Saki Kumagai facts for kids
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Kumagai with Lyon in 2019
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 17 October 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender, Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | AS Roma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Tokiwagi Gakuen High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Urawa Reds | 44 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Frankfurt | 38 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2021 | Lyon | 152 | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Bayern Munich | 39 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2025 | AS Roma | 37 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | London City Lionesses | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Japan U-19 | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Japan U-20 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008– | Japan | 154 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Saki Kumagai (熊谷 紗希, Kumagai Saki, born 17 October 1990) is a Japanese footballer. She plays as a midfielder or defender. Saki currently plays for Women's Championship club London City Lionesses. She is also the captain of the Japan national team.
Saki is known for being a very smart player. She can predict what will happen in a game. She is also great at understanding tactics. She is considered one of the best female midfielders from Asia ever. Saki is one of the most successful footballers from East Asia. This includes both men and women players.
Saki started her professional career in Japan with Urawa Reds in 2009. In 2011, she moved to Europe. She joined Frauen-Bundesliga team FFC Frankfurt. In 2013, she moved to Olympique Lyonnais in France. She played over 240 games for Lyon. She won 19 titles with them! These included seven French league titles and five UEFA Women's Champions League titles. She was part of the team that won the "continental treble" four times. This means winning the league, the national cup, and the Champions League in one season.
After Lyon, Saki joined Bayern Munich in 2021. She won the German league title with them in the 2022–23 season. In 2023, she moved to Serie A team AS Roma in Italy.
Saki has played over 100 games for the Japan national team. She is the third most-capped female player for Japan. She first played for Japan in 2008 when she was 17. She has played in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments. She helped Japan win the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored the winning penalty kick in the final game! She also won a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2010. In 2018, Japan won the AFC Women's Asian Cup with her. She became the captain of the national team in January 2017.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Saki Kumagai was born in Sapporo, Japan, on October 17, 1990. After finishing high school, she joined Urawa Reds in 2009. Her team won the L.League championship in 2009.
Moving to Europe
In July 2011, Saki moved to Germany. She joined the Frauen-Bundesliga club Frankfurt. After playing for two seasons, she moved to France. In June 2013, she joined Division 1 Féminine club Lyon.
Success with Lyon
Saki had amazing success at Lyon. In the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final, she was named player of the match. She also scored the winning penalty kick for Lyon in that final!
In April 2021, Saki announced she would leave Lyon after eight seasons. The next month, on May 12, 2021, she returned to Germany. FC Bayern Munich announced her as their first new player for the season.
On June 5, 2023, it was announced that Saki had joined Serie A team AS Roma. She signed a three-year contract with them.
Playing for Her Country: Japan
On March 7, 2008, Saki Kumagai played her first game for the Japan national team. She was only 17 years old. The game was against Canada.
Youth National Teams
In August 2008, Saki was chosen for the Japan U-20 national team. She played in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. In 2010, she was the captain of the U-20 team during the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
World Cup Winner
In 2011, Saki was part of Japan's team that won the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored the winning penalty in the final against the United States. This was a huge moment in her career!
She also played in the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2015 World Cup. Japan finished second in both of these big tournaments.
Captaincy and Recent Games
In January 2017, Saki was named Japan's captain. In 2018, Japan won the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup with her leading the team. She has played more than 100 games for Japan. On November 10, 2019, Saki scored her first goal for Japan in a friendly match. Japan won 2–0 against South Africa.
On June 13, 2023, Saki was chosen for Japan's 23-player team for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Career Statistics Summary
Saki Kumagai has played many games for her clubs and country.
- For her clubs, she has played over 440 games and scored over 70 goals.
- For the Japan national team, she has played 154 games and scored 3 goals.
International Goals
Saki has scored important goals for Japan:
- Her first goal was in a friendly game against South Africa in 2019.
- She scored in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup against Vietnam.
- She also scored in the 2024 Summer Olympics against Brazil.
Honours and Awards
Saki Kumagai has won many awards and championships throughout her career:
Urawa Reds
- Nadeshiko League: 2009
Lyon
- Première Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Coupe de France: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Trophée des Championnes: 2019
Bayern Munich
- Frauen-Bundesliga: 2022–23
AS Roma
- Serie A Femminile: 2023–24
- Coppa Italia (women): 2023–24
- Supercoppa Italiana (women): 2024
- Japan National Team
- FIFA Women's World Cup - Winner: 2011, Runner-up: 2015
- Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 2012
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2018
- Asian Games: 2010
- East Asian Football Championship: 2010
Japan U20
- AFC U-19 Women's Championship: 2009
Individual Awards
- Asian Women's Footballer of the Year: 2019
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2018, 2020
- IFFHS World's Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
- IFFHS AFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
- Women's Golden Foot: 2024
See also
In Spanish: Saki Kumagai para niños
- List of women's footballers with 100 or more caps
