is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the Japan national team.
Club career Hirano attended Shimizu Shogyo High School, where he won the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 1991.
Hirano began his professional career in the J1 League in 1993, with Nagoya Grampus Eight, winning the Emperor's Cup in 1995 and 1999 and the Japanese Super Cup in 1996, and scoring 43 goals in 213 appearances for the team. He transferred to Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000, and although his team won promotion from the J2 League in 2001, he played just 5 league games before moving on to Júbilo Iwata.
After brief and largely unremarkable stints at Vissel Kobe, Tokyo Verdy, Yokohama F. Marinos and Omiya Ardija, Hirano moved to North America and signed for Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division in 2008.
On September 30, 2008, Hirano was called up to the USL First Division All-League Team, and on October 12, 2008, helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2–1 in the USL1 Championship game.
On January 20, 2009 the Whitecaps announced a contract extension for Hirano for the 2009 season.
Hirano announced his retirement from the game in January 2011.
International career Hirano played for the Japan U-20 national team, which competed at the 1992 AFC Youth Championship.
On June 8, 1997, he debuted and scored a goal for Japan national team against Croatia. He also participated in the 1998 World Cup qualification in 1997. In 1998, he was selected for Japan's squad in the 1998 World Cup, playing two games as a substitute. He played 15 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 2000.Japan National Football Team Database
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsNagoya Grampus Eight1993J1 League194313125619943642010394199550952–551119962970014543121997214106328719983084000348199928751623910200090000090Total22243204301127258Kyoto Purple Sanga2000J1 League711040121Júbilo Iwata2001J1 League30100040Vissel Kobe2002J1 League2811050341Tokyo Verdy2003J1 League25431503352004284107136520052701160341Total8085218110311Yokohama F. Marinos2006J1 League900060150Omiya Ardija2007J1 League31100041Vancouver Whitecaps2008USL First Division22122120092802802010D2 Pro League150150Total651651Career total41755296631250973
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan199751199872199900200031Total154
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hirano goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Takashi HiranoNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 8 June 1997 Tokyo, Japan 1–0 4–3 1997 Kirin Cup2 15 February 1998 Adelaide, Australia 2–0 3–0 Friendly3 3–04 16 February 2000 Macau, China 6–0 9–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Honors Nagoya Grampus Eight Emperor's Cup: 1995, 1999 Japanese Super Cup: 1996
Tokyo Verdy 1969 Emperor's Cup: 2004 Japanese Super Cup: 2005
Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division Championship: 2008 Vancouver Whitecaps Outstanding Defender: 20092009 Whitecaps men's team awards Vancouver Whitecaps Newcomer of the Year: 2008
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Vancouver Whitecaps bio