Kengo Nakamura (中村 憲剛,Nakamura Kengo; born 31 October 1980) is a Japanese former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder. Aone-club man, Nakamura signed withKawasaki Frontale in 2003 and helped the thenJ2 outfit earn promotion back to thetop flight in 2004, and became a fixture in the ambitious Frontale side that finished second in the J1 League in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
He was named club captain for the first time in 2012, and in the same season lead the league in assists with 13. In 2016, at the age of 36, Nakamura was named bothJ League MVP and Japanese Footballer of the Year, becoming the oldest recipient of either award. The following season, he was a part of the Kawasaki side that won the J1 League for the first time in the club's history. He would win two more J1 League titles in 2018 and 2020, as well as a domestic double of theJapanese Super andJ League Cups in 2019 before retiring at the end of the 2020 season after 17 years and over 500 appearances for the club.
Nakamura was first selected for theJapan national team in 2006 underIvica Osim and earned his first cap on 4 October in a 1–0 friendly win againstGhana. He scored his first international goal one week later in a 3–0 win overIndia, and represented his country at the2007 AFC Asian Cup. After battling through injury, he was named in the Japan squad for the2010 FIFA World Cup, making one substitute appearance as the side reached the round of 16. In total, Nakamura earned 68 caps and scored 6 goals during an eight-year international career.
Nakamura was born inKodaira, Tokyo and began playing football in the first grade, joining the Fuchu Boys' Soccer Club in nearbyFuchu. Nakamura played in many tournaments during his youth career, including the 1989 All Japan Youth Soccer Tournament, where Fuchu reached the round of 16, and the 8th Tokyo Boys' Selection Soccer Tournament, where he was named as one of the ten best players. Nakamura continued to play into his teens, and, after graduating from Kurume High School, he enrolled inChuo University, studying English and American literature whilst also playing for the university football team. In his third year, he became a regular fixture in the squad, despite the team performing poorly, finishing last in the Kanto University League 1st Division and suffering relegation to the 2nd Division.[1] The experienced left Nakamura in tears, but made him more aware of the importance of "mental strength."[1] The following year, He was named club captain and led Chuō to win the 2nd Division, earning promotion back to the top league at the first time of asking.[1] Nakamura graduated from Chuō in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Nakamura's work as club captain at Chuō had attracted attention fromJ League scouts, and he was invited for a trial byKawasaki Frontale of theSecond Division shortly after graduation. He impressed and was signed to a professional contract in early 2003.[1] He made his first appearance on the opening day of the2003 Division 2 season againstSanfrecce Hiroshima, coming on in the 88th minute to replaceTakehito Shigehara. He scored his first professional goal on 9 April, the last in a 5–1 drubbing ofMontedio Yamagata.[2] In his first season, Nakamura made 34 league appearances and scored four goals, as well as another two in the2003 Emperor's Cup.
After playing much of his first season as an aggressive box-to-box midfielder, managerTakashi Sekizuka began switching Nakamura to the role of a playmaker in 2004, a move Nakamura credited as a turning point in his career. Nakamura made 41 appearances and scored 5 times as he cemented himself as a regular starter and Frontale won the league and earned promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2000. Continuing to play as a starter, Nakamura's first season in theFirst Division was a modest success, making 29 appearances and scoring 2 goals as Frontale managed to safely avoid any threat of relegation with an 8th place finish. A respectable performance in theEmperor's Cup was marked by a 3-2 victory over reigning First Division ChampionsYokohama F. Marinos on 10 December 2005, with Nakamura scoring the winner in the 97th minute of extra time to take Frontale to the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual winners,Urawa Red Diamonds.
The 2006 season was seen as a breakthrough for both Nakamura and Frontale as a whole, as the team looked to expand on their 8th place finish the previous campaign. Nakamura continued to hold down his starting place in central midfield, scoring 10 goals as the ambitious Frontale became serious challengers for their first everFirst Division trophy. Despite falling short toUrawa Red Diamonds and finishing second, the 2006 season was seen as one of many positives for the side and considered to be Nakamura's best yet, as he scored 10 goals from midfield and was named in the J League Best XI along with teammate Hiroyuki Taniguchi, marking the first time any Frontale players had been included. The 2007 season was less successful and saw Frontale's league form take a dip, as they finished fifth and seven points behind fourth placeShimizu S-Pulse. Their league form was however contrasted by a successfulNabisco Cup run to the final, with Nakamura playing in both the semi and eventual final on 11 March, where they lost toGamba Osaka.
A rejuvenated Frontale bounced back to make another strong challenge for theFirst Division title in 2008, with Nakamura once again in a pivotal role as their midfield playmaker, providing 11 assists and four goals from midfield as Frontale went head to head withKashima Antlers in the top two spots. It would however be another year of disappointment, as they missed out on winning the league by just three points. By 2009, Frontale were perennial title challengers as they looked to stop Kashima Antlers from winning a historic threeFirst Divisions in a row. In another closely contended title race, Frontale were once again narrowly beaten by the Antlers, losing out on the first place by just two points. Nakamura enjoyed his most prolific season as a playmaker yet, providing 11 assists and 4 goals, as well as being part of the team that reached the final of the2009 Nabisco Cup, earning a big quarter final win over Kashima on the way to the final, where they were defeated byF.C. Tokyo.
By 2009, Nakamura was considered as Frontale's best known and most popular player, and despite making the J League Best XI three years in a row, was widely seen as one of the most underrated players in theFirst Division.[3] Nakamura's consistent performances for club and country eventually attracted attention from overseas clubs, withEredivisie clubPSV Eindhoven making an offer for him in late 2009; Nakamura respectfully declined, citing feelings of debt toward Frontale as the club who took a chance on him and gave him the opportunity to become a professional.[4] Nakamura was injured during anAFC Champions League game againstSeongnam Ilhwa on 23 February 2010, suffering aMandibular fracture, casting doubt over his eligibility for selection in the upcoming2010 FIFA World Cup; Nakamura was however able to make a speedy recovery and was named inJapan's squad, but only made one substitute appearance as Japan were knocked out in the round of 16.[5]
At the start of the 2012J1 season, Nakamura was named captain of Frontale for the first time ever, and arguably enjoyed his best season to date, scoring five goals and leading the league in assists with 13. The following season saw him placed in a prolific three man attacking partnership with new signingsYoshito Ōkubo andRenatinho, with Nakamura providing 7 goals and 8 assists as Frontale earned a return to theAFC Champions League for the first time in three years. The 2014 and 2015 seasons were less successful for both club and individual, as Nakamura suffered an ankle injury which would require surgery and caused him to miss the end of the 2014 season. Before his absence, however, Nakamura remained a highlight of the squad as he once again lead the league in assists with 14, and performed well again after his return from surgery in 2015, recording 8 more assists.
The 2016 season was widely seen as the best of Nakamura's career, as he provided ten assists and scored nine goals whilst captaining Frontale to a second place finish in the J1, the final of the2016 Emperor's Cup and taking them through to the J1 Championship stage, where they lost in the semi-finals to third placeKashima Antlers. Despite this, Nakamura's efforts were recognised as he was named bothJ League MVP and Japanese Footballer of the Year, becoming the oldest recipient of either award at the age of 36.
At the beginning of the 2017 season, Nakamura gave up the captain's armband, with strikerYu Kobayashi chosen as his replacement. He would however remain a pivotal part of the squad with 6 goals and 12 assists throughout the season. Nakamura's efforts were finally rewarded at the end of the 2017 season, when, after 11 years of trying and three runner-up medals, Frontale won theJ1 League for the first time in club history, finally beating longtime title rivalsKashima Antlers on goal difference on the final day of the season. Frontale would become back to back champions the following year, with Nakamura once again featuring heavily with six goals and six assists. The 2019 season would see him sidelined with two separate injuries, however, he was present for both theJapanese Super Cup andJ League Cup finals, scoring a penalty in the latter as Frontale did the domestic double and won both.
Shortly after Frontale won the J League Cup, Nakamura announced he would require knee surgery, which he underwent successfully in November, after which he would require seven months of rehabilitation. Nakamura made his return on 29 August 2020, scoring as Frontale defeatedShimizu S-Pulse in a 5–0 victory.[6] On 31 October, his 40th birthday, he scored the winning goal as Frontale extended their unbeaten run to defeatF.C. Tokyo 2–1.[7] A day later, Nakamura announced his intention to retire from the professional game at the end of the season.[8] After winning one moreJ1 League trophy with Frontale, Nakamura's retirement ceremony was held on 21 December 2020.[9] He remained with Frontale after retirement, and currently works as the club's relations organiser while also occasionally pitching in as a member of the coaching staff.[10][11]
In April 2024, while completing his Japan Football Association Class S coaching licence, the highest level of coaching in Japan, he joinedCanadian Premier League clubPacific FC as a visiting coach until 5 May.[12][13]
Nakamura began his career as acentralbox-to-box midfielder, but was converted to the role of aplaymaker during his second season at Frontale underTakashi Sekizuka, a move he credited as a turning point in his career. He was recognised as a highly efficient passer of the ball, regularly topping the J League for assists throughout his career, as well as being a consistent goal threat and an adeptdribbler with determination and strength, despite his relatively small size.[14][15] His ability onset-pieces has also been praised, bothfree kicks andpenalties.[16]
