12 Facts About Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, known as Yoshi Kawaguchi, is a retired Japanese footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi has earned 116 international caps for Japan, making him one of the ten most capped players in the history of the team.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi additionally served as captain from 2006 to 2008.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was part of the Japanese squads at the 1998,2002,2006 and 2010 editions of the FIFA World Cups, the 2004 and 2007 editions of the AFC Asian Cups, as well as the 1999 Copa America.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was called up to the Japan national team and played in the Atlanta Olympic games.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi kept a clean sheet against Brazil in the first game.

In 2001, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was Japan's first-choice goalkeeper as the team finished runner-up in the Confederations Cup.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is a noted penalty stopper, making two saves in the shootout against Jordan in the 2004 Asian Cup quarter-final and saving from Croatia's Darijo Srna in the 2006 World Cup.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi is his country's most-capped goalkeeper and overall third most-capped player with 116 caps for Japan, six behind second-placed Masami Ihara with 122 caps, but an injury in 2008 had since sidelined him from action.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was one of two Japanese players to be named for their national team's fourth consecutive World Cup.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was appointed captain of the national team during team training on 21 May 2010.

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was not picked to play for the national team under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, and with youngster Eiji Kawashima impressing in Japan's 2011 Asian Cup success, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's international career was effectively over.