Yuji Hironaga

Yuji Hironaga
廣長 優志

Personal information
Full name	Yuji Hironaga
Date of birth	(1975-07-25) 25 July 1975
Place of birth	Osaka, Japan
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1991–1993	Toin Gakuen High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–2001	Tokyo Verdy	91	(3)
1998–1999	→Gamba Osaka (loan)	33	(4)
2002	Yokohama FC	32	(5)
2003–2004	Cerezo Osaka	19	(0)
Total		175	(12)
International career
1996	Japan U-23	2	(0)
Medal record Tokyo Verdy Winner J1 League 1994 Runner-up J1 League 1995 Winner J.League Cup 1994 Runner-up J.League Cup 1996 Winner Emperor's Cup 1996 Cerezo Osaka Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2003
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yuji Hironaga (廣長 優志, Hironaga Yūji, born 25 July 1975) is a former Japanese football player.

Club career

Hironaga was born in Osaka Prefecture on 25 July 1975. After graduating from high school, he joined Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) in 1994. He played as defensive midfielder and center back. In 1994, the club won the championships for the J1 League and J.League Cup. He then moved to his local club Gamba Osaka. He played many matches at Gamba, and returned to Verdy in June 1999. He played as a forward as well as a midfielder. His opportunity to play decreased in 2001 and he moved to the J2 League club Yokohama FC. He played many matches as defensive midfielder. He moved to Cerezo Osaka in 2003. He retired at the end of the 2004 season.

National team career

In July 1996, Hironaga was selected Japan U-23 national team for 1996 Summer Olympics. At this tournament, he played 2 matches as defensive midfielder. Although Japan won 2 matches, Japan lost at First round. At this time, Japan won Brazil in first game. It was known as "Miracle of Miami" (マイアミの奇跡) in Japan.

Club statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1994	Verdy Kawasaki	J1 League	18	1	2	0	3	0	23	1
1995			9	0	2	0	-		11	0
1996			8	0	0	0	4	0	12	0
1997			18	0	1	0	5	0	24	0
1998	Gamba Osaka	J1 League	26	3	1	1	2	0	29	4
1999			7	1	0	0	4	0	11	1
1999	Verdy Kawasaki	J1 League	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2000			24	2	2	0	3	1	29	3
2001	Tokyo Verdy	J1 League	9	0	0	0	2	0	11	0
2002	Yokohama FC	J2 League	32	5	3	0	-		35	5
2003	Cerezo Osaka	J1 League	19	0	0	0	3	0	22	0
2004			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total			175	12	11	1	26	1	212	14

External links

• Yuji Hironaga – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Yuji Hironaga at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)