Chika Hirao Explained

Chika Hirao
平尾 知佳
Birth Date:31 December 1996
Birth Place:Matsudo, Japan
Height:1.72m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Albirex Niigata
Clubnumber:1
Youthyears1:2009–2014
Youthclubs1:JFA Academy Fukushima
Years1:2014–2017
Clubs1:Urawa Reds
Caps1:34
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–
Clubs2:Albirex Niigata
Caps2:58
Goals2:0
Totalcaps:92
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalteam1:Japan U-17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalteam2:Japan U-20
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Japan
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:31 December 2018

is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for WE League club Albirex Niigata and the Japan women's national team.

Club career

Hirao was born in Matsudo on December 31, 1996. She joined L.League club Urawa Reds from JFA Academy Fukushima in 2014. She played many matches as a regular goalkeeper, helping the club become the champions in the first season. However her opportunity to play decreased behind Sakiko Ikeda from 2015 season. In 2018, she moved to Albirex Niigata.

National team career

In September 2012, when Hirao was 15 years old, she was selected Japan U-17 national team for 2012 U-17 Women's World Cup and she played 3 matches as regular goalkeeper. In November 2016, she was selected Japan U-20 national team for 2016 U-20 Women's World Cup. She played 5 matches and Japan won the 3rd place.

In April 2018, Hirao was selected Japan national team for 2018 Women's Asian Cup. Although she did not play in any matches, Japan won the championship after two tournaments in a row. On August 2, she debuted against Australia.[1]

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[2]

National team statistics

[3]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
201810
201910
202000
202100
202220
Total40

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/news/00018320/ Japan Football Association
  2. News: Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-06-20.
  3. List of match in 2018, 2019 at Japan Football Association