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 famous Japanese former football player. He was born on July 25, 1972. He played as a midfielder or a forward. Okano also played for the Japan national team. He is known for his speed and exciting style of play.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting His Career
Masayuki Okano was born in Yokohama, Japan. He started his professional football journey in 1994. He joined a team called Urawa Reds. From his very first season, he played as a forward. He was a key player for the team in the 1990s.
Moving to Other Teams
In 2001, Okano's playing time at Urawa Reds became less. So, in September, he moved to another team called Vissel Kobe. There, he started playing more as a midfielder. After a few years, he returned to Urawa Reds in 2004.
Winning Championships
His second time with Urawa Reds was very successful. The team won the J1 League championship in 2006. They also won the Emperor's Cup twice, in 2005 and 2006. In Asia, his team won the 2007 AFC Champions League in 2007. This is a very big tournament for clubs in Asia.
Later Years and Retirement
In 2009, Okano played for a team in Hong Kong called TSW Pegasus. Later that year, he came back to Japan. He joined a team called Gainare Tottori. This team won their league in 2010. They were then promoted to a higher league, the J2 League. Masayuki Okano retired from playing football at the end of the 2013 season.
Playing for Japan
First Steps with the National Team
Masayuki Okano was chosen for the Japan national team in January 1995. This was for a tournament called the 1995 King Fahd Cup. He made his first appearance for Japan on September 20, 1995. This game was against the team from Paraguay. In 1996, he also played in the Asian Cup.
World Cup Hero
Okano played a very important role in helping Japan reach their first-ever FIFA World Cup. During the qualification games for the 1998 World Cup, Japan played a crucial match against Iran. In this game, Okano scored a special goal called a golden goal. This goal meant Japan won the game and qualified for the World Cup!
At the 1998 World Cup, he played for 29 minutes in a match against Croatia. He also played in the 1999 Copa America tournament. This was his last game for the Japan national team. Overall, he played 25 games for Japan and scored 2 goals.
Achievements and Awards
Team Trophies
Masayuki Okano won many important titles with his teams:
- Urawa Red Diamonds
- AFC Champions League: 2007
- J1 League: 2006
- Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006
- Japanese Super Cup: 2006
- Gainare Tottori
- Japan Football League: 2010
Individual Awards
He also received some personal awards for his great playing:
- J.League Best XI: 1996 (This means he was chosen as one of the best 11 players in the league that year.)
- J.League Fair Play Award: 1996 (This award is for players who show good sportsmanship.)
See also
In Spanish: Masayuki Okano para niños
