Kosuke Kitani facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kosuke Kitani | ||
| Date of birth | October 9, 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Kamagaya, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Sagan Tosu (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1996 | Shutoku High School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2004 | Omiya Ardija | 46 | (3) |
| 2005–2009 | Vegalta Sendai | 159 | (2) |
| 2010–2013 | Sagan Tosu | 75 | (6) |
| 2013–2014 | FC Gifu | 42 | (1) |
| Total | 322 | (12) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2024– | Sagan Tosu | ||
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Kosuke Kitani (木谷 公亮, Kitani Kosuke, born October 9, 1978) is a Japanese former football player. He played as a defender. After his playing days, he became a football manager. He is currently the manager of the J1 League team Sagan Tosu.
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Kosuke Kitani's Playing Career
Kosuke Kitani was born in Kamagaya, Japan, on October 9, 1978. After finishing his studies at Kokushikan University, he began his professional football journey.
Early Career at Omiya Ardija
In 2001, Kitani joined Omiya Ardija, a club in the J2 League (Japan's second-highest football league). He made his debut in his first season. However, he did not play much until the middle of 2003. From then on, he played many games as a defensive midfielder and a central defender. In 2004, his chances to play became less frequent. Even though Omiya Ardija finished second and moved up to the J1 League (the top league), Kitani left the club at the end of 2004. He did not get to play in the J1 League with them.
Time at Vegalta Sendai
In 2005, Kitani signed with another J2 club, Vegalta Sendai. He quickly became a regular player, usually playing as a central defender. He played many matches for them until 2008. In 2009, he found it harder to get playing time. This was because other strong defenders like Kodai Watanabe and Elizeu were also on the team. Vegalta Sendai won the J2 League in 2009 and moved up to the J1 League for 2010. Kitani, however, left the club at the end of the 2009 season.
Joining Sagan Tosu
In 2010, Kitani joined Sagan Tosu, another team in the J2 League. He quickly became a key player for them. In 2011, he played in all 38 matches of the season. Sagan Tosu finished second in the league, which meant they were promoted to the J1 League. This was the first time in his career that Kitani would play in Japan's top football league. In 2012, he played in the J1 League. However, he lost his regular spot and only played in 4 matches late in the season. In July 2013, Kitani moved to FC Gifu, another J2 League club. He played in all 17 matches for them in the 2013 season.
Retirement from Playing
Kosuke Kitani retired as a professional football player at the end of the 2014 season. He had a long career playing for several clubs in Japan's J.League.
Kosuke Kitani's Managerial Career
After his successful playing career, Kosuke Kitani decided to become a football manager. In 2024, he took on the role of manager for his former club, Sagan Tosu. This marks a new chapter in his football journey, now leading a team from the sidelines.
See also
