Yuzo Kurihara

Yuzo Kurihara (栗原 勇蔵, Kurihara Yūzō, born 18 September 1983) is a Japanese former football player who last played for Yokohama F. Marinos.^[1] He played for Japan national team.

Kurihara was born in Yokohama on 18 September 1983. He joined J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos from youth team in 2002. Although he debuted as center back in 2003, he could not play many matches behind Japan national team player Naoki Matsuda and Yuji Nakazawa. In 2006, he became a regular player as stopper of three backs defense with Matsuda and Nakazawa. From 2007, he played many matches as center back with Nakazawa of four backs defense. After that, he played many matches as center back for a long time of four backs or three backs defense. In 2013, Marinos won the 2nd place in J1 League and the champions in Emperor's Cup. However his opportunity to play decreased from 2015. He retired from football at the end of the 2019 season.^[2]

In November 2003, Kurihara was selected Japan U-20 national team for 2003 World Youth Championship. He played in 2 matches.

After 2006 World Cup, Ivica Osim became a new manager for Japan national team. His first match on August 9, Kurihara debuted for Japan against Trinidad and Tobago at the Tokyo National Stadium when he replaced Keisuke Tsuboi in the 60th minute.^[3] However he could not play at all in the match after the debut. In April 2010, he played for Japan under manager Takeshi Okada against Serbia for the first time in 4 years.^[3] Although he was not select Japan for 2010 World Cup, he played several matches as center back every year under Alberto Zaccheroni after 2010 World Cup. In 2013, he was selected for 2013 Confederations Cup and 2013 East Asian Cup. At East Asian Cup, he played all 3 matches and Japan won the champions. This tournament is his last game for Japan. He played 20 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 2013.^[3]

As of end of 2018 season^[4][5][6]

¹Includes Japanese Super Cup and A3 Champions Cup.

• Appearance: 26 April 2003. Yokohama F. Marinos 1 vs. 3 JEF United Ichihara, Ichihara Stadium
• Goal: 20 August 2005. Yokohama F. Marinos 1 vs. 3 Júbilo Iwata, Shizuoka Stadium

^[3]

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first.

No	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 June 2012	Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan	Jordan	6–0	6–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.	12 June 2012	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia	Australia	1–0	1–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	21 July 2013	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	China	1–1	3–3	2013 EAFF East Asian Cup
As of 21 July 2013.[7]

Yokohama F. Marinos

• J1 League: 2003, 2004
• Emperor's Cup: 2013

• EAFF East Asian Cup: 2013

• Yuzo Kurihara – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Yuzo Kurihara at National-Football-Teams.com
• Japan National Football Team Database
• Yuzo Kurihara at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Yuzo Kurihara – Yokohama F. Marinos official site (in Japanese)
• Yuzo Kurihara Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine – Yahoo! Japan sports (in Japanese)