Nozomi Yamago

Nozomi Yamago (山郷 のぞみ) is a Japanese former football player. She played for the Japan women's national football team as a goalkeeper.

Club career
Yamago was born in Saitama on January 16, 1975. After graduating from high school, she joined Prima Ham FC Kunoichi (later Iga FC Kunoichi) in 1993. In 2002, she moved to her local club Saitama Reinas FC (later Urawa Reds). In 2005, she moved to Women's Premier Soccer League club California Storm. At the end of the 2005 season, she returned to Urawa Reds in September. In 2012, she moved to AS Elfen Saitama. She retired in 2014. She was selected to the Nadeshiko League Best XI 10 times (1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

National team career
On June 15, 1997, Yamago debuted for the Japan national team against China. She was a member of Japan squads at the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cups, as well as the 2004 Summer Olympics. At the 2011 World Cup, Japan won the championship. She played 96 games for Japan until 2011.

Honors

 * FIFA Women's World Cup
 * Champion (1): 2011


 * Football at the Asian Games
 * Gold Medal (1): 2010