PLAYING FOR KEEPS
I know Eiji’s time here didn’t go how any of us had hoped but it made an impression .. even the other day he was asking about Broughty Ferry
EIJI KAWASHIMA may not have hit the heights at Dundee United but the fact he’s heading to a fourth consecutive World Cup tells its own story.
That’s the view of former United goalkeeping coach Stuart Garden.
Kawashima moved to Tannadice in 2015 under Mixu Paatelainen but had to wait so long for a work permit that the club were already behind the eight ball and hurtling towards relegation from the top flight.
The Japanese star has proved his quality either side of that troubled Tayside spell – in Belgium with Lierse and Standard Liege before he set up home in France with Metz and Strasbourg.
And despite a turbulent time at Tannadice, the 39-year-old still holds Scotland close to his heart.
Garden said: “I have worked with a lot of top goalkeepers and Eiji is up there with the best you could work with.
“He had a great work ethic and every day he wanted to improve and get better.
“He was a top international goalkeeper but there were no airs or graces with him.
“He was somebody who got on with everyone and was really popular in the dressing room.
“It helped that Eiji’s English was very good because he can speak four or five different languages.
“I know his time in Scotland didn’t go the way any of us had hoped but Scotland and Dundee United made an impression on Eiji.
“Even the other day he was asking about Broughty Ferry.” This World Cup in Qatar will
be the veteran’s fourth finals after appearances in Russia, Brazil and South Africa.
Garden reckons that’s a testament to his professionalism and dedication.
He said: “I actually texted Eiji when the Japan squad was announced to congratulate him.
“To be going to a fourth World Cup really is some achievement because not many footballers will be able to boast that in their careers.”
Japanese stars Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate are all making their mark in Scotland now with champions Celtic. Garden believes Kawashima would also have been a success in circumstances other than walking into a United side that was all but doomed and heading for the Championship. The coach said: “We were bottom of the league, there was no money and then he had to wait for the green light. “I am in no doubt that if Eiji had remained at the club or come at a different time then he would have been a success. “Obviously, it was impossible for him to remain after we were relegated because we just couldn’t afford to keep him, which was a shame.
“He left and since then has played at a good level in France and is in another World Cup squad. So that shows you the quality Eiji has.”
Work-permit issues left him sidelined for more than two months in Scotland but it also didn’t help that he made his debut in a fiery Dundee derby which ended with the finger of blame pointing at him.
Current Hibs goalkeeping coach Garden added: “His first game was the derby. He made a mistake for one of the goals.
“He didn’t get a strong enough punch on a ball but over the course of that game he was very good.
“He got a bit of stick for that performance but you have to remember he hadn’t played for near on a year.
“I know we struggled that season but in the games that followed, Eiji made a lot of big saves and kept us in games. He kicked the ball well with both feet and was also a decent shot-stopper.
“You don’t make four World Cups and play more than 90 times for Japan if you are not a top keeper.”