Shintaro Harada
Upright0.8
Birth date8 November 1980 (age 46)
Birth placeSayama, Saitama, Japan
Height1.76 m
PositionMidfielder, defender
Youthyears 11996–1998
Youthclubs 1Toin Gakuen High School
Years 11999–2001
Clubs 1Yokohama F. Marinos
Caps 116
Goals 11
Years 22002
Clubs 2Omiya Ardija
Caps 22
Goals 20
Years 32003–2005
Clubs 3Tokushima Vortis
Caps 351
Goals 33
Years 42005–2006
Clubs 4ALO's Hokuriku
Caps 438
Goals 40
Years 52007–2009
Clubs 5Crystal Palace Baltimore
Caps 561
Goals 52
Years 62010–2012
Clubs 6Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Caps 656
Goals 62
Years 72013–2014
Clubs 7Dayton Dutch Lions
Caps 749
Goals 72
Years 82013
Clubs 8→ Yokohama FC Hong Kong (loan)
Caps 85
Goals 80
Years 92015–2016
Clubs 9Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Caps 935
Goals 92
Totalcaps313
Totalgoals12

Shintaro Harada (原田 慎太郎, Harada Shintaro, born 8 November 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or defender.

Career

Japan

Shin played alongside Japanese national hero Shunsuke Nakamura, who also started his career at Yokohama. In 2002 acquired by Omiya Ardija and then Tokushima Vortis.[1]

He played part of the 2005 season and all of the 2006 season for ALO's Hokuriku of the Japan Football League in Japan.

Crystal Palace Baltimore

In his first season in Baltimore, Harada was named to the USL Second Division All-League Second-Team, and followed that up by being named in the USL Second Division All-League First-Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[2]

Harada has become USL-2 All-League regular by making his fourth consecutive appearance on an All-League team. He was also the Most Valuable Defender finalist in 2009, and earned that award in 2010.[3] He is nominated as 2010 USL Second Division Most Valuable Player.[4]

During the 2008 off-season, several Major League Soccer clubs showed interest in him, and invited to take part in their trials such by Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, and San Jose Earthquakes, but due to injury had to return to Palace for the 2009 season.

Following his impressive performances in the 2009 season, Harada went on trial at Baltimore's English parent club, Crystal Palace.[5]

After three months of training with Crystal Palace F.C., he was selected as the "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" on Crystal Palace's official club magazine,[6] and featured also on Major League Soccer's expansion team Philadelphia Union's official website as a strong candidate for the club's tryout.[7]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

On 22 March 2010, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds announced the signing of Harada to a contract for the 2010 season.[8]

While in the second division, Harada won the league's USL Second Division All-League First Team for 4 consecutive years. He re-signed with Pittsburgh, in the USL Pro league, on 21 February 2011.[9]

Dayton Dutch Lions

After the conclusion of the 2012 season, Harada was invited to tryout with CE Sabadell FC that plays in Spanish Segunda División.[10] Before the USL Pro season started, Harada signed with Dayton Dutch Lions,[11] where he led the club into the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

On 12 February 2015, The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced the signing of Harada for the 2015 season.[12] This will be Harada's 3rd team in USL PRO. Head Coach Steve Trittschuh praised that "Harada has been a great leader for us and role model for the younger players".[13] On 23 June 2015, Harada made his 100th appearance in United Soccer League as the first Japanese in league history.[14] Harada ended his first season with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC with 2 goals and 2 assists and logged 2,000 minutes of play time.[15]

On 12 January 2016, it was announced that Harada had resigned for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for the 2016 USL Pro season.[16]

Hong Kong

Upon conclusion of USL Pro 2013 season, Harada announced he would sign with Yokohama FC Hong Kong on a loan deal until 31 January 2014.[17]

Retirement

After retiring in 2017, he became a scout for the Japanese J.League side FC Tokyo.[18] In 2019, it was announced that he became the scout for Omiya Ardija, in J.League, where he played as a player back in 2002.

Style of play

Proved as a quality utility player who plays both holding midfielder, and center defender by being selected to All-League First-Team for both positions. Known for his accurate distribution, and play making in the middle as the control tower. Admires the Mexican National Team's Rafael Márquez, and FC Barcelona's Pep Guardiola.

Has been reported about his "the dedicated — almost spartan — approach" with his profession[19]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Yokohama F. Marinos1999J1 League00001010
20001610020181
200100000000
Total1610030191
Omiya Ardija2002J2 League2000–20
Tokushima Vortis[c]2003Japan Football League27130–301
200422210–232
2005J2 League2000–20
Total5134000553
ALO's Hokuriku2005Japan Football League11030–140
2006270––270
Total3803000410
Crystal Palace Baltimore2007USL Second Division20010–210
200821240–252
200920010–210
Total61260–672
Pittsburgh Riverhounds2010USL Second Division17010–180
2011USL Pro18210–192
2012210–210
Total56220–582
Dayton Dutch Lions2013USL Pro24110–251
2014251–251
Total49210–502
Yokohama FC Hong Kong (loan)2013Hong Kong First Division50–50
Colorado Springs Switchbacks2015USL Pro28220–302
20167010–80
Total35230–382
Career total313121903033512
  1. ^ Includes Emperor's Cup, Open Cup, Hong Kong FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes J.League Cup, Hong Kong League Cup
  3. ^ "Otsuka Pharmaceutical" until 2004

Honors and awards

Yokohama F. Marinos

Individual

  • 2015 - First Japanese to appear in 100 games in United Soccer League
  • 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Player Finalist
  • 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender
  • 2010 - USL Second Division All-League First Team
  • 2009 - Crystal Palace F.C.: "Palace's Other Player Of The Year"
  • 2009 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team
  • 2009 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender Finalist
  • 2008 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team
  • 2007 - USL Second Division All-League Second-Team

References

  1. ^ "Stats Centre: Shintaro Harada Facts". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  2. ^ USL-2 All League Teams Announced Archived 27 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ USL-2 Awards Winners Announced Archived 18 July 2012 at archive.today
  4. ^ USL-2 Awards Finalists Announced Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Give & Go: Crystal Palace's Shintaro Harada
  6. ^ PALACE's OTHER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
  7. ^ OPEN TRYOUT SPOTLIGHT: MEET SHINTARO HARADA Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Riverhounds add four to roster". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Riverhounds Re-Sign Two Defensemen". 21 February 2011.
  10. ^ Shintaro Harada és central i ha jugat les darreres temporades als Estats Units
  11. ^ Dutch Lions Unveil Five Signings Archived 17 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ SFC Announces 2015 Player – Shintaro Harada Archived 13 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Veteran Japanese midfielder Shintaro Harada is guiding force for surging Colorado Springs Switchbacks
  14. ^ 100 - appearances for @shintaroharada
  15. ^ "Switchbacks Re-Sign Veteran Midfielder Harada - United Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Switchbacks Re-Sign Veteran Midfielder Harada - United Soccer League". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  17. ^ Harada Shintaro Transferred to Yokohama FC (HK) on Loan
  18. ^ [email protected], NICHOLAS MURRAY- (24 December 2017). "The USL Q&A – Shintaro Harada". USL Championship. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. ^ Veteran Japanese player sets example for Dutch Lions