Masayuki Okano facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 July 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–1990 | Matsue Nihon University High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1993 | Nihon University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–2001 | Urawa Reds | 211 | (36) |
| 2001–2003 | Vissel Kobe | 58 | (4) |
| 2004–2008 | Urawa Reds | 58 | (2) |
| 2009 | TSW Pegasus | 9 | (1) |
| 2009–2013 | Gainare Tottori | 66 | (1) |
| Total | 402 | (44) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–1999 | Japan | 25 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Masayuki Okano (岡野 雅行, Okano Masayuki, born 25 July 1972) is a Japanese former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder or forward. He was also a member of the Japan national team.
Playing for Clubs
Masayuki Okano was born in Yokohama, Japan, on July 25, 1972. He started his professional football journey with Urawa Reds in 1994. In his early years, he often played as a forward, scoring many goals.
He played for Urawa Reds for several years. In 2001, he moved to Vissel Kobe where he played as a midfielder. He returned to Urawa Reds in 2004.
During his second time with Urawa Reds, the team won some big titles. They won the J1 League in 2006. They also won the Emperor's Cup twice, in 2005 and 2006.
In 2007, his team, Urawa Reds, won the 2007 AFC Champions League. This is a very important competition for Asian football clubs.
In 2009, Okano played for a club in Hong Kong called TSW Pegasus. Later that year, he came back to Japan. He joined Gainare Tottori, a team in the Japan Football League.
Gainare Tottori won their league in 2010. This win helped them move up to a higher league, the J2 League. Masayuki Okano retired from playing football at the end of the 2013 season.
Playing for Japan
Masayuki Okano also played for the Japan national team. He was first chosen for the team in January 1995 for the 1995 King Fahd Cup. He made his first appearance for Japan on September 20, 1995, in a game against Paraguay.
In 1996, he played in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup. This is a major tournament for national teams in Asia.
One of his most famous moments was during the qualifying games for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In a crucial match against Iran, he scored a "golden goal." A golden goal means the game ends as soon as a goal is scored in extra time. This goal helped Japan qualify for the World Cup for the very first time!
At the 1998 World Cup, he played as a substitute in a game against Croatia. He also played in the 1999 Copa America. This competition was his last time playing for the national team. Overall, he played 25 games for Japan and scored 2 goals.
Achievements and Awards
Masayuki Okano achieved many great things during his football career.
With Urawa Red Diamonds
- AFC Champions League: 2007 (Champions of Asia!)
- J1 League: 2006 (Top league champions in Japan)
- Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006 (A major cup competition in Japan)
- Japanese Super Cup: 2006
With Gainare Tottori
- Japan Football League: 2010 (Champions of a lower league, helping the team get promoted)
Individual Awards
- J.League Best XI: 1996 (Chosen as one of the best 11 players in the league)
- J.League Fair Play Award: 1996 (Recognized for playing fairly)
Other Achievements
- DDT Pro-Wrestling: Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time) - This is a fun, unique championship in professional wrestling!
See also
In Spanish: Masayuki Okano para niños
