Supporting the team on and off the pitch
The reliable "Dama-san"
GK 1 Tsuyoshi KODAMA
Special content introducing the all-blue-red warriors who will challenge the 2024 season. What are the players, who are facing the opening, thinking and what kind of determination are they approaching the year with? The stories of the players who have club love, thirst for titles, aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill─. Goalkeeper Tsuyoshi KODAMA, who turned 36 at the end of last year. Introducing his efforts to prioritize communication.
Academy graduate of Kyoto Purple Sanga (currently Kyoto Sanga F.C.). After attending Kansai University, he started his professional career with Kyoto's top team and is now in his 15th season in 2024. In his 6th season with FC Tokyo, he celebrated his 36th birthday on December 28th last year, but there is no sign of decline in his agility, explosiveness, technical skills as a goalkeeper, and ball handling skills. Truly an iron man. That is the man known as Tsuyoshi KODAMA.
During his academy days, he was known for his mischievous personality. However, after a 14-year professional career that he describes as "short but long", Kodama has grown into a veteran known as "Dama-san" and has become one of the pillars of the blue and red army. During team building at camp, he took the lead in communication and played a role in connecting players of various ages.
"I believe that with the experience I have cultivated so far, I must also contribute to the team's relationships and actively speak up. I understand that I am in a position where I should take a proactive stance. I intend to understand what roles are necessary and do what I can."
As a symbol of strong self-awareness as an elder, love for the club has deepened year by year. The background behind the decision to renew the contract was "As a major premise, there was a strong desire to win in Tokyo." Overlapping the success of the club and the individual, the desire to produce results here led to the decision. Whether I can stay in Tokyo or continue my career. In both senses, I have approached the past few seasons with the feeling that "this season is the last". This season, I am also aiming for my first title with the same enthusiasm, saying "As my own feeling, I have a strong desire to contribute to the strength of Tokyo. I want to thank the team that gave me the opportunity to play."
In addition, we discussed with the club about the way of fighting and the vision for the 2024 season. The attacking style of starting from the goalkeeper and breaking through the center is suitable for Kodama, who is agile and has good footwork. In terms of playing with the ball and group work off the pitch, Kodama will be himself and inspire this team from the back.
Text by Wataru GOTO (Freelance Writer)
