Etsuko Handa

Etsuko Handa
半田 悦子

Personal information
Full name	Etsuko Handa
Date of birth	(1965-05-10) 10 May 1965
Place of birth	Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Shimizudaihachi SC
1989–1996	Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies	131	(71)
Total		131	(71)
International career
1981–1996	Japan	75	(19)
Medal record Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies Winner Nadeshiko League 1989 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 1990 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 1991 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 1992 Runner-up Nadeshiko League 1993 Winner Empress's Cup 1991 Runner-up Empress's Cup 1989 Runner-up Empress's Cup 1990 Representing Japan AFC Women's Asian Cup 1986 China 1991 Japan 1995 Malaysia 1989 Hong Kong 1993 Malaysia Asian Games 1990 Beijing Team 1994 Hiroshima Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Etsuko Handa (半田 悦子, Handa Etsuko; born 10 May 1965) is a Japanese former professional footballer. She was also a member of the Japan national team.

Club career

Handa was born in Shizuoka on 10 May 1965. She played for her local club Shimizudaihachi SC and Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies (formerly Shimizu FC Ladies). In 1989, Handa helped Shimizu FC Ladies win the L.League in its inaugural season, while also earning the Best player award. During the 1993 season, she scored 14 goals and was the league's top scorer. She was selected Best Eleven four times (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994).

National team career

In June 1981, when Handa was 16 years old, she was selected to the Japan national team for the 1981 AFC Championship. At this competition, she debuted against Chinese Taipei on 7 June. This fixture was also Japan's first International A Match. On 13 June, she scored a goal in Japan's (1–0) victory against Indonesia. It was Japan's first goal and first win in an "A" match. She also played at the 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995 AFC Championships. Handa also competed at the 1990 and 1994 Asian Games, as well as the 1991 and 1995 World Cups and the 1996 Summer Olympics. She played 75 games in total for Japan throughout her career, as well as scoring 19 goals.

National team statistics

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1981	5	1
1982	0	0
1983	0	0
1984	3	0
1985	0	0
1986	13	2
1987	4	0
1988	3	1
1989	9	6
1990	6	4
1991	8	2
1992	0	0
1993	5	3
1994	5	0
1995	7	0
1996	7	0
Total	75	19

External links

• Etsuko Handa – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Etsuko Handa at Soccerway
• Etsuko Handa at WorldFootball.net
• Etsuko Handa at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)