Yoshito Ōkubo

Yoshito Okubo (大久保 嘉人, Ōkubo Yoshito, born 9 June 1982) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Tokyo Verdy.[1] He played for the Japan national team scoring 6 goals in 60 appearances

Yoshito Okubo
大久保 嘉人
Personal information
Full name Yoshito Okubo
Date of birth (1982-06-09) 9 June 1982
Place of birth Kanda, Fukuoka, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
Tokyo Verdy
Number 13
Youth career
1998–2000 Kunimi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Cerezo Osaka 87 (39)
2005–2006Mallorca (loan) 39 (5)
2007–2008 Vissel Kobe 62 (25)
2009 VfL Wolfsburg 9 (0)
2009–2012 Vissel Kobe 92 (25)
2013–2016 Kawasaki Frontale 130 (82)
2017 FC Tokyo 28 (8)
2018 Kawasaki Frontale 12 (2)
2018–2019 Júbilo Iwata 37 (4)
2020– Tokyo Verdy 0 (0)
National team
2004 Japan U-23 3 (2)
2003–2014 Japan 60 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 January 2020

Club career

Okubo was born in Kanda, Fukuoka on 9 June 1982. After graduating from high school, he joined J1 League club Cerezo Osaka in 2001. He played many matches as forward and offensive midfielder from first season. However Cerezo finished at the bottom place in 2001 season and was relegated to J2 League. In 2002 season, he scored 18 goals which was the 2nd top scorer and Cerezo won the 2nd place and was returned to J1 in a year. From 2003, he scored more than 15 goals in J1. He was also selected Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2003.

In 2005, Okubo moved to La Liga club Mallorca on loan. Although the club results were bad, Mallorca finished at 17th place and remained La Liga in 2004–05 season. Although he played many matches as substitute forward in 2005–06 season, his opportunity to play decreased from April 2006.[2]

In June 2006, Okubo returned to Cerezo Osaka. At then Cerezo won only 1 match in 13 matches and at the bottom place of 18 clubs in 2006 season.[3] Although he played as forward all matches excluding suspension, Cerezo finished at the 17th place and was relegated to J2 again.[4]

In 2007, Okubo moved to J1 club Vissel Kobe. He played many matches as left midfielder in 2 seasons under manager Hiroshi Matsuda and scored more than 10 goals both seasons.

On 3 January 2009, Vissel Kobe announced Okubo's transfer to VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga.[5] After just six months with Wolfsburg, he returned to Vissel Kobe. Upon his return, he became the first Japanese striker to have won the Bundesliga title.

In June 2009, Okubo returned to Japan and re-joined Vissel Kobe. He played as forward all 19 matches and scored 8 goals in 2009 season.[6] Although his opportunity to play decreased for injuries in 2010, he played as regular player until 2012. However Vissel finished at the 16th place in 2012 season and was relegated to J2 League.

After Vissel Kobe was relegated to the J2 League in 2013 season, Okubo transferred to Kawasaki Frontale. An ever-present figure and a regular starting eleven in Kawasaki, he scored 26 goals in his debut season in the Kanagawa Prefecture football club and clinched top scorer of 2013 season. He played more than 30 matches every season and he became a top scorer for 3 years in a row until 2015 season.

At the end of 2016 season and before J.League Championship, Okubo announced he would leave Kawasaki Frontale to sign for FC Tokyo in 2017.[7] He played in 1 season and scored 8 goals.

In 2018, Okubo re-joined Kawasaki Frontale. However he could not as regular player and he mainly played as substitute forward.[8]

In June 2018, Okubo moved to Júbilo Iwata.[9]

International career

In 2003, Okubo was selected Japan national team by manager Zico. He made his international debut on 31 May 2003 in a friendly against South Korea at Tokyo National Stadium when he was sent on to the pitch to replace Takayuki Suzuki.[10] Although he played many matches as forward in 2003, his opportunity to play decreased from 2004 and he could not scored goal at all under Zico.[10]

Okubo was also part of the Japan U-23 national team for 2004 Summer Olympics, who exited in the first round, having finished fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy and Ghana.

In August 2007, Okubo was selected Japan for the first time in 2 years by manager Ivica Osim.[10] Okubo scored his first international goal on 17 October 2007 in a friendly against Egypt at Osaka Nagai Stadium.[10]

In 2010, Okubo was selected Japan for 2010 World Cup. He played as left midfielder in all 4 matches[10] and Japan qualified to the knockout stage.

Okubo's selection for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was the big surprise of coach Alberto Zaccheroni's squad announcement. The forward had previously played just once for the coach in four years.[11]

Club statistics

As of end of 2018 season[12][13][14]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AFC Other Total
2001Cerezo OsakaJ1 League2023011243
2002J2 League2918213119
2003J1 League241654303220
2004221510202515
Total95511156111257
Spain League Copa del Rey League Cup UEFA Other Total
2004/05MallorcaLa Liga133133
2005/0626211273
Total39511406
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AFC Other Total
2006Cerezo OsakaJ1 League2160000216
Total2160000216
2007Vissel KobeJ1 League311421503815
20083111113212
Total622532507027
Germany League DFB-Pokal League Cup UEFA Other Total
2008/09WolfsburgBundesliga902020130
Total902020130
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AFC Other1 Total
2009Vissel KobeJ1 League19811209
20101741100185
20113091010329
20122641032306
Total9225424210029
2013Kawasaki FrontaleJ1 League332643844533
201432181042814521
2015322332423927
201633156500104020
Total1308214101688110169101
2017FC TokyoJ1 League2880021309
Total2880021309
2018Kawasaki FrontaleJ1 League12200004011173
Total12200004011173
2018Júbilo IwataJ1 League1731000183
2019
Total1731000183
Career total 5052073620331214121590241

1Includes J.League Championship and Japanese Super Cup.

International

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
2003140
200430
200520
200600
200722
2008123
200990
2010110
201100
201210
201300
201461
Total606

International goals

Source:[10]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 October 2007Osaka, Japan Egypt4–1Won2007 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
2.17 October 2007Osaka, Japan Egypt4–1Won2007 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
3.6 February 2008Saitama, Japan Thailand4–1Won2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.2 June 2008Yokohama, Japan Oman3–0Won2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5.13 November 2008Kobe, Japan Syria3–1WonFriendly
6.6 June 2014Florida, United States Zambia4–3WonFriendly

Honours

Club

VfL Wolfsburg

Individual

References

  1. Yoshito Ōkubo at J.League (in Japanese)
  2. nikkansports.com(in Japanese)
  3. J.League
  4. J.League
  5. FW大久保嘉人選手の海外移籍について (in Japanese). vissel-kobe.co.jp. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  6. J.League
  7. FC Tokyo(in Japanese)
  8. J.League
  9. Júbilo Iwata
  10. Japan National Football Team Database
  11. McKirdy, Andrew (12 May 2014). "Zaccheroni chooses Okubo for World Cup". Japan Times. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  12. Júbilo Iwata
  13. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 8 out of 289)
  14. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 177 out of 289)
  15. "Mahdavikia scoops Asian best player award". FIFA. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.