Naoya Kikuchi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Naoya Kikuchi
菊地 直哉

Personal information
Full name	Naoya Kikuchi
Date of birth	(1984-11-24) November 24, 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.81 m
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Sagan Tosu (assistant manager)
Youth career
1997–1999	Shimizu S-Pulse
2000–2002	Shimizu Shogyo High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2007	Júbilo Iwata	79	(5)
2005	→ Albirex Niigata (loan)	15	(1)
2008–2009	Carl Zeiss Jena	20	(0)
2009–2010	Oita Trinita	45	(0)
2011–2013	Albirex Niigata	45	(1)
2013–2016	Sagan Tosu	71	(0)
2016–2018	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo	33	(0)
2019	Avispa Fukuoka	10	(0)
National team
2001	Japan U-17	3	(0)
2003	Japan U-20	5	(0)
2004	Japan U-23	1	(0)
2010	Japan	1	(0)
Honours Júbilo Iwata Runner-up J1 League 2003 Winner Emperor's Cup 2003 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2004 Representing  Japan AFC U-19 Championship Silver 2002 Qatar
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Naoya Kikuchi (菊地 直哉, Kikuchi Naoya, born November 24, 1984) is a Japanese football coach and former professional player. He was born in Shizuoka, Japan. He is currently an assistant manager for the J2 League club Sagan Tosu.

Kikuchi played as a central midfielder for most of his career. He could also play as a central defender or a left-back.

Football Journey: Club Career

Naoya Kikuchi started his football journey in youth teams. He played for the Shimizu S-Pulse junior youth team. Later, he attended Shimizu Commercial High School, which is famous for its strong soccer program. Many talented players, like Shinji Ono, came from this school.

Early Professional Years

After finishing high school, Kikuchi joined Júbilo Iwata in 2003. This was his first professional club. He also spent some time on loan at Albirex Niigata in 2005.

During his early career, Kikuchi even had try-outs with big European clubs. In 2002, he was invited to try out for Arsenal in England. He also had another trial with the Dutch team Feyenoord.

Moving to Germany and Back to Japan

In 2007, Kikuchi moved to Germany. He joined FC Carl Zeiss Jena, a German football club. He played there for two seasons, gaining experience in European football.

In the summer of 2009, Kikuchi returned to Japan. He signed with Oita Trinita in July 2009. Later, in 2010, he transferred to Albirex Niigata, where he had played on loan before. Kikuchi continued his professional career until he retired at the end of the 2019 season.

Representing Japan: International Career

Naoya Kikuchi also played for Japan's national teams at different age levels. He showed his talent from a young age.

Youth National Teams

Kikuchi was part of the Japan U-17 squad. He played in the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship, which is a big tournament for young players. He also represented Japan U-20 at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

In 2004, he was a member of the Japan U-23 team. This team competed in the 2004 Olympic football tournament.

Senior National Team Debut

Kikuchi made his debut for the senior Japan squad on January 6, 2010. This was during a qualification match for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup against Yemen.

Career Statistics

Club Performance

International Appearances

Source:

See also

In Spanish: Naoya Kikuchi para niños