Kosuke Kimura (木村光佑, Kimura Kōsuke) (born May 14, 1984) is a Japanese footballer and a coach. A long-time veteran of Major League Soccer, he has also played in Poland. He was the first player in MLS history who was born in Japan.[1]
![]() Kimura playing with the Colorado Rapids (MLS) 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (1984-05-14) May 14, 1984 (age 38) | ||
Place of birth | Kobe, Japan | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
1998–2002 | Kawasaki Frontale | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2006 | Western Illinois Leathernecks | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004 | Thunder Bay Chill | 13 | (0) |
2007–2012 | Colorado Rapids | 117 | (4) |
2012 | Portland Timbers | 17 | (1) |
2013–2014 | New York Red Bulls | 37 | (0) |
2015 | Widzew Łódź | 12 | (0) |
2015 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 19 | (0) |
2016 | Rayo OKC | 33 | (0) |
2017 | Tulsa Roughnecks | 24 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Nashville SC | 47 | (1) |
Teams managed | |||
2022– | Nashville SC (assistant) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 October 2019 |
Kimura's career in organized soccer began with the youth team of Kawasaki Frontale. By the age of 15, he played for the Kawasaki Frontale reserve team. A foot injury at age of 17 hampered his opportunity to sign a professional contract with the club.[2] Despite this, he would eventually earn an athletic scholarship to play college soccer at Western Illinois University after moving to the United States, where he took an intensive English-language course and the SAT, on which he achieved a near-perfect score on its mathematics section.[1] A four-year letterman with the Leathernecks from 2003 to 2006,[3] he also played with the Thunder Bay Chill of the USL Premier Development League.[4]
Kimura was drafted by Colorado Rapids in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft,[5] and in doing so became first Japanese-born player in the history of Major League Soccer.[6] He was a bit-part player for much of his first two seasons, playing four games in his rookie season, and featuring in 18 games in 2008, 17 as a starter. He scored his first career goal on May 2, 2009, in a game against Real Salt Lake.[7] During the 2010 playoffs, he scored the game-winning goal against San Jose that sent the Colorado Rapids to MLS Cup 2010. Kimura then played for a full 90 minutes (plus 30 minutes of extra time) to help the Colorado Rapids capture the MLS Cup against FC Dallas with a 2–1 victory in Toronto, Ontario. While with Colorado Kimura appeared in 117 league matches and scored 4 goals.
Kimura was traded to Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money and an international roster slot in July 2012.[8] Five months later, Kimura was traded to New York Red Bulls along with a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Home Grown Player rights to Bryan Gallego and allocation money.[9] On March 3, 2013, Kimura made his official debut for New York starting for his new club in a 3–3 draw against his former club Portland Timbers.[10]
Following the 2014 season, New York announced that it would not exercise its 2015 contract option on Kimura.[11]
In February 2015, Kimura signed with Polish side Widzew Łódź.[citation needed]
In July 2015, Kimura signed with Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League.[12]
In January 2016, he signed with expansion Rayo OKC.[13]
On December 7, 2017, Nashville SC announced Kimura as a new signing.[14]
Kimura holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[15]