Chika Hirao

Chika Hirao
Personal information
Full name	Chika Hirao
Date of birth	December 31, 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth	Matsudo, Chiba, Japan
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Albirex Niigata
Youth career
2009–2014	JFA Academy Fukushima
Senior career*
Years	Team
2014–2017	Urawa Reds
2018–	Albirex Niigata
National team
2012	Japan U-17
2016	Japan U-20
2018–2019	Japan
Honours
Urawa Reds
Representing Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of the 2019 season

Chika Hirao (平尾知佳, Hirao Chika, born December 31, 1996) is a Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Hirao was born in Matsudo on December 31, 1996. She joined Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from JFA Academy Fukushima in 2014. She played many matches as regular goalkeeper and the club won the champions in first season. However her opportunity to play decreased behind Sakiko Ikeda from 2015 season. In 2018, she moved to Albirex Niigata.

In September 2012, when Hirao was 15 years old, she was selected the Japan U-17 national team for 2012 U-17 Women's World Cup and she played 3 matches as regular goalkeeper. In November 2016, she was selected the Japan U-20 national team for 2016 U-20 Women's World Cup. She played 5 matches and Japan won the 3rd place.

In April 2018, Hirao was selected the Japan national team for 2018 Women's Asian Cup. Although she did not play in any matches, Japan won the championship after two tournaments in a row. On August 2, she debuted against Australia. In 2019, she was selected Japan for 2019 World Cup. She played 2 games for Japan until 2019.