#27
Kosuke
Kimura
-
Defender
Height:
5-9
Weight:
155
Born:
5/14/1984 in Kobe, Japan
College:
Western Illinois
Last Club:
--
SEASON STATS
Acquired:
Drafted with the 35th pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft
Bio:
Kosuke Kimura is the first Japanese player in the history of MLS. A versatile defender, he recorded his first career goals and assists in 2009. Kimura’s first on-field appearance with the Rapids was against the Chinese national team in an International friendly on June 10, 2007.
MLS CAREER
2009: Played in 26 games with 21 starts for 1,932 minutes and had 2 goals and 2 assist (all new career highs)…Started at right midfield at KC (9/26) and vs. NE (10/3)…Tallied assist at Toronto (9/12)…Started and played full 90 at right midfield at SJ (9/18)…Recorded his first career assist vs. Chivas USA (8/8)…Played 26 minutes in friendly vs. Club America (7/15)…Scored game-winning goal in the 79th minute vs. FC Dallas (7/11). Nominated for MLS Goal of the Week…Returned to the starting line-up vs. Chicago (7/4) after six games having previously started 7 of the first 8 games of the season…Came on in the 31st minute at Real Salt Lake (6/6) for Terry Cooke and played right side midfielder the rest of the match…Played all 90 minutes at Seattle (5/26) in the second U.S. Open Cup play-in match…Scored the first goal of his Rapids and MLS career vs. Real Salt Lake (5/2) in the 60th minute. Goal was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week…Played in 75 minutes at LA (4/7) in U.S. Open Cup play-in match...2008: Kimura had a break-through season in 2008 posting career-highs in games played (18), games started (17) and minutes (1,438)…His stellar play along the back line helped the team secure an unbeaten September and a league leading low of only 278 total shots allowed on goal…2007: Made his professional debut playing 90 minutes on September 22nd against RSL…Was a member of the Rapids MLS Reserve Division championship team playing in eight matches and recording one assist.
COLLEGE
In Kimura’s four years at Western Illinois, the Leathernecks compiled a record of 43-33-7; the second best four-year in school history…The best run came from 1984 to 1987, when the Leathernecks went 48-32-2, and were led by Ted Eck, and Tom Soehn…Both Soehn and Eck had professional careers that included stints with the now defunct Colorado Foxes…Soehn is now the head coach for D.C. United…2006: Named to the Mid-Con All-Conference Second Team…Named to the Mid-Con All-Tournament Team…Named the MVP of the Bowling Green…2005: Named to the All-Mid-Con First team…Named team MVP…Recorded five assists…scored a goal against IUPUI…2004: Started 16 matches, playing in 19…Recorded three assists, while taking 18 shots…2003: Recorded one goal and one assist in 19 games, 18 starts.
PERSONAL
Before his college career, Kimura played high school soccer in Japan…He finished eighth nationally in the 2002 All-Japan Youth tournament with Kawasaki Frontale...Had a feature article written about him in the September 2008 issue of Colorado's "Asian Avenue" magazine.
ACTION SHOTS
To view an exclusive photo gallery of his action photos, click here!