Issey Nakajima-Farran

Issey Nakajima-Farran
Nakajima-Farran in 2019
Personal information
Full name Issey Morgan Nakajima-Farran
Date of birth (1984-05-16) 16 May 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, forward
Youth career
1993–1994 Verdy Kawasaki
1995–1997 Crystal Palace
2000–2002 Tokyo Verdy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Albirex Niigata 0 (0)
2004–2006 Albirex Niigata (S) 45 (26)
2006–2007 Vejle 44 (16)
2007–2009 Nordsjælland 46 (13)
2009–2011 Horsens 55 (11)
2011–2012 Brisbane Roar 23 (4)
2012–2013 AEK Larnaca 10 (1)
2013–2014 → Alki Larnaca (loan) 15 (3)
2014 Toronto FC 5 (2)
2014 Montreal Impact 13 (0)
2015 Suburense 2 (2)
2015–2017 Terengganu 61 (32)
2018 Pahang 10 (6)
2019 Pacific FC 17 (1)
2021 UE Tàrrega 12 (3)
2021–2023 CF Cubelles 39 (24)
Total 397 (144)
International career
2005 Singapore U21 1 (2)
2006–2016 Canada 38 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Issey Morgan Nakajima-Farran (Japanese: 中島ファラン一生; born 16 May 1984) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played as a winger or forward.

Nakajima-Farran has played professionally in Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Australia, Cyprus, Canada, Malaysia, and Spain and represented Singapore at youth international level and Canada at senior international level.

Early life

[edit]

Nakajima-Farran was born in Calgary in Canada to an English-Canadian father who was born in Zimbabwe and a Japanese mother.[3][1] He moved with his family from Calgary to Tokyo, Japan at age three, and then from Tokyo to London, England at age ten.[1][4]

Nakajima-Farran began playing at youth level with Verdy Kawasaki.[5] After moving to England, he joined the Crystal Palace Academy.[4] At age 16, he returned to Japan and signed a youth contract with Tokyo Verdy (which re-branded from Verdy Kawasaki, his former youth club).[3]

Club career

[edit]

Albirex Niigata

[edit]

In 2003, Nakajima-Farran began his professional soccer career after signing with J2 League's Albirex Niigata.[6]

In 2024, he joined their Singaporean satellite club Albirex Niigata Singapore F.C. in the S.League, playing for two seasons.[5] In 2005, he was named the S.League Young Player of the Year.[5]

In Denmark

[edit]

In the winter transfer window of 2006, Nakajima-Farran had trials with English sides Millwall and Portsmouth, but was signed by Danish First Division team Vejle Boldklub on a two-year deal.[7] He helped the club win the championship and gain promotion to the top league in the Danish football system, the Superliga, by netting 7 goals in 13 games. Following a strong performance in his first season in the top flight, he was bought by Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland on a four-year contract in June 2007. On his debut for his new club, he guided FCN to their first victory over Denmark's most successful club, FC Copenhagen, by scoring the only goal of the game in injury time. He went on to score many important goals for FCN, as well as making appearances in the qualifying campaign and the first round of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. During the summer transfer window of 2009, Nakajima-Frarran went on a trial with Eredivisie team De Graafschap, but joined Danish First Division side AC Horsens on a three-year deal. He helped Horsens win the championship and gain promotion to the Superliga for the 2010–11 season. In August 2011, Nakajima-Farran was released from AC Horsens after having mutually agreed with the team to terminate the remainder of the contract.

In Australia and Cyprus

[edit]

In the same month Nakajima-Farran signed a one-year contract with A-League club Brisbane Roar.[7] Nakajima-Farran made his debut for the Roar on 11 September 2011 in a pre-season friendly at Launceston. He scored his first goal and set up another for Brisbane in a 7–1 defeat of Adelaide United in round 4. In round 8, he was awarded "Man of the Match" after netting two goals in a 4–0 victory over Perth Glory,[7] and helping the Roar set a new Australian sports team record of 36 unbeaten games.[7]

During the summer transfer window of 2012, Nakajima-Farran signed a two-year deal with Cypriot First Division side AEK Larnaca. He netted his first goal in the Cypriot league on 22 October in a 3–0 defeat of Ayia Napa. In January 2013, he was loaned out to Alki Larnaca until the end of the 2012–13 season. During Round 26, Nakajima-Farran helped Alki Larnaca squeeze past Ethnikos Achna 6–5, by scoring a goal in the 54th minute, and setting up another two minutes later.

In Canada

[edit]

On 24 January 2014, Nakajima-Farran began a trial with Canadian club Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.[8] On 28 March 2014, he signed a deal with Toronto after several weeks of speculation.[9] The following day he made his debut as a second half sub for Bradley Orr in a 3–0 away defeat to Real Salt Lake.[10] He scored his first goal for Toronto the following week on 5 April against the Columbus Crew,; the game ended in a 2–0 away victory.[11] On 16 May 2014, Nakajima-Farran was traded to the Montreal Impact for Collen Warner; the trade also included some allocation money. At the end of the season, he was waived by Montreal.[12]

In Malaysia

[edit]

Following his release from MLS, Nakajima-Farran trained and played with amateur CF Suburense in the Segona Catalana, the sixth tier of the Spanish football league system to stay fit and be close to his family.[13] He subsequently joined Malaysia Super League club Terengganu on 1 April 2015.[14] After a disastrous 2016 campaign which saw Terengganu relegated to the second tier, he chose to stay and help the team gain promotion. He proved his words by helping them to finish second in the Malaysia Premier League, ensuring their return to the Super League.[15] On 1 November 2017, Nakajima-Farran announced that he had departed the club by mutual consent.[16]

Pacific FC and in Spain

[edit]

Nakajima-Farran joined Pahang in April 2018 before signing for Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC ahead of their inaugural season on 5 March 2019.[17] He scored his first goal for Pacific on 1 July, off a free-kick against Cavalry FC.[18] Vancouver Metro Soccer League club CCB LFC United announced that they had signed Nakajima-Farran on 18 January 2020.[19]

In March 2021, he signed for fifth-tier Spanish club UE Tàrrega[20] and played as a forward.[21] Later the same year, he joined Cubelles F.C.[22] and played there for two seasons.[23][24] He retired from playing in 2023.[25]

He made his debut as a forward on 10 March 2024 with Rayo de Barcelona in the Kings League and in that first game he earned his first yellow card in this league.[26][27]

International career

[edit]

In 2005, Nakajima-Farran played a match with the Singapore U21 national team.[6]


Nakajima-Farran made his senior international debut for Canada on 12 November 2006 in a friendly match against Hungary.[28] He earned a total of 30 caps, scoring 1 goal, represented Canada during the 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and also in four 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[7][29]

Personal life

[edit]

Nakajima-Farran is Japan passport holder, as well as Britain and Canada. His father was born in former Rhodesia and is English-Canadian, his mother was born in Japan.[3][30]

His brother Paris, was also a professional footballer[31] who represented Canada at U-20 level and played as a defender for clubs in Japan, Denmark, Hong Kong and Spain.

Other than playing football, Nakajima-Farran is an artist.[25] After his retirement from playing, he bought a boat to live on in Barcelona, after also previously living on a boat in Vancouver Island while playing for Pacific FC in 2019.[30]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nordsjælland 2008–09[32] Danish Superliga 16 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 19 1
Horsens 2010–11[32] Danish Superliga 28 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 4
2011–12[32] Danish Superliga 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Total 31 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 5
Brisbane Roar 2011–12[32] A-League 23 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 4
AEK 2012–13[32] Cypriot First Division 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Alki (loan) 2012–13[32] Cypriot First Division 15 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 17 3
Toronto FC 2014[32] Major League Soccer 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 2
Montreal Impact 2014[32] Major League Soccer 13 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 15 0
Terengganu 2015 Malaysia Super League 12 9 2 1 5 3 — 19 13
2016[32] Malaysia Super League 18 7 0 0 0 0 — 18 7
2017 Malaysia Premier League 18 8 5 1 3 2 — 26 11
Total 48 24 7 2 8 5 0 0 63 31
Pahang 2018[32] Malaysia Super League 10 6 2 0 0 0 — 12 6
Pacific FC 2019[32] Canadian Premier League 18 1 2 0 0 0 — 20 1
Tàrrega 2020–21[33] Primera Catalana 12 3 – – — 12 3
Cubelles 2021–22[34] Segona Catalana 23 15 – – — 23 15
2022–23[35] Segona Catalana 16 9 – – — 16 9
Total 39 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 24
Career total 240 74 15 2 8 5 5 0 268 81
  1. ^ Includes UEFA Cup and CONCACAF Champions League.

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[36]
National team Year Apps Goals
Canada 2006 1 0
2007 7 0
2008 7 1
2009 3 0
2010 4 0
2011 1 0
2013 7 0
2014 3 0
2015 4 0
2016 1 0
Total 38 1
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nakajima-Farran goal.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
List of international goals scored by Issey Nakajima-Farran
1 20 June 2008 Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1–0 3–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

[edit]

Albirex Niigata

Vejle Boldklub

AC Horsens

Brisbane Roar

Montreal Impact

  • Canadian Championship: 2014

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Issey Nakajima-Farran at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ "Issey Nakajima-Farran". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Chan, Oliver (5 August 2015). "There and back again: Issey Nakajima-Farran's football journey". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Pacific FC adds globe-trotting Canadian international Issey Nakajima-Farran". Canadian Premier League. 5 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Galati, Luke (29 November 2014). "Issey Nakajima-Farran's wild ride: becoming a professional soccer player". Nikkei Voice.
  6. ^ a b Bottjer, Steve (7 October 2009). "Red Nation Interview Series: Issey Nakajima-Farran". Red Nation.
  7. ^ a b c d e Dasey, Jason (19 August 2015). "Former Brisbane Roar winger Issey Nakajima-Farran makes big impact in Malaysia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Issey Nakajima-Farran to join Toronto FC on trial". SB Nation. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  9. ^ Kristin Knowles (28 March 2013). "Toronto FC (Finally) Sign Issey Nakajima-Farran". SB Nation. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Recap: RSL 3-0 Toronto FC". Real Salt Lake. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  11. ^ Andrew King (5 April 2014). "Match Recap: Crew 0, TFC 2". torontofc.ca. Toronto FC. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  12. ^ "L'Impact libère le milieu de terrain Issey Nakajima-Farran" [Impact waives midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran] (in French). 16 January 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  13. ^ "MOJA, A.E. "A" 2 SUBURENSE, C.F. "A"". fcf.cat. 21 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  14. ^ Marco D'Onofrio (1 April 2015). "Canadian International Issey Nakajima-Farran Signs With Terengganu FC". Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Kuala Lumpur julang Liga Perdana, Terengganu naib juara". 27 October 2017.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ @11issey (2 November 2017). "Thank You". Archived from the original on 23 December 2021 – via Instagram.
  17. ^ "Pacific FC adds to attack with signing of Canadian international Issey Nakajima-Farran". 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  18. ^ Bauman, Martin (1 July 2019). "'This is the start': Pacific targets Fall turnaround after win vs. Cavalry".
  19. ^ "Welcome to the darkside @11issey, looking forward to having you join up with the squad this week. Best of luck taking the ferry across with Bevis and Butt-Head @ryanmccurdy8 & @kirkler 😈". 18 January 2020. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
  20. ^ Gasull Cairó, Francesc (17 March 2021). "Un internacional canadenc, a la UE Tàrrega" [A Canadian international, in the EU Tàrrega]. Nova Tàrrega (in Catalan).
  21. ^ "UE Tàrrega plantilla temporada 20/21" (in Spanish).
  22. ^ "Trayectoria como jugador. Historial de equipos en los que ha jugado" [Career as a player. History of soccer teams in which he has played.] (in Spanish).
  23. ^ "Cubelles F.C. plantilla temporada 21/22" (in Spanish).
  24. ^ "Cubelles F.C. plantilla temporada 22/23" (in Spanish).
  25. ^ a b "Former Canada player Issey Nakajima-Farran retires from professional football". Canada Soccer. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Signing of Issey Nakajima Farran in the Kings League".
  27. ^ "Rayo de Barcelona at the Kings League".
  28. ^ "Profile". Canada Soccer. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Record at FIFA Tournaments". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  30. ^ a b Davidson, Neil (6 June 2023). "Former Canadian international plans next step from aboard his floating home in Spain". Victoria Times Colonist. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  31. ^ Davidson, Neil (3 April 2014). "Issey Nakajima-Farran and the art of soccer". Metro. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Issey Nakajima-Farran". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Unió Esportiva Tàrrega :: Plantilla Temporada 2020/2021 ::" [Unió Esportiva Tàrrega :: Squad Season 2020/2021 ::]. La Preferente (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  34. ^ "C.F. Cubelles :: Plantilla Temporada 2021/2022 ::" [C.F. Cubelles :: Plantilla Temporada 2021/2022 ::]. La Preferente (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  35. ^ "C.F. Cubelles :: Plantilla Temporada 2022/2023 ::" [C.F. Cubelles :: Plantilla Temporada 2022/2023 ::]. La Preferente (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  36. ^ "Nakajima-Farran, Issey". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
[edit]
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