Manaka Matsukubo

Manaka Matsukubo (松窪 真心, Matsukubo Manaka, born 28 July 2004) is a Japanese professional football player who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She plays internationally for Japan women's national under-20 football team and was an integral part of the team that made the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup final.[2]

Manaka Matsukubo
松窪 真心
Matsukubo with the North Carolina Courage in 2023
Personal information
Full name Manaka Matsukubo
Date of birth (2004-07-28) 28 July 2004
Place of birth Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Height 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward / attacking midfielder[1]
Team information
Current team
 North Carolina Courage
Number 34
Youth career
2017–2022 JFA Academy Fukushima
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 JFA Academy Fukushima 46 (30)
2023– Mynavi Sendai 12 (4)
2023– North Carolina Courage 17 (1)
International career‡
2019 Japan U16
2022 Japan U20
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 October 2023

Club career

Mynavi Sendai

Matsukubo made her professional debut for Mynavi Sendai of the WE League on 5 March 2023 and played 1,075 minutes across the season.[3] She helped the team to a fourth-place finish in her first year as a professional, scoring four goals and adding one assist.[4]

North Carolina Courage

On 27 July 2023, the North Carolina Courage acquired Matsukubo on loan from Mynavi Sendai through June 2024.[3] She made her first NWSL appearance on 27 August 2023.[2] With the Courage, Matsukubo became the youngest player to start a game in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the youngest to score.[4] In the Challenge Cup final against Racing Louisville, she was named the most valuable player of the match after scoring the Courage's second goal with a chip volley in the 2–0 victory.[5][6][7]

Matsukubo scored her first regular-season goal the next week in a 2–1 loss to the Orlando Pride.[8] In the Courage's last regular-season game, Matsukubo crossed to Tyler Lussi for a goal to help the Courage defeat the Washington Spirit 1–0 and clinch their spot in the playoffs.[9]

On 27 June 2024, Matsukubo was signed by the Courage permanently through 2025.[10]

International career

Matsukubo played for Japan's U-20 World Cup team during the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022.[11] She was called up to play for the U-20 Japan Women's National Team for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in 2024, but she left early to return to her club.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
JFA Academy Fukushima 2019 Challenge League 10 3 1 0 0 0 11 3
2020 Challenge League 12 9 1 0 0 0 13 9
2021 Nadeshiko League 2 14 13 2 2 0 0 16 15
2022 Nadeshiko League 2 10 5 1 1 0 0 11 6
Total 46 30 5 3 0 0 51 33
Mynavi Sendai 2022–23 WE League 12 4 0 0 0 0 12 4
North Carolina Courage (loan) 2023 NWSL 7 1 — 2 1 9 2
Career Total 65 35 5 3 2 1 72 39
  1. Includes Empress's Cup
  2. Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup

Honours

JFA Academy Fukushima

  • Nadeshiko Challenge League: 2020
  • Nadeshiko League 2: 2021

North Carolina Courage

Individual

  • WE League Outstanding Player Award: 2022–23

References
  1. Kassouf, Jeff (22 May 2024). "NWSL U-19 ranking: Shaw, Moultrie lead best young players". ESPN. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  2. Cascone, Arianna (10 October 2023). "How 19-year-old Manaka Matsukubo is already lighting up the NWSL – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. "Courage acquire Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo". North Carolina Courage. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  4. Needelman, Josh (9 September 2023). "NWSL Challenge Cup MVP: Manaka Matsukubo makes history". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. "Courage defend NWSL Challenge Cup with win over Racing Louisville". CBC.ca. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  6. "NC Courage win 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup as Kerolin, Matsukubo put on a show". Pro Soccer Wire. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  7. Cattry, Pardeep (10 September 2023). "Manaka Matsukubo a 'star in the making' for North Carolina Courage after NWSL Challenge Cup win". CBS Sports. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  8. Rantz, Susie (17 September 2023). "Pride beat Courage 2–1 in NWSL and move one point out of playoff position". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  9. "Recap: Courage grind out road win Sunday, earn home playoff bout". North Carolina Courage. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  10. "Courage extends Manaka through 2025". North Carolina Courage. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  11. "U-20 Japan Women's National Team squad – FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022™ (8/7-28＠Costa Rica)" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  12. "女子サッカー TOP｜JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会". www.jfa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
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