Ryota Tsuzuki

Ryota Tsuzuki
Personal information
Full name	Ryota Tsuzuki
Date of birth	April 18, 1978 (age 46)
Place of birth	Heguri, Nara, Japan
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1994–1996	Kunimi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1997–2002	Gamba Osaka
2003–2010	Urawa Reds
2010	Shonan Bellmare
Total
National team
2001–2009	Japan
Honours
Urawa Reds
Representing Japan
FIFA Confederations Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Ryota Tsuzuki (都築龍太, Tsuzuki Ryota, born April 18, 1978) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Tsuzuki was born in Heguri, Nara on April 18, 1978. After graduating from Kunimi High School, he joined J1 League side Gamba Osaka in 1997. He became the first choice goalkeeper in 2000 dislodging Hayato Okanaka but he was transferred to Urawa Reds at the end of the 2002 season after a row with manager Akira Nishino. At Reds, he battles with Norihiro Yamagishi for the position. From 2005, he completely played as first goalkeeper except for 2006 for injury. The club won the champions 2006 J1 League, 2003 J.League Cup, 2005 and 2006 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club won the champions 2007 AFC Champions League and also won the 3rd place 2007 Club World Cup. However his opportunity to play decreased due to injury from 2009. He moved to Shonan Bellmare in June 2010. He retired end of the 2010 season.

In September 2000, Tsuzuki was selected the Japan U-23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. But he did not play in the match behind Seigo Narazaki. In February 2001, Tsuzuki was selected the Japan national team for 2001 Confederations Cup. At this tournament, on April 8, he debuted against Brazil. Although he played only one game, Japan won the 2nd place. Because Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and Seigo Narazaki played most matches for Japan in 2000s, Tsuzuki could hardly play in the match. He played 6 games for Japan until 2009.

Statistics[change | change source]

^[1]^[2]

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
1997	Gamba Osaka	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
1998			1	0	0	0	0	0	-		1	0
1999			2	0	0	0	0	0	-		2	0
2000			19	0	4	0	2	0	-		25	0
2001			29	0	3	0	1	0	-		33	0
2002			12	0	0	0	3	0	-		15	0
2003	Urawa Reds	J1 League	20	0	0	0	7	0	-		27	0
2004			19	0	0	0	7	0	-		26	0
2005			33	0	3	0	9	0	-		45	0
2006			11	0	5	0	1	0	-		17	0
2007			33	0	0	0	1	0	12	0	46	0
2008			33	0	1	0	2	0	3	0	39	0
2009			23	0	0	0	0	0	-		23	0
2010			0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2010	Shonan Bellmare	J1 League	15	0	0	0	0	0	-		15	0
Country	Japan		250	0	16	0	33	0	15	0	314	0
Total			250	0	16	0	33	0	15	0	314	0