View source for Kengo Nakamura

{{short description|Japanese footballer (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kengo Nakamura<br />中村 憲剛
| image = Nakamura_Kengo.jpg
| upright = 0.9
| caption = Nakamura with [[Kawasaki Frontale]] in 2016
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|10|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Kodaira, Tokyo|Kodaira]], [[Tokyo]], Japan
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = 1.75 m
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1996–1998
| youthclubs1 = Kurume High School
| collegeyears1 = 1999–2002
| college1 = [[Chuo University]]
| years1 = 2003–2020
| clubs1 = [[Kawasaki Frontale]]
| caps1 = 546
| goals1 = 83
| totalcaps = 
| totalgoals = 
| nationalyears1 = 2006–2013
| nationalteam1 = [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
| nationalcaps1 = 68
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| manageryears1 = 
| managerclubs1 = 
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Team|[[Kawasaki Frontale]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[2017 J1 League|2017]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[2018 J1 League|2018]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J1 League]]|[[2020 J1 League|2020]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J1 League]]|[[2006 J.League Division 1|2006]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J1 League]]|[[2008 J.League Division 1|2008]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J1 League]]|[[2009 J.League Division 1|2009]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2007 J.League Cup|2007]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2009 J.League Cup|2009]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2017 J.League Cup|2017]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[Emperor's Cup]]|[[2016 Emperor's Cup|2016]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[J.League Cup]]|[[2019 J.League Cup|2019]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[Japanese Super Cup]]|[[2019 Japanese Super Cup|2019]]}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Kengo Nakamura'''|中村 憲剛|Nakamura Kengo|born 31 October 1980}} is a Japanese former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. A [[List of one-club men in association football|one-club man]], Nakamura signed with [[Kawasaki Frontale]] in 2003 and helped the then [[J2 League|J2]] outfit earn promotion back to the [[J1 League|top flight]] in 2004, and became a fixture in the ambitious Frontale side that finished second in the J1 League in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

He was named club captain for the first time in 2012, and in the same season lead the league in assists with 13. In 2016, at the age of 36, Nakamura was named both [[J.League Most Valuable Player|J League MVP]] and Japanese Footballer of the Year, becoming the oldest recipient of either award. The following season, he was a part of the Kawasaki side that won the J1 League for the first time in the club's history. He would win two more J1 League titles in 2018 and 2020, as well as a domestic double of the [[Japanese Super Cup|Japanese Super]] and [[J.League Cup|J League Cups]] in 2019 before retiring at the end of the 2020 season after 17 years and over 500 appearances for the club.

Nakamura was first selected for the [[Japan national football team|Japan national team]] in 2006 under [[Ivica Osim]] and earned his first cap on 4 October in a 1–0 friendly win against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]]. He scored his first international goal one week later in a 3–0 win over [[India national football team|India]], and represented his country at the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]]. After battling through injury, he was named in the Japan squad for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], making one substitute appearance as the side reached the round of 16. In total, Nakamura earned 68 caps and scored 6 goals during an eight-year international career.

==Career==

=== Youth career ===
Nakamura was born in [[Kodaira, Tokyo]] and began playing football in the first grade, joining the Fuchu Boys' Soccer Club in nearby [[Fuchu, Tokyo|Fuchu]]. Nakamura played in many tournaments during his youth career, including the 1989 All Japan Youth Soccer Tournament, where Fuchu reached the round of 16, and the 8th Tokyo Boys' Selection Soccer Tournament, where he was named as one of the ten best players. Nakamura continued to play into his teens, and, after graduating from Kurume High School, he enrolled in [[Chuo University]], studying English and American literature whilst also playing for the university football team. In his third year, he became a regular fixture in the squad, despite the team performing poorly, finishing last in the Kanto University League 1st Division and suffering relegation to the 2nd Division.<ref name="Nakamura Interview 2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.frontale.co.jp/f_spot/pickup/2003/05.html|title=F-スポット - ピックアッププレイヤー : KAWASAKI FRONTALE|website=Kawasaki Frontale|language=ja|access-date=24 October 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102162151/https://www.frontale.co.jp/f_spot/pickup/2003/05.html|archive-date=2 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>  The experienced left Nakamura in tears, but made him more aware of the importance of "mental strength."<ref name="Nakamura Interview 2021"/> The following year, He was named club captain and led Chuō to win the 2nd Division, earning promotion back to the top league at the first time of asking.<ref name="Nakamura Interview 2021"/> Nakamura graduated from Chuō in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

=== Kawasaki Frontale (2003–2020) ===

==== Early years and promotion (2003–2005) ====
Nakamura's work as club captain at Chuō had attracted attention from [[J League]] scouts, and he was invited for a trial by [[Kawasaki Frontale]] of the [[J2 League|Second Division]] shortly after graduation. He impressed and was signed to a professional contract in early 2003.<ref name="Nakamura Interview 2021"/> He made his first appearance on the opening day of the [[2003 J.League Division 2|2003 Division 2 season]] against [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]], coming on in the 88th minute to replace [[Takehito Shigehara]]. He scored his first professional goal on 9 April, the last in a 5–1 drubbing of [[Montedio Yamagata]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=7212|title = J. League Data Site}}</ref> In his first season, Nakamura made 34 league appearances and scored four goals, as well as another two in the [[2003 Emperor's Cup]].

After playing much of his first season as an aggressive box-to-box midfielder, manager [[Takashi Sekizuka]] began switching Nakamura to the role of a playmaker in 2004, a move Nakamura credited as a turning point in his career. Nakamura made 41 appearances and scored 5 times as he cemented himself as a regular starter and Frontale won the league and earned promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2000. Continuing to play as a starter, Nakamura's first season in the [[J1 League|First Division]] was a modest success, making 29 appearances and scoring 2 goals as Frontale managed to safely avoid any threat of relegation with an 8th place finish. A respectable performance in the [[Emperor's Cup]] was marked by a 3-2 victory over reigning First Division Champions [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] on 10 December 2005, with Nakamura scoring the winner in the 97th minute of extra time to take Frontale to the quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by eventual winners, [[Urawa Red Diamonds]].

==== Title contention (2006–2009) ====
The 2006 season was seen as a breakthrough for both Nakamura and Frontale as a whole, as the team looked to expand on their 8th place finish the previous campaign. Nakamura continued to hold down his starting place in central midfield, scoring 10 goals as the ambitious Frontale became serious challengers for their first ever [[J1 League|First Division]] trophy. Despite falling short to [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] and finishing second, the 2006 season was seen as one of many positives for the side and considered to be Nakamura's best yet, as he scored 10 goals from midfield and was named in the J League Best XI along with teammate Hiroyuki Taniguchi, marking the first time any Frontale players had been included. The 2007 season was less successful and saw Frontale's league form take a dip, as they finished fifth and seven points behind fourth place [[Shimizu S-Pulse]]. Their league form was however contrasted by a successful [[J.League Cup|Nabisco Cup]] run to the final, with Nakamura playing in both the semi and eventual final on 11 March, where they lost to [[Gamba Osaka]].

A rejuvenated Frontale bounced back to make another strong challenge for the [[J1 League|First Division]] title in 2008, with Nakamura once again in a pivotal role as their midfield playmaker, providing 11 assists and four goals from midfield as Frontale went head to head with [[Kashima Antlers]] in the top two spots. It would however be another year of disappointment, as they missed out on winning the league by just three points. By 2009, Frontale were perennial title challengers as they looked to stop Kashima Antlers from winning a historic three [[J1 League|First Division]]s in a row. In another closely contended title race, Frontale were once again narrowly beaten by the Antlers, losing out on the first place by just two points. Nakamura enjoyed his most prolific season as a playmaker yet, providing 11 assists and 4 goals, as well as being part of the team that reached the final of the [[2009 J.League Cup|2009 Nabisco Cup]], earning a big quarter final win over Kashima on the way to the final, where they were defeated by [[F.C. Tokyo]].

==== Injury and international recognition (2010–2012) ====
By 2009, Nakamura was considered as Frontale's best known and most popular player, and despite making the J League Best XI three years in a row, was widely seen as one of the most underrated players in the [[J1 League|First Division]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2009/08/22/soccer/j-league/nakamura-in-running-for-acls-top-player-honor/|title = Nakamura in running for ACL's top player honor|date = 22 August 2009}}</ref> Nakamura's consistent performances for club and country eventually attracted attention from overseas clubs, with [[Eredivisie]] club [[PSV Eindhoven]] making an offer for him in late 2009; Nakamura respectfully declined, citing feelings of debt toward Frontale as the club who took a chance on him and gave him the opportunity to become a professional.<ref>https://hochi.news/articles/20171203-OHT1T50028.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> Nakamura was injured during an [[2010 AFC Champions League|AFC Champions League]] game against [[Seongnam FC|Seongnam Ilhwa]] on 23 February 2010, suffering a [[Mandibular fracture]], casting doubt over his eligibility for selection in the upcoming [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]; Nakamura was however able to make a speedy recovery and was named in [[Japan national football team|Japan]]'s squad, but only made one substitute appearance as Japan were knocked out in the round of 16.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/nakamura-suffers-broken-jaw|title = Nakamura suffers broken jaw}}</ref>

==== Club captain (2012–2017) ====
At the start of the 2012 [[J1 League|J1]] season, Nakamura was named captain of Frontale for the first time ever, and arguably enjoyed his best season to date, scoring five goals and leading the league in assists with 13. The following season saw him placed in a prolific three man attacking partnership with new signings [[Yoshito Ōkubo]] and [[Renatinho (footballer, born October 1988)|Renatinho]], with Nakamura providing 7 goals and 8 assists as Frontale earned a return to the [[AFC Champions League]] for the first time in three years. The 2014 and 2015 seasons were less successful for both club and individual, as Nakamura suffered an ankle injury which would require surgery and caused him to miss the end of the 2014 season. Before his absence, however, Nakamura remained a highlight of the squad as he once again lead the league in assists with 14, and performed well again after his return from surgery in 2015, recording 8 more assists.

The 2016 season was widely seen as the best of Nakamura's career, as he provided ten assists and scored nine goals whilst captaining Frontale to a second place finish in the J1, the final of the [[2016 Emperor's Cup]] and taking them through to the J1 Championship stage, where they lost in the semi-finals to third place [[Kashima Antlers]]. Despite this, Nakamura's efforts were recognised as he was named both [[J.League Most Valuable Player|J League MVP]] and Japanese Footballer of the Year, becoming the oldest recipient of either award at the age of 36.

==== Final successes and retirement (2017–2020) ====
At the beginning of the 2017 season, Nakamura gave up the captain's armband, with striker [[Yu Kobayashi (footballer)|Yu Kobayashi]] chosen as his replacement. He would however remain a pivotal part of the squad with 6 goals and 12 assists throughout the season. Nakamura's efforts were finally rewarded at the end of the 2017 season, when, after 11 years of trying and three runner-up medals, Frontale won the [[2017 J1 League|J1 League]] for the first time in club history, finally beating longtime title rivals [[Kashima Antlers]] on goal difference on the final day of the season. Frontale would become back to back champions the following year, with Nakamura once again featuring heavily with six goals and six assists. The 2019 season would see him sidelined with two separate injuries, however, he was present for both the [[Japanese Super Cup]] and [[J.League Cup|J League Cup]] finals, scoring a penalty in the latter as Frontale did the domestic double and won both.

Shortly after Frontale won the J League Cup, Nakamura announced he would require knee surgery, which he underwent successfully in November, after which he would require seven months of rehabilitation. Nakamura made his return on 29 August 2020, scoring as Frontale defeated [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] in a 5–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/08/29/soccer/j-league/frontale-smashes-s-pulse-kengo-nakamura-scores-return/|title=Frontale smashes S-Pulse as Kengo Nakamura scores in return|date=29 August 2020}}</ref> On 31 October, his 40th birthday, he scored the winning goal as Frontale extended their unbeaten run to defeat [[F.C. Tokyo]] 2–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/10/31/soccer/j-league/kengo-nakamura-kawasaki-tokyo/|title=Birthday boy Kengo Nakamura sends Kawasaki past Tokyo|date=31 October 2020}}</ref> A day later, Nakamura announced his intention to retire from the professional game at the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/11/01/soccer/j-league/kawasaki-frontale-japan-kengo-nakamura-retire/|title = Japanese soccer legend Kengo Nakamura to retire|date = November 2020}}</ref> After winning one more [[2020 J1 League|J1 League]] trophy with Frontale, Nakamura's retirement ceremony was held on 21 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/11/d6c45fcd73c1-soccer-kawasaki-frontale-crowned-champions-after-5-0-win-over-gamba.html|title = Football: Kawasaki Frontale crowned champions after 5-0 win over Gamba}}</ref> He remained with Frontale after retirement, and currently works as the club's relations organiser while also occasionally pitching in as a member of the coaching staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://instagram.com/kengo19801031?igshid=162ayaziw1iqf|title = Login • Instagram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbaKHpjaR_/?igshid=1q4ahl1t2g2hz |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CLbaKHpjaR_ |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=limited|title = Login • Instagram}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
In April 2024, while completing his Japan Football Association Class S coaching licence, the highest level of coaching in Japan, he joined [[Canadian Premier League]] club [[Pacific FC]] as a visiting coach until 5 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-fc-host-visiting-japanese-coach-kengo-nakamura|title=Pacific FC Host Visiting Japanese Coach Kengo Nakamura|date=18 April 2024|work=[[Pacific FC]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/pacific-fc-kengo-nakamura-coach-license/|title=Japanese Icon Kengo Nakamura Learning To Coach With Pacific FC|date=April 18, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Nakamura began his career as a [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central]] [[box-to-box midfielder]], but was converted to the role of a [[playmaker]] during his second season at Frontale under [[Takashi Sekizuka]], a move he credited as a turning point in his career. He was recognised as a highly efficient passer of the ball, regularly topping the J League for assists throughout his career, as well as being a consistent goal threat and an adept [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbler]] with determination and strength, despite his relatively small size.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.goal.com/en/news/3688/japan/2012/05/24/3118861/kengo-nakamura-id-love-for-kawasaki-frontale-to-imitate| title = Kengo Nakamura: I'd love for Kawasaki Frontale to imitate Barcelona {{!}} Goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/11/01/soccer/j-league/kawasaki-frontale-japan-kengo-nakamura-retire/|title = Japanese soccer legend Kengo Nakamura to retire|date = November 2020}}</ref> His ability on [[Set piece (football)|set-pieces]] has also been praised, both [[Free kick (association football)|free kicks]] and [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalties]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/11/01/soccer/j-league/kawasaki-frontale-japan-kengo-nakamura-retire/|title = Japanese soccer legend Kengo Nakamura to retire|date = November 2020}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{{Updated|27 December 2020}}<ref>Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, [https://www.amazon.co.jp/J1-J3%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B%E5%90%8D%E9%91%91%E3%83%8F%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E7%89%88-2018-NSK-MOOK/dp/4905411521 "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)"], 7 February 2018, Japan, {{ISBN|978-4905411529}} (p. 10 out of 289)</ref><ref>Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, [https://www.amazon.co.jp/2017-J1-J3%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B%E5%90%8D%E9%91%91-NSK-MOOK/dp/4905411424/ref=pd_sim_14_1/356-9491148-0114816?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BA8BN4Y0F97GNWKQM78H "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)"], 8 February 2017, Japan, {{ISBN|978-4905411420}} (p. 26 out of 289)</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>Single source here, if player is inactive. If player has not retired, move source next to "Updated" template.</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Emperor's Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[J.League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="18"|[[Kawasaki Frontale]]
|[[J. League 2003|2003]]
|rowspan="2"|[[J2 League]]
|34||4||3||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||6
|-
|[[J. League 2004|2004]]
|41||5||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||44||5
|-
|[[J. League 2005|2005]]
|rowspan="16"|[[J1 League]]
|29||2||3||1||6||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||5
|-
|[[J. League 2006|2006]]
|34||10||2||1||10||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||46||14
|-
|[[J. League 2007|2007]]
|30||4||4||0||3||0||7||3||colspan="2"|–||44||7
|-
|[[J. League 2008|2008]]
|34||4||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||36||4
|-
|[[J. League 2009|2009]]
|32||4||1||0||3||0||9||3||colspan="2"|–||45||7
|-
|[[2010 J. League Division 1|2010]]
|27||4||1||0||3||1||3||0||colspan="2"|–||34||5
|-
|[[2011 J. League Division 1|2011]]
|30||4||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||4
|-
|[[2012 J. League Division 1|2012]]
|34||5||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||5
|-
|[[2013 J. League Division 1|2013]]
|29||7||2||0||5||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||36||9
|-
|[[2014 J. League Division 1|2014]]
|30||3||0||0||2||0||8||2||colspan="2"|–||40||5
|-
|[[2015 J. League Division 1|2015]]
|33||2||3||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||42||2
|-
|[[2016 J1 League|2016]]
|31||9||4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||1{{efn|name=JLC|Appearances in the [[J.League Championship]]}}||0||38||9
|-
|[[2017 J1 League|2017]]
|32||6||2||0||4||0||9||1||colspan="2"|–||47||7
|-
|[[2018 J1 League|2018]]
|33||6||2||0||2||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=SC|Appearances in the [[Japanese Super Cup]]}}||0||40||6
|-
|[[2019 J1 League|2019]]
|20||2||2||0||2||0||3||0||1{{efn|name=SC}}||0||28||2
|-
|[[2020 J1 League|2020]]
|13||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||13||2
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!546!!83!!35!!4!!53!!8!!41!!9!!3!!0!!678!!104
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>[http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/nakamura_kengo.html Japan National Football Team Database]</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Japan national football team|Japan]]
|[[2006 Japan national football team|2006]]||3||1
|-
|[[2007 Japan national football team|2007]]||13||0
|-
|[[2008 Japan national football team|2008]]||13||2
|-
|[[2009 Japan national football team|2009]]||12||2
|-
|[[2010 Japan national football team|2010]]||11||0
|-
|[[2011 Japan national football team|2011]]||4||1
|-
|[[2012 Japan national football team|2012]]||7||0
|-
|[[2013 Japan national football team|2013]]||5||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!68!!6
|}

:''Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakamura goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Kengo Nakamura
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 11 October 2006 || [[Bangalore]], India || {{fb|IND}} || || align="center"|3–0 || [[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 14 June 2008 || [[Bangkok]], Thailand || {{fb|THA}} || || align="center"|3–0 || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 6 September 2008 || [[Riffa]], Bahrain || {{fb|BHR}} || || align="center"|3–2 || 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|4 || 31 May 2009 || Tokyo, Japan || {{fb|BEL}} || || align="center"|4–0 || [[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|5 || 9 September 2009 || [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], Netherlands || {{fb|GHA}} || || align="center"|4–3 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|6 || 11 October 2011 || [[Osaka]], Japan || {{fb|TJK}} || || align="center"|8–0 ||[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Kawasaki Frontale'''
*[[J1 League]]: [[2017 J1 League|2017]], [[2018 J1 League|2018]], [[2020 J1 League|2020]]
*[[Emperor's Cup]]: [[2020 Emperor's Cup|2020]]
*[[J.League Cup]]: [[2019 J.League Cup|2019]]
*[[Japanese Super Cup]]: [[2019 Japanese Super Cup|2019]]
*[[J2 League]]: [[2004 J.League Division 2|2004]]

'''Individual'''
*Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2016
*[[J.League MVP Award]]: 2016
*[[J.League Best XI]]: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018
*J.League 30th Anniversary Team<ref>{{cite web |url= https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230515/p2g/00m/0sp/051000c|title= Yasuhito Endo named J-League 30-year MVP, Kazuyoshi Miura, Shunsuke Nakamura in best XI|access-date= May 18, 2023|work= Mainichi Shimbun}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|278116}}
* {{NFT player|16498}}
* [http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/nakamura_kengo.html Japan National Football Team Database]
* {{J.League player|7212}}
* [http://www.frontale.co.jp/profile/2019/mem_14.html Profile at Kawasaki Frontale]{{in lang|ja}}

{{Navboxes
|title= Awards
|bg= gold
|fg= navy
|list1=
{{2006 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2007 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2008 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2009 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2010 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2016 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2017 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{2018 J.League Team of the Year}}
{{J.League MVP}}
{{Japanese Footballer of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Japan squads
|bg= mediumblue
|fg= white
|bordercolor= red
|list1=
{{Japan squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Japan squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Japan squad 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Kengo}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chuo University alumni]]
[[Category:Association football people from Tokyo Metropolis]]
[[Category:People from Kodaira, Tokyo]]
[[Category:Japanese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Japan men's international footballers]]
[[Category:J1 League players]]
[[Category:J2 League players]]
[[Category:Kawasaki Frontale players]]
[[Category:2007 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2013 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Pacific FC non-playing staff]]