Kana Kitahara
Japanese footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kana Kitahara (北原 佳奈, Kitahara Kana; born December 17, 1988) is a Japanese women's professional footballer who plays as defender. She has also played for the Japan national team. Kitahara is currently the player-coach for Albirex Jurong.[2]
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Kitahara at the 2015 World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kana Kitahara | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | December 17, 1988[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Albirex Jurong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Fujieda Junshin High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Kanto Gakuen University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2015 | Albirex Niigata | 93 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2022 | Mynavi Sendai | 45 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Albirex Jurong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | Japan | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Albirex Niigata (S) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life and education
Kitahara was born in Fujieda on December 17, 1988. She graduated from Kanto Gakuen University.
Playing career
Club career
Kitahara joined Albirex Niigata in 2011. She played 93 games in L.League.
In 2016, she moved to Mynavi Vegalta Sendai.[3]
In July 2022, Kitahara joined the Albirex Niigata Singapore of the Women's Premier League.[4]
In 2023, Kitahara scored 17 goals in 13 matches for Albirex Niigata, where the team finished runner-up for the 2023 Women's Premier League.[2]
Now a playing-coach, Kitahara helped Albirex Niigata won their inaugural WPL title in the 2025 season.[5] She remained with the team for the following season, which renamed themselves as Albirex Jurong.
International career
On September 22, 2013, Kitahara debuted for the Japan national team against Nigeria. In 2014, she played at the 2014 Asian Games and Japan won second place. She was also played in the 2015 World Cup, in which Japan won second place.[2][6] She played nine games for Japan until 2015.
Coaching career
Kitahara has a Japan Football Association B Licence.[2]
While playing for Albirex Niigata, Kitahara was also the assistant coach of the U-17 Albirex men’s team.[2] She was also a coach of the Albirex Singapore Football Academy.[2]
In 2024, Kitahara became the head coach for Albirex Niigata Singapore Ladies team, taking over from Nahar Daud.[2]
National team statistics
| Japan national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 |
