Takuma Asano

Takuma Asano (Japanese: 浅野 拓磨 Asano Takuma; born 10 November 1994) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serbian club Partizan and the Japan national team.

Takuma Asano
Asano training with VfB Stuttgart in 2016
Personal information
Full name Takuma Asano
Date of birth (1994-11-10) 10 November 1994
Place of birth Komono, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Partizan
Number 11
Youth career
2010–2013 Yokkaichi Chuo Technical
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 60 (13)
2014–2015 → J.League U-22 (loan) 3 (0)
2016–2019 Arsenal 0 (0)
2016–2018 → VfB Stuttgart (loan) 41 (5)
2018 → VfB Stuttgart II (loan) 2 (1)
2018–2019 → Hannover 96 (loan) 13 (0)
2019– Partizan 42 (14)
National team‡
2014–2016 Japan U23 14 (6)
2015– Japan 22 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2020

Club career

Sanfrecce Hiroshima

After attending Yokkaichi Chuo Technical High School, Asano joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima at the age of 18 in January 2013. He went on to win the J1 League in his debut season, making one appearance in the process.

Asano went on to win the Japanese Super Cup in 2014, while starting to break into the squad for the J1 League. He helped the side lift the league title for a second time in 2015, this time adding nine goals in 34 appearances. Due to his performances, Asano was named the J1 League Rookie of the Year.[1]

Arsenal

On 3 July 2016, Asano was announced as Arsenal's second signing of the season, subject to a medical and international clearance.[2] Manager Arsène Wenger described him as "a talented young striker and very much one for the future".[3] However, Asano was refused a work permit to play in the Premier League.[4]

Loan to VfB Stuttgart

On 26 August 2016, Asano was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart until the end of the season with an option for a further year.[5] He made his debut in a 2–1 home loss to 1. FC Heidenheim two weeks later. On 9 April 2017, Asano scored a brace to give his side a 2–0 win over Karlsruher SC. He helped the team win the Zweite Bundesliga and take promotion to the top flight.

On 22 June 2017, the loan deal with Stuttgart was extended for another season.[6]

Loan to Hannover 96

On 23 May 2018, Asano was sent on season-long loan to Bundesliga side Hannover 96.[7]

Partizan

On 1 August 2019, Asano completed his move to Serbian club Partizan.[8] He signed a three-year contract and was given the number 11 shirt, while becoming the first Japanese player in club history.[9]

Asano scored on his debut in an eventual 3–1 home win over Turkish club Yeni Malatyaspor in the first leg of the Europa League third qualifying round.[10]

International career

Youth

At youth level, Asano won a gold medal at the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship, scoring a brace against South Korea to give his side a 3–2 win in the final. He also represented Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics, netting two goals in the tournament, as the team exited in the group stage.[11]

Senior

On 7 May 2015, Asano was invited by Japan manager Vahid Halilhodžić for a two-day training camp.[12] He was subsequently called up to the team for the upcoming 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup.[13] Asano scored his first goal for Samurai Blue in a 7–2 win over Bulgaria at the 2016 Kirin Cup.[14]

In March 2018, Halilhodžić left out Asano and Yosuke Ideguchi for friendly matches with Mali and Ukraine in preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup due to lack of playing time at club level, commenting, "It makes me sad that Asano and Ideguchi are not playing. They were the heroes of our qualifying game against Australia. They haven't been chosen this time, and if things continue the way they are, there is a chance that they won't be chosen for the World Cup".[15] In May, Asano was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the World Cup, but failed to make the final cut.[16]

Statistics

Club
As of 15 December 2019[17]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2013 105000000060
2014 11000206[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]1201
2015 3495454—4[lower-alpha 3]14818
2016 14400004[lower-alpha 1]31[lower-alpha 2]1198
Total 601310474103639327
J.League U-22 (loan) 2014 20————20
2015 10————10
Total 30————30
Arsenal 2016–17 00000000—00
2017–18 000000000000
2018–19 00000000—00
Total 000000000000
VfB Stuttgart (loan) 2016–17 26410———274
2017–18 15130———181
Total 41540———455
VfB Stuttgart II (loan) 2017–18 21————21
Hannover 96 (loan) 2018–19 13021———151
Partizan 2019–20 23442—10[lower-alpha 4]3—379
2020–21 191022—3[lower-alpha 5]0—2412
Career total 16132228742366321955
  1. Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. Appearance in Japanese Super Cup
  3. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
As of 12 December 2019[18]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 201530
201672
201771
201810
201921
Total204

International goals
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first.[18]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
13 June 2016Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan Bulgaria7–27–22016 Kirin Cup
26 September 2016Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Thailand2–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
331 August 2017Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan Australia1–02–0
415 October 2019Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan Tajikistan3–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club
Sanfrecce Hiroshima[17]
VfB Stuttgart[17]

International
Japan[17]

Individual

References
  1. "Arsenal agree deal for Japan forward". arsenal.com. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  2. "Arsenal to sign Takuma Asano from Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima". skysports.com. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  3. "Arsenal sign Japanese striker Takuma Asano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima". theguardian.com. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  4. "New Arsenal signing Asano refused work permit". goal.com. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  5. "Takuma Asano kommt von Arsenal". vfb.de. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  6. "Asano's loan at Stuttgart is extended". arsenal.com. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. "Asano to join Hannover 96 on loan". arsenal.com. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal/takuma-asano-leaves-arsenal-japan-striker-joins-partizan-belgrade-a4205026.html
  9. "ASANO, KUVAR I SARADNICI: Prvi Japanac u istoriji Partizana stigao sa brojnom ekipom" (in Serbian). novosti.rs. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  10. "Partizan (SRB) 3-1 Yeni Malatyaspor (TUR)". uefa.com. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  11. "Asano's Japan knocked out of Rio 2016". dailycannon.com. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  12. "大久保嘉人ら28人日本代表候補合宿メンバー／一覧" (in Japanese). nikkansports.com. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  13. "EAFF東アジアカップ2015（8/2～9＠中国／武漢） SAMURAI BLUE（日本代表）メンバー・スケジュール" (in Japanese). jfa.jp. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  14. "Japan 7 Bulgaria 2: Kagawa at the double in dominant win". yahoo.com. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  15. "Halilhodzic reveals roster for upcoming friendlies". japantimes.co.jp. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  16. "Asano cut from Japan World Cup squad despite making preliminary list of 27". dailycannon.com. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  17. Takuma Asano at Soccerway
  18. Takuma Asano at WorldFootball.net
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