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Keita Suzuki facts for kids

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Keita Suzuki (born July 8, 1981) is a former Japanese football player. He was a talented midfielder who played for the Urawa Reds for his entire professional career. He also proudly represented the Japan national team. Keita Suzuki is a cousin of fellow footballer Koki Mizuno and is married to Japanese actress Hiroko Hatano.

Quick facts for kids
Keita Suzuki
鈴木 啓太
Personal information
Full name Keita Suzuki
Date of birth (1981-07-08) 8 July 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1997–1999 Tokai University Shoyo High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2015 Urawa Reds 379 (10)
National team
2006–2008 Japan 28 (0)
Honours
Urawa Reds
Winner AFC Champions League 2007
Winner J1 League 2006
Runner-up J1 League 2004
Runner-up J1 League 2005
Runner-up J1 League 2007
Runner-up J1 League 2014
Winner J.League Cup 2003
Runner-up J.League Cup 2002
Runner-up J.League Cup 2004
Runner-up J.League Cup 2011
Runner-up J.League Cup 2013
Winner Emperor's Cup 2005
Winner Emperor's Cup 2006
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2015
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver 2002 Busan Team
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Club Career

Playing for Urawa Reds

After finishing high school, Keita Suzuki joined the Urawa Reds football club in 2000. His first professional game was in December 2000. By 2001, he became a very important player in the middle of the field for Urawa.

He helped the club win the J1 League championship in 2006. Because of his great performance, he was chosen as one of the best players in the J.League that year. In 2007, his team won the AFC Champions League, which is a big competition for clubs in Asia. They also finished third in the FIFA Club World Cup. Keita Suzuki was even named the Japanese Footballer of the Year in 2007!

He played many games every season for Urawa Reds. However, in 2015, he didn't get to play as much. In October of that year, he announced he would be leaving the club. After the last game of the 2015 season, he decided to retire from football. He played his entire professional career with the Urawa Reds.

National Team Career

Playing for Japan

Keita Suzuki was the captain for the Japan U-23 national team. This team played in the qualifiers for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Even though he was a key player, he wasn't chosen for the final Olympic squad.

Later, the manager of the Japan senior national team, Ivica Osim, thought very highly of Suzuki. He gave Suzuki his first chance to play for the senior team in August 2006. Suzuki was so good that he was the only player who started every one of the 20 matches under Osim's management. Osim even compared him to a famous French midfielder named Claude Makélélé. Keita Suzuki played 28 games for Japan until 2008.

Honours

For Japan

  • Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1
    • 2007

For Urawa Red Diamonds

Individual Awards

  • Japanese Footballer of the Year: 1
    • 2007
  • J.League Best XI: 2
    • 2006, 2007
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