Kana Kitahara

Kana Kitahara
北原 佳奈
Kitahara at the 2015 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Kana Kitahara
Date of birth (1988-12-17) December 17, 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Albirex Niigata (S)
Number 3
Youth career
2004–2006 Fujieda Junshin High School
2007–2010 Kanto Gakuen University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Albirex Niigata 93 (5)
2016–2022 Mynavi Sendai 45 (2)
2022– Albirex Niigata (S) (29)
International career
2013–2015 Japan 9 (0)
Managerial career
2024– Albirex Niigata (S)
Medal record
Albirex Niigata
Runner-up Empress's Cup 2011
Runner-up Empress's Cup 2013
Runner-up Empress's Cup 2015
Representing  Japan
FIFA Women's World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2015 Canada
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Team
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Silver medal – second place 2007 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 31, 2018

Kana Kitahara (北原 佳奈, Kitahara Kana, born December 17, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who played as defender for Mynavi Sendai. She has also played for the Japan national team.

Kitahara is currently the player-head coach for Albirex Niigata FC (S).[1]

Early life and education

Kitahara was born in Fujieda on December 17, 1988. She graduated from Kanto Gakuen University.

Playing career

Club career

Kitahara joined Albirex Niigata in 2011. She played 93 games in L.League.

In 2016, she moved to Mynavi Vegalta Sendai.[2]

In July 2022, Kitahara joins Albirex Niigata Singapore FC's women team, Albirex Niigata Singapore Ladies.[3]

In 2023, Kitahara scored 17 goals in 13 matches for Albirex Niigata, where the team finished runner-up for the 2023 Women's Premier League.[1]

International career

On September 22, 2013, Kitahara debuted for the Japan national team against Nigeria. In 2014, she played at the 2014 Asian Games and Japan won second place. She was also played in the 2015 World Cup, in which Japan won second place.[1][4] She played nine games for Japan until 2015.

Coaching career

Kitahara has a Japan Football Association B Licence.[1]

While playing for Albirex Niigata, Kitahara was also the assistant coach of the U-17 Albirex men’s team.[1] She was also a coach of the Albirex Singapore Football Academy.[1]

In 2024, Kitahara became the head coach for Albirex Niigata Singapore Ladies team, taking over from Nahar Daud.[1]

National team statistics

[5]

Japan national team
Year Apps Goals
2013 1 0
2014 6 0
2015 2 0
Total 9 0

Honours

Individual

  • Women’s Premier League Player of the Year: 2023[1]
  • Women’s Premier League Golden Boot: 2023[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ganesan, Deepanraj (17 Jan 2024). "No experience? No problem, as Singapore's top two women's football teams hire rookie head coaches". The Straits Times.
  2. ^ Mynavi Vegalta Sendai Archived 2017-07-17 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  3. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (6 Jul 2022). "Football: Albirex strengthen women's team with former Japan international Kana Kitahara". The Straits Times.
  4. ^ FIFA
  5. ^ List of match in 2013 Archived 2018-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, 2014 Archived 2018-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, 2015 Archived 2018-08-11 at the Wayback Machine at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)
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