Toshiya Fujita

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Toshiya Fujita (藤田 俊哉, born October 4, 1971, in Shizuoka, Japan) is a professional footballer for Nagoya Grampus of the J. League, the top professional football league in Japan. He attended and played football at Shimizu Commercial High School (清水商業高校, Shimizu Shōgyō Kōkō^?) and University of Tsukuba before joining Jubilo Iwata in 1994. Playing as a creative midfielder, Fujita has played an integral role in helping to build Jubilo Iwata into one of the most successful franchises in the J. League.

Although Fujita is not as well known as some of his more illustrious teammates, this probably has more to do with his low-key manner and quiet efficiency rather than a lack of skills. As part of the Jubilo midfield, Fujita had an essential role in providing the transition from defense to attack. In 1999, his contributions to his team were finally recognized as he was made team captain and won the league MVP award.

Fujita joined FC Utrecht, a team of the Eredevisie, on loan in mid-2003. Although Fujita was a key player for the Dutch side, the team was unable to match the performances of the top-tier teams in the Netherlands. As a result, FC Utrecht were unwilling to pay the transfer fee required to keep Fujita and he returned to Japan to once again play for Jubilo Iwata at the end of 2003.

[edit] Teams

• Shimizu Commercial High School (1987 - 1989)
• Tsukuba University (1990 - 1993)
• Jubilo Iwata (1994 - 2003)
  • Debut: against Kashima Antlers on March 6, 1994 (at Kashima Stadium)
• F.C. Utrecht (2003)
• Jubilo Iwata (2004 - 2005)
• Nagoya Grampus (2005 - active)

• Japanese national football team (1999 - 2005)
  • Debut: against Belgium on June 3, 1999
  • Appearances: 25 (through the end of 2005)
  • Goals: 3

[edit] Honors and awards

[edit] Individual Honors

• J-League Player of the Year: 2001
• J-League Best Eleven: 1998, 2001, 2002

[edit] Team Honors

• FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up: 2001
• Asian Cup Champions: 2004

[edit] National team

• 2001 Confederations Cup
• 2004 Asian Cup (Champions)

[edit] Goals for national team

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	February 23, 1995	Hong Kong, China	China PR	2-1	Won	Friendly
2.	June 10, 1995	Nottingham, England	Sweden	2-2	Drew	Friendly
3.	March 31, 2004	Jalan Besar, Singapore	Singapore	2-1	Won	2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Preceded by Shunsuke Nakamura

J-League Player of the Year 2001

Succeeded by Naohiro Takahara