Takashi Hirano
平野 孝
Upright0.9
Birth dateJuly 15, 1974 (age 52)
Birth placeShizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height1.80 m
PositionMidfielder
Youthyears 11990–1992
Youthclubs 1Shimizu Shogyo High School
Years 11993–2000
Clubs 1Nagoya Grampus Eight
Caps 1222
Goals 143
Years 22000
Clubs 2Kyoto Purple Sanga
Caps 25
Goals 21
Years 32001
Clubs 3Júbilo Iwata
Caps 33
Goals 31
Years 42002
Clubs 4Vissel Kobe
Caps 428
Goals 41
Years 52003–2005
Clubs 5Tokyo Verdy
Caps 580
Goals 58
Years 62006
Clubs 6Yokohama F. Marinos
Caps 69
Goals 60
Years 72007
Clubs 7Omiya Ardija
Caps 73
Goals 71
Years 82008–2010
Clubs 8Vancouver Whitecaps
Caps 865
Goals 81
Totalcaps415
Totalgoals56
Nationalyears 11997–2000
Nationalteam 1Japan
Nationalcaps 115
Nationalgoals 14

Takashi Hirano (平野 孝, Hirano Takashi, born July 15, 1974) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the Japan national team.

Club career

Hirano attended Shimizu Shogyo High School, where he won the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 1991.

Hirano began his professional career in the J1 League in 1993, with Nagoya Grampus Eight, winning the Emperor's Cup in 1995 and 1999 and the Japanese Super Cup in 1996, and scoring 43 goals in 213 appearances for the team. He transferred to Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000, and although his team won promotion from the J2 League in 2001, he played just 5 league games before moving on to Júbilo Iwata.

After brief and largely unremarkable stints at Vissel Kobe, Tokyo Verdy, Yokohama F. Marinos and Omiya Ardija, Hirano moved to North America and signed for Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division in 2008.

On September 30, 2008, Hirano was called up to the USL First Division All-League Team,[1] and on October 12, 2008, helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2–1 in the USL1 Championship game.[2]

On January 20, 2009 the Whitecaps announced a contract extension for Hirano for the 2009 season.[3]

Hirano announced his retirement from the game in January 2011.

International career

Hirano played for the Japan U-20 national team, which competed at the 1992 AFC Youth Championship.

On June 8, 1997, he debuted and scored a goal for Japan national team against Croatia. He also participated in the 1998 World Cup qualification in 1997. In 1998, he was selected for Japan's squad in the 1998 World Cup, playing two games as a substitute. He played 15 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 2000.[4]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nagoya Grampus Eight1993J1 League1943131256
19943642010394
199550952–5511
1996297001454312
19972141063287
19983084000348
199928751623910
200090000090
Total22243204301127258
Kyoto Purple Sanga2000J1 League711040121
Júbilo Iwata2001J1 League30100040
Vissel Kobe2002J1 League2811050341
Tokyo Verdy2003J1 League2543150335
20042841071365
20052701160341
Total8085218110311
Yokohama F. Marinos2006J1 League900060150
Omiya Ardija2007J1 League31100041
Vancouver Whitecaps2008USL First Division221221
2009280280
2010D2 Pro League150150
Total651651
Career total41755296631250973
  1. ^ Includes Emperor's Cup, Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes J.League Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[4]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan199751
199872
199900
200031
Total154
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hirano goal.
List of international goals scored by Takashi Hirano
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
18 June 1997Tokyo, JapanCroatia1–04–31997 Kirin Cup
215 February 1998Adelaide, AustraliaAustralia2–03–0Friendly
33–0
416 February 2000Macau, ChinaBRU6–09–02000 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honors

Nagoya Grampus Eight

Tokyo Verdy 1969

Vancouver Whitecaps

  • USL First Division Championship: 2008
  • Vancouver Whitecaps Outstanding Defender: 2009[5]
  • Vancouver Whitecaps Newcomer of the Year: 2008

References

  1. ^ "USL-1 All-League Teams announced". September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010.
  2. ^ "Schedule". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010.
  3. ^ "Whitecaps re-sign Hirano, Lyall". January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010.
  4. ^ Japan National Football Team Database
  5. ^ 2009 Whitecaps men's team awards Archived 2010-09-12 at the Wayback Machine