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Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
吉武剛
Personal information
Full name	Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
Date of birth	September 8, 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Mie, Japan
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1997–1999	Tsu Technical High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
2000–2006	Yokohama FC
2007–2008	Tokyo Verdy
2009	Charleston Battery
2010	Crystal Palace Baltimore
2010	Austin Aztex
2011–2012	Tampa Bay Rowdies
2012–2014	Yokohama FC Hong Kong
2014–2015	Yuen Long
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (吉武剛, Yoshitake Tsuyoshi, born September 8, 1981) is a Japanese former football player.

Playing career

Japan

Yoshitake attended Tsu Technical High School, where he was selected to the prefecture's select team to take part in a tournament in Brazil. He began his professional career in the Winter of 2000 when he joined Yokohama FC, for whom he scored nine goals in his 133 appearances over the course of six years and became the fans' favorite player^{[citation needed]} before being transferred to Tokyo Verdy. During his one year in the Japanese Capital city injury limited him to playing only five times, scoring one goal.

United States

On March 24, 2009 Yoshitake left Tokyo Verdy and completed a move to the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division in the United States.^[1] Given the #10, and on April 24, 2009, during his home debut, he scored his first goal for the Battery from the penalty spot to tie up their game with Minnesota Thunder. The game finished 1-1. For his rookie year, he was in charge of all set pieces for the team, scoring 6 goals, and 5 assists. He also earned the Weekly Honors 5 times during this season, and was given the team's "Newcomer of the Year" award.
Yoshitake announced his move to Crystal Palace Baltimore in February, 2010,^[2] and again was given the #10 as the team's ace attacker. In a 2012 match against the MN Stars on July 16, Yoshitake scored a critical goal in the late first half, catching the Stars defense sleeping. The goal happened to be a game changer, as the Rowdies won 2-1.

In September 2010 Austin Aztex, who was preparing for the Playoffs, acquired Yoshitake from Baltimore on loan for the remainder of the season. His New Jersey number was 9.^[3]

Yoshitake signed a two-year contract with FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League on February 16, 2011.^[4] Yoshitake played in 40 matches during his Tampa Bay career. He scored seven goals and totaled five assists during his two seasons there, and also earned NASL Player of the Month for June, 2012.

Hong Kong

However, announced his move to Yokohama FC Hong Kong during the season on August 4, 2012, and serves as the team captain.^[5] Yoshitake had a superb debut season recording 9 goals. He finished fifth place in the league and was voted to the Hong Kong All Star XI for the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup squad,^[6] and also the league's Best XI. On June 4, 2014, Yoshitake announced his signing with Yuen Long FC in the same league.^[7] On June 12, 2015, he announced his retirement on his Official Blog.^[8]

Club statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
2000	Yokohama FC	Football League	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2001		J2 League	16	1	4	2	0	0	20	3
2002			41	2	3	1	-		44	3
2003			14	2	2	1	-		16	3
2004			9	0	0	0	-		9	0
2005			27	2	2	0	-		29	2
2006			26	2	1	0	-		27	2
2007	Tokyo Verdy	J2 League	5	1	0	0	-		5	1
2008	Tokyo Verdy	J1 League	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
United States			League		Open Cup		League Cup		Total
2009	Charleston Battery	USL First Division	26	6	3	2	-		29	8
2010	Crystal Palace Baltimore	D2 Pro League	24	3	1	0	-		24	3
2010	Austin Aztex FC	D2 Pro League	7 ⁽¹⁾	0	-		-		7	0
2011	FC Tampa Bay	NASL	26 ⁽²⁾	1	-		-		26	1
2012	Tampa Bay Rowdies	NASL	15	6	0	0	-		15	6
Hong Kong			League		FA Cup		League Cup + Senior Shield		Total
2012-13	Yokohama FC Hong Kong	Hong Kong First Division	12	9	-		-		12	9
2013-14	Yokohama FC Hong Kong		12	2	-		-		12	2
2014-15	Yuen Long FC		14	5	2	1	5	0	21	6
Country	Japan		138	10	12	4	1	0	151	14
	United States		98	16	4	2	-		102	18
	Hong Kong		38	16	2	1	5	0	45	17
Total			274	42	18	7	6	0	298	49

(1) 5 League Appierences and 2 Play-Off Appierences

(2) 25 League Appierences and 1 Play-Off Appierences

Playing style

Small in size but speedy on and off the ball, Yoshitake is able to run at defenders and take them on with high technique dribbling. Capable on both feet, he is a good creative output in the attacking third and frequently serves up dangerous crosses and can entertain the idea of an occasional long shot. Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser described him "He's so creative and he's almost impossible to stop one-on-one. He's given us another weapon up top, someone that can really serve the ball into the box and score goals" in an interview ^[9]

Honors and awards

Personal

2012-13: Hong Kong First Division - Hong Kong All Star XI for the Lunar New Year Cup 2013 squad^[10]
2012-13: Hong Kong First Division - Best XI^[11]
2012: NASL Player of the Month - June^[12]
2009: Charleston Battery Newcomer of the Year award
2009: USL1 Weekly Honor - 5 weeks
2002: Yokohama FC MVP