Daisuke Sakata facts for kids
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Daisuke Sakata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | January 16, 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Yokohama Flügels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Yokohama F. Marinos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2010 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 247 | (46) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Aris Thessaloniki | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | FC Tokyo | 10 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2017 | Avispa Fukuoka | 201 | (30) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 464 | (77) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Japan U-20 | 4 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Japan | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Daisuke Sakata (坂田 大輔, Sakata Daisuke, born January 16, 1983) is a former Japanese football player. He played as a forward. Sakata is well-known for his long career with Yokohama F. Marinos. He also played for the Japan national team.
Contents
What was Daisuke Sakata's club career like?
Early years and Yokohama F. Marinos
Daisuke Sakata started his football journey in the youth team of Yokohama Flügels. When that team merged with another in 1999, he joined the Yokohama F. Marinos youth team. He moved up to the main professional team in 2001.
His first game in the league was on June 16, 2001. He scored his first league goal on August 18, 2001. From 2003, he became a regular player for Yokohama F. Marinos. His team won the J1 League championship twice, in 2003 and 2004.
Playing in Greece and return to Japan
After ten years with Yokohama F. Marinos, Sakata moved to Greece in 2011. He joined a team called Aris Thessaloniki in the Superleague Greece. However, he only stayed there for a short time.
Later in 2011, he returned to Japan. He joined FC Tokyo for the second half of that season.
Time with Avispa Fukuoka and retirement
In January 2012, Sakata signed with Avispa Fukuoka. This team played in the J2 League, which is the second division of Japanese football. In 2015 J2 League, Avispa Fukuoka finished third. This great result meant they were promoted to the top league, the J1 League.
However, Avispa Fukuoka finished last in the 2016 J1 League and went back down to J2 after just one year. Daisuke Sakata decided to retire from playing football at the end of the 2017 season.
How did Daisuke Sakata play for his country?
Youth national team
Daisuke Sakata was an important player for the Japan U-20 national team. He played in the 2002 AFC Youth Championship held in Qatar. His team finished second, which allowed them to play in the 2003 World Youth Championship.
At the 2003 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, Sakata showed his scoring skills. He scored 4 goals during the tournament. This made him one of the top scorers, alongside other famous young players. Japan's team reached the quarter-finals but lost to Brazil.
Senior national team debut
Sakata made his first appearance for the main Japan national team on August 9, 2006. This was a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago. He came into the game in the 86th minute.
What about Daisuke Sakata's personal life?
Sakata married actress and TV personality Sayaka Fukuoka in February 2009.
What honors and awards did Daisuke Sakata win?
Team honors
- J1 League:
- Winners: 2003, 2004
- J.League Cup:
- Winners: 2001
- Japanese Super Cup:
- Winners: 2004, 2005
Personal awards
- 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship: Silver Shoe (for being one of the top scorers)
- J1 League Fair Play Player Award: 2007
See also
In Spanish: Daisuke Sakata para niños
