| Kosuke Kimura | |
| Birth Date: | 14 May 1984 |
| Birth Place: | Kobe, Japan |
| Height: | 1.75 m |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Nashville SC (assistant) |
| Youthyears1: | 1998–2002 |
| Youthclubs1: | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Collegeyears1: | 2003–2006 |
| College1: | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
| Years1: | 2004 |
| Clubs1: | Thunder Bay Chill |
| Caps1: | 13 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2007–2012 |
| Clubs2: | Colorado Rapids |
| Caps2: | 117 |
| Goals2: | 4 |
| Years3: | 2012 |
| Clubs3: | Portland Timbers |
| Caps3: | 17 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2013–2014 |
| Clubs4: | New York Red Bulls |
| Caps4: | 37 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2015 |
| Clubs5: | Widzew Łódź |
| Caps5: | 12 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2015 |
| Clubs6: | Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Caps6: | 19 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2016 |
| Clubs7: | Rayo OKC |
| Caps7: | 33 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2017 |
| Clubs8: | Tulsa Roughnecks |
| Caps8: | 24 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs9: | Nashville SC |
| Caps9: | 47 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Manageryears1: | 2022– |
| Managerclubs1: | Nashville SC (assistant) |
(born 14 May 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager of Nashville SC. A long-time veteran of Major League Soccer, he has also played in Poland. He was the first player in MLS history who was born in Japan.[1]
Kimura's career in organized soccer began with the youth team of Kawasaki Frontale. By the age of 15, he played for the Kawasaki Frontale reserve team. A foot injury aged 17 hampered his opportunity to sign a professional contract with the club.[2] Despite this, he would eventually earn an athletic scholarship to play college soccer at Western Illinois University after moving to the United States, where he took an intensive English-language course and the SAT, on which he achieved a near-perfect score on its mathematics section.[1] A four-year letterman with the Leathernecks from 2003 to 2006,[3] he also played with the Thunder Bay Chill of the USL Premier Development League.[4]
Kimura was drafted by Colorado Rapids in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft,[5] and in doing so became first Japanese-born player in the history of Major League Soccer.[6] He was a bit-part player for much of his first two seasons, playing four games in his rookie season, and featuring in 18 games in 2008, 17 as a starter. He scored his first career goal on May 2, 2009, in a game against Real Salt Lake.[7] During the 2010 playoffs, he scored the game-winning goal against San Jose that sent the Colorado Rapids to MLS Cup 2010. Kimura then played for a full 90 minutes (plus 30 minutes of extra time) to help the Colorado Rapids capture the MLS Cup against FC Dallas with a 2–1 victory in Toronto, Ontario. While with Colorado Kimura appeared in 117 league matches and scored 4 goals.
Kimura was traded to Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money and an international roster slot in July 2012.[8] Five months later, Kimura was traded to New York Red Bulls along with a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for Home Grown Player rights to Bryan Gallego and allocation money.[9] On March 3, 2013, Kimura made his official debut for New York starting for his new club in a 3–3 draw against his former club Portland Timbers.[10]
Following the 2014 season, New York announced that it would not exercise its 2015 contract option on Kimura.[11]
In February 2015, Kimura signed with Polish side Widzew Łódź.[12]
In July 2015, Kimura signed with Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League.[13]
In January 2016, he signed with expansion Rayo OKC.[14]
On December 7, 2017, Nashville SC announced Kimura as a new signing.[15]
Kimura holds a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[16]
Colorado Rapids
New York Red Bulls