Kotaro Umeda

Kotaro Umeda
Personal information
Full name Kotaro Umeda
Date of birth (1998-02-15) 15 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Tokyo, Japan[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Michigan Stars
Number 47
Youth career
2005–2013 Cleveland Cobras
2013–2014 Cleveland Soccer Academy
2014–2016 Cleveland Internationals
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Louisville Cardinals 2 (0)
2018 Akron Zips 2 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 AFC Cleveland
2018 Cleveland 4 (1)
2019 Joinville 0 (0)
2019–2020 GDU Torcatense [pt] 7 (0)
2020–2021 Pevidém
2020 Pevidém B
2021 Joinville 0 (0)
2021 → Blumenau (loan) 6 (0)
2022 Tormenta 9 (0)
2023 Michigan Stars 22 (0)
2024 Resources Capital 11 (0)
2024– Michigan Stars 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 October 2024

Kotaro Umeda (梅田小太郎, Umeda Kotaro, born 15 February 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Michigan Stars in the National Independent Soccer Association.

Umeda was born in Tokyo, Japan but grew up in the United States, where he played several championships before turning professional in Brazil, playing for Joinville Esporte Clube.

Early life

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Umeda and his family moved to the United States when he was six years old. At the age of nine, he was spotted by Kia Zolgharnain, who helped his evolution into a professional footballer.[2] Umeda is a Mayfield High School alumni and played NCAA Division I soccer at the University of Louisville before becoming a pro in Brazil.[3]

Umeda played youth football in the United States. He was a member of the Internationals Soccer Club and the Cleveland Soccer Academy in Cleveland.[4]

Club career

Joinville

In 2019, Umeda joined Joinville Esporte Clube and competed in the Brazilian Championship.[5][6] He is the first-ever Asian athlete to represent Joinville.[7][8]

After the 2019 season, Umeda made his debut in the Portuguese Championship.[9][10] He returned to Joinville in May 2021.[11]

Umeda became the brand ambassador for Joinville Esporte Clube and helped to benefit Joinville, according to football director Leo Roesler. The partnership intends to expand the JEC brand's international reach in the Asian market.[12]

Portugal

In the Campeonato de Portugal, Umeda made his debut in November 2019. He joined Pevidém in 2020 and made an appearance for their "B" team, in the Divisão de Honra AF Braga, on 11 August.[13]

Resources Capital

On 10 January 2024, Umeda joined Hong Kong Premier League club Resources Capital.

Personal life

Umeda published his first book, I'm With You, in English in 2019. He also published the book in Portuguese. Umeda promotes help to needy families while sharing football responsibilities with Joinville Esporte Clube.[14]

Umeda became an ambassador for the United Way of Greater Cleveland in 2020, an endowment that supports low-income families and fights prejudice.[15]

Umeda is a brand ambassador for Obsesh, which is an online platform that communicates directly with fans and supporters.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 August 2022[17][18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State League Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AFC Cleveland 2017 NPSL 2+ 0+ — 0 0 — — 2+ 0+
Cleveland SC 2018 NPSL 4 1 — — — 0 0 4 1
Joinville 2019 Série D 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Torcatense 2019–20 Pró-Nacional AF Braga 7 0 — 1 0 — — 8 0
Pevidém 2020–21 Campeonato de Portugal — 0 0 — —
Pevidém B 2020–21 Divisão de Honra AF Braga 1+ 0+ — — — — 1+ 0+
Joinville 2021 Série D 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
Blumenau (loan) 2021 Campeonato Catarinense Série C — 6 0 — — — 6 0
Tormenta FC 2022 USL League One 9 0 — 0 0 — 0 0 9 0
Career total 23+ 1+ 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 30+ 1+
  1. ^ Appearance in the Taça da AF Braga [pt]

References

  1. ^ Kotaro Umeda at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Kia Zolgharnain: conheça o homem que fez Kotaro Umeda evoluir no futebol" [Kia Zolgharnain: Meet the man who made Kotaro Umeda evolve in football]. Superesportes MG (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diários Associados. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Japonês Kotaro Umeda (ex-Torcatense) reforça plantel do Pevidém" [Japanese Kotaro Umeda (ex-Torcatense) reinforces the squad of Pevidém]. Guimarães Digital (in European Portuguese). Guimapress S.A. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Equipe contrata atleta japonês para a disputa da Série D" [Team signs a Japanese athlete to compete in Série D]. O Dia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Record. April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ Forcellini, Vitor (18 April 2019). "JEC regulariza documentação de lateral japonês" [JEC regularizes the documentation of a Japanese fullback]. O Mirante (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  6. ^ "A responsabilidade pelo Kotaro Umeda" [Responsibility for Kotaro Umeda]. Gazeta da Semana (in Brazilian Portuguese). 31 August 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Kotaro Umeda: conheça o primeiro atleta asiático do Joinville Esporte Clube" [Kotaro Umeda: meet the first Asian athlete of Joinville Esporte Clube]. Superesportes MG (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diários Associados. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Kotaro Umeda: tudo bem em não estar bem" [Kotaro Umeda: it's okay to not be okay]. Gazeta de Alagoas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ^ Forcellini, Vitor (21 August 2019). "Kotaro Umeda deixa o Joinville" [Kotaro Umeda leaves Joinville]. O Mirante (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. ^ Alves, Raphael (25 August 2021). "Kotaro Umeda, zagueiro japonês, comenta sobre a volta aos gramados brasileiros" [Japanese defender Kotaro Umeda comments on his return to the Brazilian pitch]. Gazeta de Alagoas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Promessa japonesa se aventura pelo Joinville, sensação na Série D; conheça" [A Japanese talent ventures into Joinville, sensation in Série D; get to know]. OneFootball (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ^ "JEC firma parceria com empresário do Japão visando mercado asiático" [JEC signs partnership with Japanese businessman targeting Asian market]. ge.globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Pevidém Sc "B" 1–3 Ud Airão". Portuguese Football Federation (in European Portuguese). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Lateral do Joinville, japonês Kotaro Umeda é escritor e ajuda norte-americanos com doações" [Joinville fullback, Japanese Kotaro Umeda is a writer and helps Americans with donations]. Lance! (in Brazilian Portuguese). Areté Editorial S/A. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Jogador Kotaro Umeda lança livro com histórias de superação e esperança" [Player Kotaro Umeda launches book with stories of resilience and hope]. Estado de Minas (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diários Associados. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Kota Kicks It Back Home" (Press release). Obsesh. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Kotaro Umeda". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. ^ Kotaro Umeda at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Kotaro Umeda at zerozero". zerozero.pt. ZOS, lda. Retrieved 30 June 2022.