is a Japanese professional football coach and former player who played as a forward.
Club career When he was at Shūyō Junior High School, he represented Yamaguchi Prefecture with future international teammate Seiichiro Maki. He went on to football powerhouse Teikyo High School. While at Teikyo, Tanaka was chosen as one of the Designated Players for Development by J.League and JFA. Because of this status, he was able to register as a FC Tokyo player while he was still eligible to play for his high school club.
After graduating Teikyo, he joined Urawa Reds. His first league appearance came on 29 April 2001 against Kashima Antlers. His first professional goal came on 21 May 2001 against Tokyo Verdy. He played many matches as forward from 2001 season. In 2003, Reds won the champions in J.League Cup. He was selected MVP award and New Hero award. However he suffered for repeated injuries from late 2005 while the club won many title, 2005 Emperor's Cup, 2006 J1 League, 2006 Emperor's Cup and 2007 AFC Champions League. In 2012, he could not play many matches and let the club end of 2012 season.
In 2013, Tanaka signed with Albirex Niigata.Urawa Reds He played 32 matches in 2013 season, the most in his career. Although he played many matches every season, Albirex was relegated to J2 League end of 2017 season.
After nine years in Niigata, Tanaka officially retired on 5 December 2021, when he left the pitch after 40 minutes into the home match against Machida Zelvia. Tanaka immediately joined Niigata's coaching staff for the youth sector.
National team career Tanaka represented Japan at several underage levels. He was part of the Japanese 2004 Olympic football team eliminated in the first round after finishing fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy, and Ghana.
He made his international debut on 31 July 2005 in an East Asian Championship against North Korea when he replaced Keiji Tamada in the 67th minute. He scored his first international goal on 3 August 2005 against China in the same tournament. His most recent goal came against Qatar on 19 November 2008. He played 16 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 2009.Japan National Football Team Database
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionNippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2021 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑: NSKムック (日本語) (NSK MOOK)”, 18 February 2021, Japan, (p. 203 out of 298)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, (p. 160 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 122 out of 289)ClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUrawa Red Diamonds2001J. League Division 11930040——2332002J. League Division 12351030——2752003J. League Division 1261110104——37152004J. League Division 123104464—2035182005J. League Division 12580083——33112006J. League Division 11841200—001962007J. League Division 11890010830027122008J. League Division 1152104120—2232009J. League Division 11501000——1602010J. League Division 12222020——2622011J. League Division 12220010——2322012J. League Division 1702120——111Total233561374112832029978Albirex Niigata2013J. League Division 13221030——3622014J. League Division 12422241——3052015J1 League1312250——2032016J1 League2033030——2632017J1 League1120022——1342018J2 League3120062——3742019J2 League17110———1812020J2 League70————702021J2 League1000———10Total1561394235——18822Career total389692211641710320487100
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan200521200640200720200841200941Total163
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tanaka goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Tatsuya Tanaka No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 3 August 2005 Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon, South Korea 2005 East Asian Football Championship 2 19 November 2008 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification 3 20 January 2009 KKWing Stadium, Kumamoto, Japan 2011 AFC Asian Cup Qualification
Honours Urawa Red Diamonds J1 League: 2006 Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006 J.League Cup: 2003 AFC Champions League: 2007 Japanese Super Cup: 2006
Individual J.League Cup MVP: 2003 J.League Cup New Hero Award: 2003
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Tatsuya Tanaka – Yahoo! Japan sports