is a Japanese football player who currently plays for French club Montpellier

Montpellier HSC (Ladies)

Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Féminines is a French women's football club based in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a commune in the arrondissement of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1990. Montpellier currently play in the Division 1 Féminine having finished in 4th place in the 2009–10 season...

 of the Division 1 Féminine. She plays as a defensive midfielder

Midfielder

A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...

 and is also a Japanese women's international

Japan women's national football team

The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...

 having represented her country at the 2007 and 2011 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup

The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...

, as well as two AFC Women's Asian Cup competitions.

Utsugi began her professional career at NTV Beleza

NTV Beleza

, is a women's football team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's L. League.-Domestic Competitions:*L. League Division 1**Champions : 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010...

 in 2004. During her time at the club, she won four L. League

L. League

The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...

 titles and five All Japan Women's Football Championship

All Japan Women's Football Championship

, is a Japanese Women's football competition. As an elimination tournament, it can be considered the female counterpart to the men's Emperor's Cup.The final has been played on New Year's Day of the following year at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and is regarded as the traditional closing...

s. In August 2010, after six years at Beleza, Utsugi departed her home country to sign for French club Montpellier of the Division 1 Féminine. After joining the club, she became the first Japanese player to play in the league.

National Team

• FIFA Women's World Cup
  FIFA Women's World Cup
  The FIFA Women's World Cup is an international association football competition contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the...
  
  

Champion (1): 2011

Club

NTV Beleza

• L. League
  L. League
  The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...
  
   (4): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• All-Japan Women's Football Championship (5): 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010

External links

• Japan Football player profile