Class of 2001 Class of 2002 Class of 2003 Class of 2004 Class of 2005 Class of 2006 Class of 2007 Team Index Albirex Niigata Kashima Antlers Omiya Ardija Avispa Fukuoka Shonan Bellmare Cerezo Osaka Consadole Sapporo Ehime FC Kawasaki Frontale Gamba Osaka Nagoya Grampus Gifu FC Mito Hollyhock JEF United Jubilo Iwata Yokohama Marinos Montedio Yamagata Urawa Reds Kashiwa Reysol Roasso Kumamoto Sagan Tosu Sanfrecce Hiroshima Kyoto Sanga Shimizu S-Pulse Thespa Kusatsu FC Tokyo Oita Trinita Vegalta Sendai Ventforet Kofu Tokyo Verdy Vissel Kobe Tokushima Vortis Yokohama FC

Naoki Soma Position:DF Born:19-Jul-1971 Height/Weight:175/72 Birthplace:Shizuoka Previous Teams:Shimizu Higashi HS, Waseda U., Kashima Antlers, Tokyo Verdy, Kashima Antlers, Kawasaki Frontale Appearances (J1/J2):289/15 Goals: 10/0 First Appearance: 18-May-1994 '94J.LeagueSuntory Series Kashima Antlers - vs - Nagoya Grampus (at Kashima Stadium) First Goal : 15-Apr-1995 Kashima Antlers - vs - Gamba Osaka (at "Banpaku" Stadium) Year Team League Matches Cup Matches Caps Goals Caps Goals 1994 Kashima Antlers 28 0 2 0 1995 Kashima Antlers 50 3 4 0 1996 Kashima Antlers 30 2 17 0 1997 Kashima Antlers 21 0 7 1 1998 Kashima Antlers 34 1 5 0 1999 Kashima Antlers 30 0 9 1 2000 Kashima Antlers 30 2 11 0 2001 Kashima Antlers 7 0 4 0 2002 Tokyo Verdy 27 0 6 0 2003 Kashima Antlers 20 2 3 0 2004 Kawasaki Frontale 15 0 1 0 2005 Kawasaki Frontale 11 0 - 0 TOTAL 303 10 71 3 In his prime, Naoki Soma was considered the best wing back in Japan, and during his years as a member of the national team, this was most certainly the case. Soma had a very unique skill set, found in only a handful of players worldwide. He even drew comparison to famed wingbacks like Roberto Carlos, and though this is probably a bit too flattering, it reflects how highly he was regarded during the prime of his career. Soma's speed on the wing, his excellent man-marking capabilties and his ability to overlap, find space in the corner and center the ball with a high degree of accuracy contributed to a great many goals, both for the national team and for the Kashima Antlers. He was a core member of the team that took part in the 1998 World Cup, claiming 64 NT caps and four goals. Although Phillippe Troussier's switch to a flat three defence ended Soma's national team career, Soma remained a force to be reckoned with in the J.League for several more years, following his career "peak" at the 1998 World Cup. But in 2000, the year that the Kashima Antlers won their unprecedented treble, Soma was injured in the second-to-last match of the season, and ligament damage kept him out of the lineup for most of 2001. By the time he returned, he had lost his starting spot as well as much of his speed and shaarpness. He would continue on for a few more years, but never regained the form that he showed in his earlier days. Soma was sent to Tokyo Verdy for the 2002 season on a one-year loan to allow him to start regularly. After demonstrating that he was back in decent physical conditions, the Antlers reclaimed him in 2003. But by this time it was clear that he was nearing the end of his career. The Antlers decided to release him at the end of 2003 and he was picked up by Kasawaki Frontale, where he played out the remainder of his professional career. National Team Data & History NT Caps: 64 NT Goals: 4 Tournaments: World Cup Qualifiers (1997) France World Cup (1998) Copa America (1999) Date Vs. Score Location Status Min. G 10-28-1998 Egypt 1-0 Nagai Stadium Start 90 0 3-31-1999 Brazil 0-2 Nagai Stadium Start 90 0 6-3-1999 Belgium 0-0 Nat'l Stadium Start 90 0 6-6-1999 Peru 0-0 Nat'l Stadium Start 90 0 7-2-1999 Paraguay 0-4 Asuncion, Paraguay Start 90 0 9-8-1999 Iran 1-1 Yokohama Int'l Start 90 0

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