Keita Suzuki facts for kids
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.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Keita Suzuki | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1981 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Tokai University Shoyo High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2015 | Urawa Reds | 379 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Japan | 28 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contents
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
- J1 League: 1
- 2006
- J1 League First Stage: 1
- 2015
- Emperor's Cup: 2
- 2005, 2006
- J.League Cup: 1
- 2003
- AFC Champions League: 1
- 2007
- Japanese Super Cup: 1
- 2006
Individual Awards
- Japanese Footballer of the Year: 1
- 2007
- J.League Best XI: 2
- 2006, 2007
