| Nobuyuki Zaizen | |
| Birth Date: | 19 October 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 1989–1994 |
| Youthclubs1: | Verdy Kawasaki |
| Years1: | 1995–1998 |
| Clubs1: | Verdy Kawasaki |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1996 |
| Clubs2: | → Logroñés (loan) |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1999 |
| Clubs3: | Rijeka |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 1999–2005 |
| Clubs4: | Vegalta Sendai |
| Caps4: | 154 |
| Goals4: | 18 |
| Years5: | 2006–2009 |
| Clubs5: | Montedio Yamagata |
| Caps5: | 105 |
| Goals5: | 5 |
| Years6: | 2010 |
| Clubs6: | Muangthong United |
| Caps6: | 11 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2011 |
| Clubs7: | BEC Tero Sasana |
| Caps7: | 10 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 280 |
| Totalgoals: | 23 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1993 |
| Nationalteam1: | Japan U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Zaizen was born in Muroran on 19 October 1976.[1] His elder brother Keiichi is also a former footballer.[2]
He joined Verdy Kawasaki from their youth team in 1995.[1] In 1996, he moved to La Liga club Logroñés on loan. However he could not play in the match for injury and returned to Japan.[1] He debuted in 1998 J.League Cup. Through Croatian club Rijeka,[1] he joined J2 League club Vegalta Sendai in 1999.[1] He played as offensive midfielder in many matches.[3] [4] In 2001, he became a regular player and the club was promoted to J1 League first time in the club history.[5] From 2002, although his opportunity to play decreased and the club was relegated J2 League end of 2003 season, he played as regular player again from 2004.[6] He moved to Montedio Yamagata in 2006. In 2008, although his opportunity to play decreased, the club was promoted to J1 League first time in the club history.[7] In 2010, he moved to Thailand and played for Muangthong United (2010) and BEC Tero Sasana (2011).[1] He announced his retirement in January 2012.[8]
In August 1993, Zaizen was part of the Japanese under-17 team at the 1993 U-17 World Championship, playing in all 4 matches.[9] He was selected a member of the 'All Star' team at the tournament.[10]
| 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 | |||||||
| 1995 | Verdy Kawasaki | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 0 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 1999 | Vegalta Sendai | J2 League | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |||
| 2001 | 39 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 7 | |||
| 2002 | J1 League | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2004 | J2 League | 36 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2005 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2006 | Montedio Yamagata | J2 League | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 35 | 4 | |
| 2007 | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 40 | 1 | |||
| 2008 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" | - | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2009 | J1 League | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Total | 259 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 290 | 25 | |||