Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
吉武 剛
Personal information
Full name Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
Date of birth (1981-09-08) September 8, 1981
Place of birth Mie, Japan
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–1999 Tsu Technical High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2006 Yokohama FC 133 (9)
2007–2008 Tokyo Verdy 5 (1)
2009 Charleston Battery 26 (6)
2010 Crystal Palace Baltimore 24 (3)
2010 Austin Aztex 7 (0)
2011–2012 Tampa Bay Rowdies 41 (7)
2012–2014 Yokohama FC Hong Kong 24 (11)
2014–2015 Yuen Long 14 (5)
Total 274 (42)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (吉武 剛, Yoshitake Tsuyoshi, born September 8, 1981) is a Japanese former football player.

Playing career

Japan

Yoshitake attended Tsu Technical High School, where he was selected to the prefecture's select team to take part in a tournament in Brazil. He began his professional career in the Winter of 2000 when he joined Yokohama FC, for whom he scored nine goals in his 133 appearances over the course of six years and became the fans' favorite player before being transferred to Tokyo Verdy. During his one year in the Japanese Capital city injury limited him to playing only five times, scoring one goal.

United States

On March 24, 2009 Yoshitake left Tokyo Verdy and completed a move to the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division in the United States.[1] Given the #10, and on April 24, 2009, during his home debut, he scored his first goal for the Battery from the penalty spot to tie up their game with Minnesota Thunder. The game finished 1-1. For his rookie year, he was in charge of all set pieces for the team, scoring 6 goals, and 5 assists. He also earned the Weekly Honors 5 times during this season, and was given the team's "New Comer of the Year" award.
Yoshitake announced his move to Crystal Palace Baltimore in February, 2010,[2] and again was given the #10 as the team's ace attacker. In a 2012 match against the MN Stars on July 16, Yoshitake scored a critical goal in the late first half, catching the Stars defense sleeping. The goal happened to be a game changer, as the Rowdies won 2-1.

In September 2010 Austin Aztex, who was preparing for the Playoffs, acquired Yoshitake from Baltimore on loan for the remainder of the season. His New Jersey number was 9.[3]

Yoshitake signed a two-year contract with FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League on February 16, 2011.[4] Yoshitake played in 40 matches during his Tampa Bay career. He scored seven goals and totaled five assists during his two seasons there, and also earned NASL Player of the Month for June, 2012.

Hong Kong

However, announced his move to Yokohama FC Hong Kong during the season on August 4, 2012, and serves as the team captain.[5] Yoshitake had a superb debut season recording 9 goals. He finished fifth place in the league and was voted to the Hong Kong All Star XI for the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup squad,[6] and also the league's Best XI. On June 4, 2014, Yoshitake announced his signing with Yuen Long FC in the same league.[7] On June 12, 2015, he announced his retirement on his Official Blog.[8]

Club statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
2000Yokohama FCFootball League0000-00
2001J2 League1614200203
200241231-443
200314221-163
20049000-90
200527220-292
200626210-272
2007Tokyo VerdyJ2 League5100-51
2008J1 League00001010
United States League Open Cup League Cup Total
2009Charleston BatteryUSL First Division26632-298
2010Crystal Palace BaltimoreD2 Pro League24310-243
Austin Aztex FC7 (1)0--70
2011FC Tampa BayNASL26 (2)1--261
2012Tampa Bay Rowdies15600-156
Hong Kong League FA Cup League Cup + Senior Shield Total
2012-13Yokohama FC Hong KongHong Kong First Division129--129
2013-14122--122
2014-15Yuen Long FC1452150216
CountryJapan 138101241015114
United States 981642-10218
Hong Kong 381621504517
Total 274421876029849

(1) 5 League Appierences and 2 Play-Off Appierences

(2) 25 League Appierences and 1 Play-Off Appierences

Playing style

Small in size but speedy on and off the ball, Yoshitake is able to run at defenders and take them on with high technique dribbling. Capable on both feet, he is a good creative output in the attacking third and frequently serves up dangerous crosses and can entertain the idea of an occasional long shot. Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser described him "He's so creative and he's almost impossible to stop one-on-one. He's given us another weapon up top, someone that can really serve the ball into the box and score goals" in an interview [9]

Honors and awards

Personal

Team

  • 2007: Promotion to J1 (J2 Runner Up)- Tokyo Verdy
  • 2006: Promotion to J1 (Champion of J2) - Yokohama FC
  • 2001: Promotion to J2 (Champion of JFL) - Yokohama FC

References

  1. ↑ Battery signs Matt Bobo and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake Archived 2009-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Palace Sign Trio of Proven Performers Archived 2010-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Austin Adds Midfielder to Playoff-Bound Club Archived 2010-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "FC Tampa Bay Signs Japanese Midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake". 16 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Rowdies Transfer Yoshitake to Yokohama FC Hong Kong
  6. ↑ HKFA News
  7. ↑ 移籍報告
  8. ↑ 引退のご報告
  9. ↑ Yoshitake's Gamble The Post and Courier
  10. ↑ HKFA News
  11. ↑ HKFA News
  12. ↑ Yoshitake Named NASL Player of the Month for June
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