997, Nishizawa debuted for Japan national team against South Korea. Although he played four games and scored two goals at 1998 World Cup qualification in 1997, he was not selected Japan for 1998 World Cup. In 2000, he played for Japan for the first time in three years. At 2000 Asian Cup in October, he played all six games and scored five goals. Japan won the champions. At 2001 Confederations Cup, he also played four games and scored one goal. Japan achieved second place. He was selected Japan for 2002 World Cup and played one game. This match was his last game for Japan. He played 29 games and scored 10 goals for Japan until 2002.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCerezo Osaka1995J1 League0000–0019961432011527819971972122231019983271041378199930112432351720002915–323217Total1244375231215460Volendam (loan)1995–96Eredivisie00–00Espanyol2000–01La Liga6020–80Cerezo Osaka2001J1 League00000000Bolton Wanderers2001–02Premier League00003131Cerezo Osaka2002J2 League34810–3582003J1 League2475141339200429810513592005281020843814200633810644012Total14841101231018152Shimizu S-Pulse2007J1 League220326131320082150082297Total435321436010Cerezo Osaka2009J2 League18100–181Career total339902286326424124
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan1997521998001999002000116200181200251Total2910
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nishizawa goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Akinori NishizawaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 1997 2 1997 3 5 June 2000 Casablanca, Morocco 2–2 Friendly4 17 October 2000 Sidon, Lebanon 8–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup5 6 7 20 October 2000 Beirut, Lebanon 1–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup8 26 October 2000 Beirut, Lebanon 3–2 2000 AFC Asian Cup9 22 June 2006 Niigata, Japan 3–0 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup10 29 April 2002 Tokyo, Japan 1–0 2002 Kirin Cup
Honours Japan FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2001 AFC Asian Cup: 2000
Individual J1 League Best Eleven: 2000
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database