We are pleased to announce that former Kashima Antlers players Koji Nakata, Atsushi Yanagisawa, and Toru Araiba have been selected to receive the J.League Merit Award. The awards ceremony will take place at the 2015 J.League Awards on Monday, December 21st.
□Recipient Profiles
＜Koji Nakata＞
Date of Birth: July 9, 1979
Place of Birth: Shiga Prefecture
Position: DF
Career:
Gotogaoka Junior High School - Teikyo High School - Kashima Antlers (1998) - Marseille (2005, France) - Basel (2006, Switzerland) - Kashima Antlers (2008-2014)
Overall Statistics:
J1 League Matches: 266 appearances, 33 goals
League Cup Matches: 31 appearances, 4 goals
Emperor's Cup: 31 appearances, 6 goals
Japan National Team (International A-matches): 57 appearances, 2 goals
Other Domestic Official Matches: 15 appearances, 1 goal
Other International Matches: 32 appearances, 4 goals
＜Atsushi Yanagisawa＞
Date of Birth: May 27, 1977
Place of Birth: Toyama Prefecture
Position: FW
Career:
Kosugi SSS - FC Higashi Junior Youth - Toyama Daiichi High School - Kashima Antlers (1996) - Sampdoria (2003, Italy) - Messina (2004, Italy) - Kashima Antlers (2006) - Kyoto Sanga F.C. (2008) - Vegalta Sendai (2011-2014)
Overall Statistics:
J1 League Matches: 371 appearances, 108 goals
League Cup Matches: 64 appearances, 14 goals
Emperor's Cup: 35 appearances, 10 goals
Japan National Team (International A-matches): 58 appearances, 17 goals
Other Domestic Official Matches: 23 appearances, 4 goals
Other International Matches: 22 appearances, 10 goals
＜Toru Araiba＞
Date of Birth: July 12, 1979
Place of Birth: Osaka Prefecture
Position: DF
Career:
Katano FC - Gamba Osaka Youth - Gamba Osaka (1998) - Kashima Antlers (2004) - Cerezo Osaka (2013-2014)
Overall Statistics:
J1 League Matches: 423 appearances, 22 goals
League Cup Matches: 78 appearances, 3 goals
Emperor's Cup: 39 appearances, 2 goals
Japan National Team (International A-matches): 0 appearances, 0 goals
Other Domestic Official Matches: 7 appearances, 0 goals
Other International Matches: 27 appearances, 1 goal