is a Japanese former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who played as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

or defender.

Career

Japan

Shin played alongside Japanese national hero

Shunsuke Nakamura is a Japanese former professional footballer. He is currently a first-team coach of Yokohama FC. He is the only person to have been named J.League Most Valuable Player more than once, receiving the award in 2000 and 2013. Renowned as one of ...

, who also started his career at Yokohoma. In 2002 acquired by

Omiya Ardija is a Japanese professional association football club based in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture. Its "hometown" (as designated by the league) is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds. The team currently play in J2 League, the ...

and then

Tokushima Vortis is a Japanese professional football club located in Tokushima, capital of Tokushima Prefecture. The club currently playing in the J2 League, the Japanese second tier of professional football league. Name origin The name, "Vortis" was named in 19 ...

. He played part of the 2005 season and all of the 2006 season for

ALO's Hokuriku was a Japanese football club based in Toyama, the capital city of Toyama Prefecture. They played in the Japan Football League, and their team colour was blue. Their nickname ''ALO's'' derives from '' Antelopes.'' '' Hokuriku'' refers to the re ...

of the

Japan Football League The , also known as simply the JFL, is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath the three divisions of the J.League. The league features fully professional teams that hold J.League 100 Year Plan club sta ...

in Japan.

Crystal Palace Baltimore

In his first season in Baltimore, Harada was named to the USL Second Division All-League Second-Team, and followed that up by being named in the USL Second Division All-League First-Team in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Harada has become USL-2 All-League regular by making his fourth consecutive appearance on an All-League team. He was also the Most Valuable Defender finalist in 2009, and earned that award in 2010. He is nominated as 2010 USL Second Division

Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...

. During the 2008 off-season, several

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...

clubs showed interest in him, and invited to take part in their trials such by Chicago Fire,

Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Fou ...

, and

San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...

, but due to injury had to return to Palace for the 2009 season. Following his impressive performances in the 2009 season, Harada went on trial at Baltimore's English parent club,

Crystal Palace Crystal Palace may refer to: Places Canada * Crystal Palace Complex (Dieppe), a former amusement park now a shopping complex in Dieppe, New Brunswick * Crystal Palace Barracks, London, Ontario * Crystal Palace (Montreal), an exhibition buildin ...

. After three months of training with

Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club, commonly referred to as Crystal Palace or simply Palace, is a professional football club based in Selhurst, South London, England, which competes in the Premier League, the top-tier of English football. The clu ...

, he was selected as the "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" on Crystal Palace's official club magazine, and featured also on

's expansion team

Philadelphia Union The Philadelphia Union are an American professional soccer club based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded on February 28, 2008, the Union began ...

's official website as a strong candidate for the club's tryout.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

On 22 March 2010, the

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1998 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American ...

announced the signing of Harada to a contract for the 2010 season. While in the second division, Harada won the league's USL Second Division All-League First Team for 4 consecutive years. He re-signed with Pittsburgh, in the

USL Pro The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional soccer league in the second tier of the United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) as its premier league for men above USL League One. Operating under a f ...

league, on 21 February 2011.

Dayton Dutch Lions

After the conclusion of the 2012 season, Harada was invited to tryout with

CE Sabadell FC Centre d'Esports Sabadell Futbol Club, S.A.D. () is a historical List of football clubs in Spain, Spanish football team based in Sabadell ( Catalonia) Founded in 1903, its first men's team plays in the . Its first CE Sabadell (women), women's tea ...

that plays in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

Segunda División The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commonly known as Segunda División or La Liga 2, and officially known as LaLiga HyperMotion for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second professional association football division of the Spa ...

. Before the

season started, Harada signed with

Dayton Dutch Lions The Dayton Dutch Lions are an American soccer team based in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. From 2011 to 2014, the team played in the USL Professiona ...

, where he led the club into the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

On 12 February 2015, The

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC is a professional Association football, soccer team based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the team is a member of the Western Conference (USL Championship), Western Conference in the USL Champions ...

announced the signing of Harada for the 2015 season. This will be Harada's 3rd team in

USL PRO The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional soccer league in the second tier of the United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) as its premier league for men above USL League One. Operating under a f ...

. Head Coach Steve Trittschuh praised that "Harada has been a great leader for us and role model for the younger players". On 23 June 2015, Harada made his 100th appearance in

United Soccer League The United Soccer League (USL) is an organizer of various professional and amateur soccer leagues in the United States league system. It currently organizes its Championship, League One, and League Two for men, its Super League and W Leag ...

as the first Japanese in league history. Harada ended his first season with the

with 2 goals and 2 assists and logged 2,000 minutes of play time. On 12 January 2016, it was announced that Harada had resigned for

for the 2016

season.

Hong Kong

Upon conclusion of

2013 season, Harada announced he would sign with

Yokohama FC Hong Kong Metro Gallery Football Club () is a Hong Kong football club which currently competes in the Hong Kong Second Division. History The team began as Fourway Athletics (), it joined Hong Kong First Division in 2008–09 season as a competition mem ...

on a loan deal until 31 January 2014.

Retirement

After retiring in 2017, he became a scout for the Japanese

J.League The , commonly a.k.a. shortened to the , and officially known as the for sponsorship with Meiji Yasuda Life, is the men's association football league in Japan. It is responsible for organizing Japan's major professional football tournaments, in ...

side

FC Tokyo , commonly known as , is a Japanese professional football club based in Chōfu, Tokyo. The club plays in the J1 League, the top tier of football in the country. From 2025, FC Tokyo is one of the few J.League clubs to be simply called ''Footb ...

. In 2019, it was announced that he became the scout for

, in J.League, where he played as a player back in 2002.

Style of play

Proved as a quality utility player who plays both holding midfielder, and center defender by being selected to All-League First-Team for both positions. Known for his accurate distribution, and play making in the middle as the control tower. Admires the Mexican National Team's

Rafael Márquez Rafael Márquez Álvarez (; born 13 February 1979) is a Mexican football coach and former player who played as a defender. He is currently the assistant coach of the Mexico national team. Nicknamed '' El Káiser'', he is regarded as the bes ...

, and

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly known as FC Barcelona and colloquially as Barça (), is a professional Football club (association football), football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of ...

Pep Guardiola Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala (; born 18 January 1971) is a Catalans, Catalan professional Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player from Spain who has been the manager of club Manchester City F.C., Ma ...

. Has been reported about his "the dedicated — almost spartan — approach" with his professionVeteran Japanese player sets example for Dutch Lions
/ref>

Career statistics

Honors and awards

Yokohama F. Marinos *

J1 League The , the J.League or the for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Japan and the highest level of the Japanese football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation ...

Stage 1 Champion: 2000 Individual * 2015 - First Japanese to appear in 100 games in

* 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Player Finalist * 2010 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender * 2010 - USL Second Division All-League First Team * 2009 -

: "Palace's Other Player Of The Year" * 2009 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team * 2009 - USL Second Division Most Valuable Defender Finalist * 2008 - USL Second Division All-League First-Team * 2007 - USL Second Division All-League Second-Team

References

External links

*
Pittsburgh Riverhounds player profileCrystal Palace Baltimore player profileSOCCER TRANSITION - Made In Japan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harada, Shintaro 1980 births Living people Association football people from Saitama Prefecture Japanese men's footballers J1 League players J2 League players Japan Football League players Yokohama F. Marinos players RB Omiya Ardija players Tokushima Vortis players Kataller Toyama players Japanese expatriate men's footballers USL Second Division players USL Championship players Crystal Palace Baltimore players Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players Dayton Dutch Lions players Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC players Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Men's association football midfielders