Yukari Kinga


Yukari Kinga is a Japanese football player. She is currently playing as a defender for Orca Kamogawa FC. She played for Japan national team.

Club career

In Japan until 2013

Kinga was born in Yokohama on 2 May 1984. After graduating from high school, she joined Nippon TV Beleza in 2003. She was playing as attacking midfielder and right-winger. In 2003 season, she was selected Best Young Player awards. From 2007, she was converted to right-sideback. The club won L.League championship 5 times. In 2011, she moved to INAC Kobe Leonessa with international player Homare Sawa, Shinobu Ohno and Chiaki Minamiyama for due to financial strain at the club. At INAC Kobe Leonessa, the club won L.League championship for 3 years in a row. She was selected Best Eleven for 6 years in a row.

From 2014

In January 2014, INAC's general manager revealed that Kinga had agreed to join English FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies and in February she officially signed the contract.
At Arsenal Kinga helped propel the club to reach the final of the 2014 FA Women's Cup which they won in a 2–0 margin over Everton.
She re-signed with INAC Kobe in early 2015. In 2016, she began playing in the Australian W-League for Canberra United. In October 2017, Kinga joined defending champions Melbourne City. In February 2019, she returned Japan and joined Orca Kamogawa FC.

National team career

In August 2002, Kinga was selected by the Japan U-20 national team for the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. On 29 March 2005, she debuted for the Japan national team against Australia. She was playing as attacking midfielder and right-winger. From 2007, she was converted to right-back by manager Hiroshi Ohashi and she became a regular player. Japan won the 2011 World Cup in which Kinga played in the final, came second in the 2015 World Cup and gained a silver medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics. She played 100 games and scored 5 goals for Japan until 2016.

Club statistics

National team statistics

Honors

International career

;Japan
;Nippon TV Beleza
;INAC Kobe
;Nippon TV Beleza
;INAC Kobe
;Nippon TV Beleza
;INAC Kobe
;Arsenal