Kentaro Takada
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese footballer currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars
in the North American Soccer League.
. He was Hokkaido University's Rookie of the Year in 2002, participated in the national college tournament in 2003 and 2004, and received the Hokkaido College League MVP award after 2005 season.
He turned professional in 2006 with Thespa Kusatsu
of the J. League
, initially with the U-23 team in 2006, before being promoted to the senior team in 2007.
in the USL Premier Development League
.
He was signed by the NSC Minnesota Stars
of the USSF Division 2 Professional League
in 2010 after impressing during pre-season trials and, after a brief delay during which he had to return to Japan to sort out visa problems, made his debut for the team on May 29, 2010 in a game against AC St. Louis
. He scored his first professional goal on September 24, 2010 in Minnesota's last regular season game of the 2010 season, a 3-1 win over FC Tampa Bay.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese footballer currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in the North American Soccer League.
Japan
Takada attended Hokkaido Sapporo Daiichi High School and Hokkaido University of EducationHokkaido University of Education
Hokkaido University of Education has 5 campuses located around Hokkaidō, Japan. It is a national, public university, administered by the government of Japan. The main campus is located on the outskirts of Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaidō...
. He was Hokkaido University's Rookie of the Year in 2002, participated in the national college tournament in 2003 and 2004, and received the Hokkaido College League MVP award after 2005 season.
He turned professional in 2006 with Thespa Kusatsu
Thespa Kusatsu
is a professional football club based in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 2. J. League Division 2 is the second professional football league in Japan....
of the J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
, initially with the U-23 team in 2006, before being promoted to the senior team in 2007.
United States
Takada moved to the United States in 2009, and played one season as an over-age player with the expansion Rochester ThunderRochester Thunder
Rochester Thunder was an American soccer team based in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
He was signed by the NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
in 2010 after impressing during pre-season trials and, after a brief delay during which he had to return to Japan to sort out visa problems, made his debut for the team on May 29, 2010 in a game against AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
. He scored his first professional goal on September 24, 2010 in Minnesota's last regular season game of the 2010 season, a 3-1 win over FC Tampa Bay.