Takashi Hirano

Takashi Hirano (born July 15, 1974 in Shizuoka, Shizuoka) is a former Japanese international footballer.

Career

Club

Hirano attended Shimizu Commercial High School, where he won the All-Japan High School Championship in 1991.

Hirano began his professional career in the J. League in 1993 with Nagoya Grampus Eight, winning the Emperor's Cup in 1995 and 1999 and the Japanese Super Cup in 1996, and scoring 43 goals in 213 appearances for the team. He transferred to Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000, and although his team won promotion from the J. League Division 2 in 2001, he played just 5 league games before moving on to Jubilo Iwata.

After brief and largely unremarkable stints at Vissel Kobe, Tokyo Verdy 1969, Yokohama F. Marinos and Omiya Ardija, Hirano moved to North America and signed for Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL First Division in 2008.

On September 30, 2008, Hirano was called up to the USL First Division All-League Team, and on October 12, 2008, helped the Whitecaps capture their second USL First Division Championship by beating the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 in the USL1 Championship game.