Moeka Minami

Moeka Minami
南 萌華
Minami with A.S. Roma in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-07) 7 December 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Roma
Number 2
Youth career
2014–2016 Urawa Reds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2022 Urawa Reds 68 (3)
2022– Roma 55 (3)
International career‡
2014 Japan U-17 1 (0)
2018 Japan U-20 6 (0)
2019– Japan 55 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 France
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 China
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Costa Rica
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:29, 18 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:29, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

Moeka Minami (南 萌華, Minami Moeka, born 7 December 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A Femminile club A.S. Roma and the Japan national team.

Early life

Minami was born in Saitama Prefecture on 7 December 1998. She attended high school in Saitama Prefectural Nanryō High School. She graduated from University of Tsukuba Physical Education College in 2021.[1] She began her youth career when she joined the junior youth team of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

Club career

Urawa Reds

She was promoted to Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from the youth team in 2017.[2]

AS Roma

On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A club Roma.[3] She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against Glasgow City.[4] On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against AC Milan.[5] Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League.[6] On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana.[7] On 29 April 2023, she helped Roma clinched the 2022–23 Serie A title in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina, their first league title in club history.[8]

On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026.[9] She won her second Serie A title back to back with Roma at the end of the 2023–24 Serie A season.[10]

International career

Youth

In 2014, Minami was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2014 U-17 World Cup.[11] She played one game against Paraguay in the group stage. Japan went on to win the championship.

Minami was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[12] She played all six matches as center-back and team captain. Japan won the championship and Minami received the Bronze Ball award.

Senior

In February 2019, Minami was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 2 March, she debuted as center back-against Brazil.[13]

Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan in 2021.[14] She started all 3 group matches for Japan.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental[c] Others Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Urawa Reds 2017 Nadeshiko League 0 0 0 0 3 0 — — 3 0
2018 Nadeshiko League 14 1 4 0 2 0 — — 20 1
2019 Nadeshiko League 17 0 5 1 4 1 — — 26 2
2020 Nadeshiko League 17 0 5 1 — — — 22 1
2021–22 WE League 20 2 4 0 — — — 24 2
Total 68 3 18 2 9 1 — — 95 6
AS Roma 2022–23 Serie A 25 2 4 0 — 11 1 1[d] 0 41 3
2023–24 Serie A 24 1 3 0 — 7 0 1[d] 0 35 1
2024–25 Serie A 6 0 0 0 — 4 1 0 0 10 1
Total 55 3 7 0 — 22 2 2 0 86 5
Career Total 123 6 25 2 9 1 22 2 2 0 171 11
  1. ^ includes Empress's Cup, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ includes Nadeshiko League Cup
  3. ^ includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana

International

As of match played 3 August 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2019 10 0
2020 2 0
2021 8 1
2022 9 0
2023 16 3
2024 10 0
Total 55 4
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Minami goal.
List of international goals scored by Moeka Minami
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 8 April 2021 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan  Paraguay 1–0 7–0 Friendly
2 14 July 2023 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan  Panama 5–0 5–0 Friendly [17]
3 29 October 2023 Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Uzbekistan 1–0 2–0 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
4 3 December 2023 Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil  Brazil 1–0 2–0 Friendly

Honours

Urawa Reds

AS Roma

Japan U17

  • AFC U-16 Women's Championship: 2013
  • FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: 2014

Japan U20

  • AFC U-20 Women's Asian Championship: 2017
  • FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup: 2018

Japan

  • EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019

Individual

  • EAFF E-1 Football Championship MVP: 2019
  • Nadeshiko League/WE League Best Eleven: 2019, 2020, 2021-2022
Individual

References

  1. ^ "浦和レッズレディースニュース｜なでしこジャパンは合宿を実施中。南萌華「五輪に向けてトレーニングすることが務め。全力で取り組む」｜レッズプレス!!". redspress.jp. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  2. ^ Urawa Reds (in Japanese)
  3. ^ A.S.Roma (in Italian)
  4. ^ "Women's Champions League: Sparkling victory to see off Glasgow City!". asroma.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  5. ^ "AC Milan Women beaten 2–0 by Roma as tough start continues – the highlights". SempreMilancom. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Roma Women 4-1 Sparta Prague: UWCL group stage secured!". asroma.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b Clancy, Conor (5 November 2022). "AS Roma beat Juventus on penalties to win Supercoppa Femminile". Total Italian Football. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b AP (29 April 2023). "Roma dominates and wins Serie A Women for first time". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Moeka Minami pens new deal with Roma Women!". www.asroma.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  10. ^ bren (27 April 2024). "Official: Roma Wins Back-to-Back League Titles!!". Chiesa Di Totti. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  11. ^ FIFA
  12. ^ FIFA
  13. ^ Japan Football Association
  14. ^ "Japan announces women's football squad for Tokyo 2020". 5 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association".
  17. ^ "Starting Lineup/Result | MS＆AD CUP 2023 | Nadeshiko Japan | Japan National Team | Japan Football Association". www.jfa.jp. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE". Sky Sport (in Italian). 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.