Chika Hirao

Chika Hirao
平尾知佳
Personal information
Date of birth	31 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth	Matsudo, Japan
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Albirex Niigata
Number	1
Youth career
2009–2014	JFA Academy Fukushima
Senior career*
Years	Team
2014–2017	Urawa Reds
2018–	Albirex Niigata
Total
International career
2012	Japan U-17
2016	Japan U-20
2018–	Japan
Medal record
Urawa Reds
Representing Japan
AFC Women's Asian Cup
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 December 2018

Chika Hirao (平尾知佳, Hirao Chika, born 31 December 1996) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for WE League club Albirex Niigata and the Japan women's national team.

Club career

Hirao was born in Matsudo on December 31, 1996. She joined L.League club Urawa Reds from JFA Academy Fukushima in 2014. She played many matches as a regular goalkeeper, helping the club become the champions in the first season. However her opportunity to play decreased behind Sakiko Ikeda from 2015 season. In 2018, she moved to Albirex Niigata.

National team career

In September 2012, when Hirao was 15 years old, she was selected Japan U-17 national team for 2012 U-17 Women's World Cup and she played 3 matches as regular goalkeeper. In November 2016, she was selected Japan U-20 national team for 2016 U-20 Women's World Cup. She played 5 matches and Japan won the 3rd place.^[1]

In April 2018, Hirao was selected Japan national team for 2018 Women's Asian Cup. Although she did not play in any matches, Japan won the championship after two tournaments in a row. On August 2, she debuted against Australia.^[2]

On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.^[3]

National team statistics

^[4]

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2018	1	0
2019	1	0
2020	0	0
2021	0	0
2022	2	0
Total	4	0

References

^ Chika Hirao – FIFA competition record (archived)
^ Japan Football Association
^ "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
^ List of match in 2018, 2019 at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)

External links

Chika Hirao – FIFA competition record (archived)
Chika Hirao at Soccerway
Chika Hirao at WorldFootball.net
Japan Football Association

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[1] Chika Hirao – FIFA competition record (archived)

[2] Japan Football Association

[3] "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

[4] List of match in 2018, 2019 at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)

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[2]

[3]

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