Takashi Shimoda

Takashi Shimoda (下田 崇) is a former Japanese football player. He currently works as the goalkeeper coach for the Japan national team.

Club career
Shimoda was born in Hiroshima on 28 November 1975. After graduating from high school, he joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 1994. He did not play many matches until the mid 1990s, as he was behind Kazuya Maekawa and Kazumasa Kawano. Kawano left the club in 1997 and Maekawa was injured in 1998; Shimoda then became a regular goalkeeper in 1998. Although he played as the regular goalkeeper until 2007, he sustained a knee injury that same year. He did not play from 2008 and retired at the end of the 2010 season.

National team career
In April 1995, Shimoda was selected to the Japan U-20 national team for the 1995 World Youth Championship. He played two matches including the quarterfinal. In July 1996, he was also selected to the Japan U-23 national team for the 1996 Summer Olympics. However he did not play in any matches behind Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. Although Japan won two matches, Japan exited in the first round. At this time, Japan beat Brazil in the first game. It was known as the "Miracle of Miami" (マイアミの奇跡) in Japan.

On 31 March 1999, Shimoda debuted for the Japan national team against Brazil. He was also selected by Japan for the 2000 Asian Cup. Although he did not play in any matches, Japan won the tournament.

National team

 * 2000 Asian Cup (Champions)