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Akira Kaji
加地 亮
Akira Kaji-2.jpg
Kaji with Gamba Osaka in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-01-13) 13 January 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth Minamiawaji, Hyogo, Japan
Height 1.77 m
Playing position Defender
Youth career
1995–1997 Takigawa Daini High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Cerezo Osaka 24 (0)
2000–2001 Oita Trinita 75 (3)
2002–2005 FC Tokyo 89 (1)
2006–2014 Gamba Osaka 225 (2)
2014 Chivas USA 15 (0)
2015–2017 Fagiano Okayama 86 (1)
Total 514 (7)
National team
1998–1999 Japan U20 8 (1)
2003–2008 Japan 64 (2)
Honours
FC Tokyo
Winner J.League Cup 2004
Gamba Osaka
Winner AFC Champions League 2008
Winner J1 League 2014
Runner-up J1 League 2010
Winner J.League Cup 2007
Winner J.League Cup 2014
Winner Emperor's Cup 2008
Winner Emperor's Cup 2009
Winner Emperor's Cup 2014
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2006
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2012
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Gold 2004 China
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Silver 1999 Nigeria
AFC U-19 Championship
Silver 1998 Thailand
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Akira Kaji (加地 亮, Kaji Akira, born 13 January 1980) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He was born on January 13, 1980. Kaji played as a defender. He was also a key player for the Japan national team until 2008.

Club Career Highlights

Akira Kaji started his football journey after finishing high school. He joined Cerezo Osaka in 1998. It was a bit tough for him to get a regular spot on the team at first.

Playing for Oita Trinita

In 2000, Kaji moved to J2 League team Oita Trinita. He played there for two years. This move helped him gain more experience on the field.

Success with FC Tokyo

Kaji returned to the top league, J1 League, in 2002. He joined FC Tokyo. His coach, Hiromi Hara, made him a regular player. Kaji even got to play a more attacking role, which was exciting for a defender!

In 2004, his team won the 2004 J.League Cup. They beat Urawa Reds in a thrilling final. The game ended in a 0–0 tie, so it went to a penalty shootout. Kaji scored the final penalty kick for FC Tokyo, helping them win the cup!

Time at Gamba Osaka

Kaji moved to Gamba Osaka in 2006. He even scored a goal in his very first league match against Urawa Reds. He was so good that he was chosen for the 2006 J.League Best XI, which means he was one of the best players in the league that year.

With Gamba Osaka, Kaji won many important trophies. The team won the 2007 J.League Cup, and the Emperor's Cup in 2008 and 2009. They also won the AFC Champions League in 2008, which is a huge competition for Asian clubs. They even got third place in the 2008 Club World Cup. Later in his time there, injuries made it harder for him to play as much.

Later Career and Retirement

After eight years with Gamba Osaka, Kaji joined Major League Soccer club Chivas USA in the United States in 2014. However, the club stopped playing that same year. Kaji then returned to Japan and joined Fagiano Okayama in 2015. He played there until the end of the 2017 season, when he decided to retire from professional football.

International Career

Akira Kaji also had a great career playing for Japan's national teams.

Youth National Team

He was part of the Japan U20 national team. In 1999, they played in the 1999 World Youth Championship finals. His team did very well and finished as runners-up!

Senior National Team

Kaji played his first game for the Japan national team on October 8, 2003. This was in a friendly match against Tunisia. The coach, Zico, thought highly of Kaji. He made Kaji the main right full-back for the team.

Kaji was a key player when Japan won the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China. In a game against Brazil in 2005, a goal he scored was unfortunately not allowed. His first official goal for Japan came on August 17, 2005, during a World Cup qualification game against Iran.

He was chosen for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. Before the tournament, he got an ankle injury during a match against Germany. Even with the injury, the coach decided to keep him on the team. He missed Japan's first game but played in the rest of the matches.

After the 2006 World Cup, a new coach, Ivica Osim, continued to pick Kaji for the national team. Kaji played in all of Japan's games at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. On May 20, 2008, he announced that he was retiring from international football. He played a total of 64 games for Japan and scored 2 goals.

Honors and Achievements

Akira Kaji won many awards and championships during his football career.

With Japan National Team

Individual Awards

  • J.League Best XI – 2006 (One of the best players in the league)

See also

A robot friend for kids! In Spanish: Akira Kaji para niños

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