Yusuke Kato
Yusuke Kato (加藤 友介, Katō Yūsuke, born 13 February 1986, in Osaka) is a Japanese football midfielder who plays for Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Bangladesh. Kato is the second Japanese player to play in Argentina's top division football league after Naohiro Takahara.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yusuke Kato | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Osaka, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Huracán | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Huracán | 15 | (1) |
| 2008 | → Def. de Belgrano (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2011 | MIO Biwako Kusatsu | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | Dempo | 4 | (1) |
| 2012 | BEC Tero Sasana | 12 | (2) |
| 2013 | Nakhon Ratchasima | 31 | (14) |
| 2014 | Samut Songkhram | 24 | (4) |
| 2015 | BBCU | 30 | (14) |
| 2016 | Udon Thani | 9 | (0) |
| 2016 | Angthong | 5 | (0) |
| 2017 | South China | 8 | (2) |
| 2017 | Persegres | 14 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | 21 | (7) |
| 2019–2020 | Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club | ||
| 2020- | Muktijoddha Sangsad KC | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:31, 1 January 2020 (UTC) | |||
At the age of 14, he went to Argentina to learn soccer, and after graduating from high school, went to Argentina again to play soccer.
He is the first Japanese soccer player to play in the first division (Primera Division) after promoting from the U-20 in Argentina.
Antonio Mohamed(2018 Mexico League champion), the manager of that time, said, “Kato is my son. He has a great scoring ability.”
The manager Osvaldo Ardiles (ex-Argentina international, World Cup Champion) said, “He can definitely play well in J League.”
The teammates who have played together so far are Javier Pastore (AS Rome, former PSG), Dani Osvaldo (ex-Italy international), Joaquín Larrivey (ex-Real Club Celta), Mario Bolatti (ex-Argentina international)
When he played in Thailand, he played under Sven-Göran Eriksson (ex-England international manager) and was said, “I assure that Kato’s ability to play in Thailand’s Top team.”
2012 I League (India) Champion
2013 Best 11 of the year in Thai League
2015 Promote to Thai League 1
2017 Hong Kong FA Cup Runner-up
Career
Argentina
Kato made Japanese football history when he joined Argentine Primera División side Huracán. He stayed there from 2006–2010 making 15 league appearances and scoring once. Kato scored his first goal for Huracán against Talleres de Cordoba in 2007.
Dempo
On 30 January 2012 it was confirmed that Kato had signed a deal with Indian I-League team Dempo S.C. for the 2011–12 season. He scored his first goal in I-League for Dempo S.C. on 24 March 2012 against HAL SC, in which Dempo won 3–0.