Yuta Minami

Yuta Minami
南雄太
Personal information
Full name	Yuta Minami
Date of birth	30 September 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1995–1997	Shizuoka Gakuen High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1998–2009	Kashiwa Reysol
2010–2013	Roasso Kumamoto
2014–2021	Yokohama FC
2021	→ Omiya Ardija (loan)
2022–2023	Omiya Ardija
International career
1997–1999	Japan U-20
Medal record
Kashiwa Reysol
Representing Japan
FIFA U-20 World Cup
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 December 2021

Yuta Minami (南雄太, Minami Yūta, born 30 September 1979) is a Japanese football player who plays for Omiya Ardija.^[1]

Club career

Minami was born in Kawasaki on 30 September 1979. After graduating from Shizuoka Gakuen High School, he joined J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol in 1998. He played as regular goalkeeper instead Yoichi Doi from summer in first season. He battles with Minami for the position with Motohiro Yoshida from 1999 and Reysol won the 3rd place in 1999 and 2000 J1 League. Minami completely became a regular goalkeeper from 2001. However the club results were sluggish from 2002 and was relegated to J2 League end of 2005 season. In 2006 season, Reysol won the 2nd place and returned to J1 from 2007. Although he played as regular goalkeeper from 2007, his opportunity to play decreased behind new player Takanori Sugeno from 2008. In 2009, he could not play at all in the match in J1 League and Reysol was relegated to J2 again.

In 2010, Minami moved to J2 club Roasso Kumamoto. He played as regular goalkeeper for 4 seasons until 2013 season. In 2014, he moved to J2 club Yokohama FC.

National team career

In June 1997, when Minami was a Shizuoka Gakuen High School student, he was selected Japan U-20 national team for 1997 World Youth Championship and he played 4 matches. In April 1999, he was selected U-20 Japan for 1999 World Youth Championship second time. At this tournament, he played full time in all 7 matches and Japan won the 2nd place.

Mistake

Minami became one of the few goalkeepers in football history managing to score an own goal against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a J. League match on 22 May 2004. He had gathered the ball and originally planned to throw the ball at first, but he paused and lost control, hurling the ball back into the net to the disbelief of his Kashiwa teammates. The goal wouldn't matter, as Kashiwa lost 3-0.^[2]^[3]

Club statistics

As of end of 2018 season^[4]^[5]

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
1998	Kashiwa Reysol	J1 League	22	0	1	0	4	0	27	0
1999			18	0	4	0	2	0	24	0
2000			20	0	2	0	0	0	22	0
2001			29	0	1	0	4	0	34	0
2002			27	0	1	0	7	0	35	0
2003			26	0	0	0	3	0	29	0
2004			28	0	0	0	4	0	32	0
2005			33	0	1	0	5	0	39	0
2006		J2 League	45	0	0	0	-		45	0
2007		J1 League	33	0	0	0	2	0	35	0
2008			10	0	1	0	1	0	12	0
2009			0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0
Total			291	0	11	0	35	0	337	0
2010	Roasso Kumamoto	J2 League	36	0	2	0	-		38	0
2011			38	0	0	0	-		38	0
2012			39	0	2	0	-		41	0
2013			42	0	0	0	-		42	0
Total			155	0	4	0	-		159	0
2014	Yokohama FC	J2 League	39	0	1	0	-		40	0
2015			42	0	2	0	-		44	0
2016			23	0	0	0	-		23	0
2017			1	0	0	0	-		1	0
2018			25	0	1	0	-		26	0
2019							-
Total			130	0	4	0	-		134	0
Career total			576	0	19	0	35	0	630	0