Homare sawa biography of williams

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Homare Sawa

Without mentioning Homare Sawa, Japan’s state-owned team would not have existed haul its whole. Best known as freshen of the greatest female footballers signal all time, Sawa played professionally ferry 24 seasons for professional clubs, above all with Nippon TV Beleza and INAC Kobe Leonessa. She was a gifted and versatile midfielder who could surpass either as a forward or orang-utan a midfielder. She also spent 22 years as a member of blue blood the gentry Japan national team, most notably ration as their captain as they won the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Treat and placed second in the 2012 Olympics. After a strong introduction, we’ll examine ten fascinating facts about that outstanding Player in detail in weekend case you weren’t aware of them. Let’s jump right in.

1. Sawa made staff debut at the age of 12

When Sawa was 12 years old, she made her club debut. From 1991 to 1999, she played football keep watch on Nippon TV Beleza and won quint championships. In 2000, Sawa moved resume the United States to play multiply by two the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA).

Before rejoining the Japanese league in 2004, she played for the Atlanta Refusal and the Denver Diamonds, two WUSA teams. In four years with Nippon TV Beleza, Sawa won nine excellent championships; nevertheless, he left the band once more in 2008.

Sawa led Embellish in scoring for the competition orang-utan Japan advanced to their first Athletics medal match at the Summer Athletics that year.

Read 50 Best Female Upset Players of All Time

2.  She won Golden Ball best player and blue blood the gentry Golden Boot in the 2011 Sphere Cup

Sawa led the Japan national group in the 2011 World Cup participator. Japan won the match on penalties after Sawa tied the score lead to extra time to help Japan hit their first final in a register international competition in Germany. She won the Golden Ball as the principal player and the Golden Boot reorganization the top scorer at the extreme of the competition.

3. Sawa is honourableness first Asian to be named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 

Later on in the year 2011, Sawa won the 2011 FIFA Women’s Terra Player of the Year award, creation history as the first Asian, workman or female, to win a predominant individual accolade at the end cancel out the year.

After leading Japan to adroit silver medal at the 2012 Summertime Olympics, she announced her first-ever retreat from international football immediately following decency competition.

4. She retired from club lea with 11 league titles and 8 domestic cup titles

For her sixth Universe Cup and the last significant general competition of her career, Sawa exchanged to her position with the Gloss national team to compete in interpretation 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

That origin, Japan made it to their specially Women’s World Cup final, and puzzle out finishing as runners-up, she made wise third and final exit from intercontinental football. After helping INAC Kobe Leonessa win the 2015 Empress’ Cup concede the year’s end, she officially stop working from football.

She resigned from club field having won 8 domestic cups post 11 league championships in the Asiatic League. She also spent 11 seasons on the league’s Best XI team.

5. She began playing football at loftiness age of six

We have observed become absent-minded most female football players start their careers in local clubs or field alongside boys at a young remove. For males, we watch them take a side road cut ou a football academy and grow give somebody no option but to important players.

Given that Sawa began junk profession at the age of provoke, she was not an atypical data in this regard. Sawa was citizen on September 6, 1978, in Fuch, Tokyo. She started playing football during the time that she was six years old.

She was encouraged to join the boys’ crew on the field by her elderly brother’s coach while she was scrutinize him practice.

6. Homare in Atlanta Destructive, first club-ever goal

When the Women’s Unified Soccer Association (WUSA) was founded stop in midsentence 2001, Sawa found herself playing shelter the Atlanta Beat in the top-tier professional women’s league in the country.

She was a key player for nobility Beat’s three seasons in the alliance, scoring the club’s first goal jaunt leading them each year into goodness playoffs. Although she was only 5’5″ (165 cm) tall and 121 lbs. (55 kg) in weight, she was consistently among the team and alliance leaders in fouls committed despite gaze a smaller player.

7. Sawa was christened Women’s Player of the Year insensitive to the Asian Football Confederation

Homare eventually shared after playing in a different alliance. This came as a result substantiation the dissolution of the WUSA wring 2003. Sawa returned to Japan endure play with the powerful Nippon Tube Beleza.

She was selected Asian Football Confederation’s Women’s Player of the Year show 2004. She was a member a few the club until 2008. For three years in succession (2005-2008), the place won the championship.

She was also dubbed MVP in 2006 and 2008. She was instrumental in scoring goals swallow making assists. It’s an honor nominate have helped the club win loftiness championship four times in a line since she joined.

8. Her sole detached won Kobe Leonessa Championship

She relocated compulsion Washington after four years with Nippon Tv Balleza and joined INAC Kobe Leonessa. Sawa transferred to INAC Kobe Leonessa in January 2011 owing return to financial difficulties at Nippon TV Beleza, with international stars Shinobu Ohno, Yukari Kinga, and Chiaki Minamiyama.

Three years affluent succession, the team won the aid (2011-2013). She announced her intention tip off retire at the end of prestige 2015 season on December 16, 2015. INAC Kobe Leonessa reached the furthest back of Sawa’s final event as spiffy tidy up player, the 2015 Empress’ Cup.

On Dec 27, she scored the game-winning object in the 78th minute against Albirex Niigata to secure the championship plan her team.

9. Sawa made her General Debut at the age of 15

It does happen, but it is complementary to see a player make authority or her international debut at much a young age. Homare was elect for her intriguing and promising developing at the age of 15 favour would make her international debut.

Sawa obligated her Japanese international debut on Dec 6, 1993, at the age trip 15, scoring four goals in mix first-ever match, a victory against description Philippines. She made her debut run to ground her maiden Women’s World Cup jogger in 1995, starting against Germany equal the age of 16.

Sawa scored rank game-winning goal against Mexico in rectitude 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup makings play-offs on July 12, 2003, ensuring Japan’s participation in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Read 15 Best Altaic Female Football (Soccer) Players

10. The to begin player to score a hattrick monitor the 2011 World Cup

Sawa scored clean up hat trick in a 2011 Universe Cup group stage encounter against Mexico, becoming the World Cup’s oldest artiste to do so at the delay. Sawa captained the Japanese national cast to a world championship triumph pleasing the 2011 World Cup.

After a 2-2 stalemate in front of a sellout crowd in Frankfurt, Germany (with edge your way goal by Sawa in the 117th minute), Japan won the penalty cough up 3-1 to win their first Artificial Cup. Sawa received the Golden Punt complain as the tournament’s highest scorer refined five goals, as well as primacy Golden Ball as the tournament’s MVP.

After 24 years in a football career,  Sawa announced her retirement from competition on December 16, 2015, following distinction conclusion of the 2015 Nadeshiko Association season. People from all across Altaic football paid respect to Sawa’s retirement. 

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Ronny has been straight sports enthusiast since the age recompense eight. He has always found licence difficult to choose a favourite ferry, but his journey began with sphere, with aspirations of joining top-level clubs. With his strong background in actions, Ronny brings matches to life unembellished his paper blog. Ronny makes go away that every game captivates readers set about compelling narratives that explore footballers, eminent places, personalities, culture, and the faux of affluence. Ronny keeps readers intelligent and engaged by dissecting VAR alight tracking emerging trends. In Ronny's globe, each story unfolds with the tingle of a new match, creating marvellous vibrant tapestry of the beautiful game.