Moeka Minami Explained

Moeka Minami
南 萌華
Birth Date:7 December 1998
Birth Place:Yoshikawa, Saitama, Japan
Height:1.71 m
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Roma
Clubnumber:2
Youthyears1:2014–2016
Youthclubs1:Urawa Reds
Years1:2017–2022
Clubs1:Urawa Reds
Caps1:68
Goals1:3
Years2:2022–
Clubs2:Roma
Caps2:45
Goals2:2
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalteam1:Japan U-17
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Japan U-20
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Japan
Nationalcaps3:48
Nationalgoals3:4
Club-Update:08:53, 1 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:08:53, 1 May 2024 (UTC)

is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A Femminile club A.S. Roma and the Japan women's national team.

Early life

Minami was born in Saitama Prefecture on 7 December 1998. She attended high school in Saitama Prefectural Nanryō High School. She graduated from University of Tsukuba Physical Education College in 2021.[1] She began her youth career when she joined the junior youth team of Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies.

Club career

Urawa Reds

She was promoted to Nadeshiko League club Urawa Reds from the youth team in 2017.[2]

AS Roma

On 24 July 2022, Minami signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A club Roma.[3] She made her debut for the club on 19 August 2022 in a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win against Glasgow City.[4] On 10 September 2022, she scored her first goal for the club in a Serie A match against AC Milan.[5] Later in the same month, she scored again for the club in a 4–1 win against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Champions League.[6] On 5 November, Minami won her first silverware with Roma as they beaten Juventus in a penalty shootout in the 2022 Supercoppa Italiana.[7] On 29 April 2023, she helped Roma clinched the 2022–23 Serie A title in a 2–1 win against Fiorentina, their first league title in club history.[8]

On 8 February 2024, Minami penned a two-year contract extension with Roma which keeps her with the club until 30 June 2026.[9] She won her second Serie A title back to back with Roma at the end of the 2023–24 Serie A season.[10]

International career

Youth

In 2014, Minami was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2014 U-17 World Cup.[11] She played one game against Paraguay in the group stage. Japan went on to win the championship.

Minami was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[12] She played all six matches as center-back and team captain. Japan won the championship and Minami received the Bronze Ball award.

Senior

In February 2019, Minami was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup. At this tournament, on 2 March, she debuted as center back-against Brazil.[13]

Minami was selected as part of the 22 players squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan in 2021.[14] She started all 3 group matches for Japan.

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[15]

Career statistics

Club

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOthersTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Urawa Reds2017Nadeshiko League00003030
2018Nadeshiko League1414020201
2019Nadeshiko League1705141262
2020Nadeshiko League17051221
2021–22WE League20240242
Total68318291956
A.S. Roma2022–23Serie A2524011110413
2023–24Serie A200307010310
Total4527018120723
Career Total113525291181201579

International

[16]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National TeamYearAppsGoals
Japan2019100
202020
202181
202290
2023163
Total484

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Minami goal.

List of international goals scored by Moeka Minami
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
18 April 2021Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan1–07–0Friendly
214 July 2023 Yurtec Stadium Sendai, Sendai, Japan5–05–0Friendly[17]
329 October 2023Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan1–02–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
43 December 2023Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil1–02–0Friendly

Honours

Urawa Reds

AS Roma

Japan U17

Japan U20

Japan

Individual

Individual

2022–23[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 浦和レッズレディースニュース|なでしこジャパンは合宿を実施中。南萌華「五輪に向けてトレーニングすることが務め。全力で取り組む」|レッズプレス!! . 2023-02-01 . redspress.jp.
  2. http://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/ladies/ladies_news/%E6%B5%A6%E5%92%8C%E3%83%AC%E3%83%83%E3%82%BA%E3%83%AC%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E6%89%80%E5%B1%9E%E3%81%AE3%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B-%E6%98%87%E6%A0%BC%E5%86%85%E5%AE%9A/ Urawa Reds
  3. https://www.asroma.com/it/notizie/2022/07/moeka-minami-e-una-nuova-calciatrice-giallorossa/ A.S.Roma
  4. Web site: Women's Champions League: Sparkling victory to see off Glasgow City! . 2023-02-01 . asroma.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2022-09-13 . AC Milan Women beaten 2–0 by Roma as tough start continues – the highlights . 2023-02-01 . SempreMilancom . en.
  6. Web site: Roma Women 4-1 Sparta Prague: UWCL group stage secured! . 2023-02-01 . asroma.com . en.
  7. Web site: Clancy . Conor . 2022-11-05 . AS Roma beat Juventus on penalties to win Supercoppa Femminile . 2023-02-01 . Total Italian Football . en-GB.
  8. Web site: AP . 2023-04-29 . Roma dominates and wins Serie A Women for first time . 2023-05-21 . sportstar.thehindu.com . en.
  9. Web site: Moeka Minami pens new deal with Roma Women! . 2024-05-01 . www.asroma.com . en.
  10. Web site: bren . 2024-04-27 . Official: Roma Wins Back-to-Back League Titles!! . 2024-05-01 . Chiesa Di Totti . en.
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024535/https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/archive/costarica2014/teams/team=1914191/players.html FIFA
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20180820203426/https://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/teams/team/1888600/ FIFA
  13. http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/2019_shebelieves_cup/match_page/m3.html Japan Football Association
  14. Web site: 5 October 2021 . Japan announces women's football squad for Tokyo 2020 . 21 February 2023.
  15. News: Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-06-20.
  16. Web site: Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams|JFA|Japan Football Association .
  17. Web site: Starting Lineup/Result MS&AD CUP 2023 Nadeshiko Japan Japan National Team Japan Football Association . 2023-07-16 . www.jfa.jp.
  18. Web site: 4 December 2023 . Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE . 5 December 2023 . Sky Sport . it.