Shinji Kagawa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The native form of this personal name is Kagawa Shinji. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

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Shinji Kagawa

Kagawa with Japan at the 2018 World Cup

Personal information

Date of birth

17 March 1989 (age 36)

Place of birth

Kobe, Japan

Height

1.75 m

Playing position

Midfielder

Club information

Current club

Cerezo Osaka

Number

Youth career

1994–1999

Marino FC

1999–2001

Kobe NK FC

2001–2005

FC Miyagi Barcelona

2005–2007

Cerezo Osaka

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2007–2010

Cerezo Osaka

125

(55)

2010–2012

Borussia Dortmund

(21)

2012–2014

Manchester United

(6)

2014–2019

Borussia Dortmund

(20)

2018

Borussia Dortmund II

(0)

2019

→ Beşiktaş (loan)

(4)

2019–2020

Real Zaragoza

(4)

2021

PAOK

(0)

2022–2023

Sint-Truiden

(2)

2023–

Cerezo Osaka

(2)

National team^‡

2006–2008

Japan U19

(0)

2007

Japan U20

(0)

2008

Japan U23

(0)

2008–2019

Japan

(31)

Honours

Men's football

Representing Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Winner	2011 Qatar

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 February 2024 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 August 2019 (UTC)

Shinji Kagawa (Japanese: 香川真司, Kagawa Shinji; born on March 17, 1989) is a Japanese professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the J1 League club Cerezo Osaka. Many people think he is one of the best Japanese players ever.

Kagawa started his career in Japan with Cerezo Osaka. Then, in 2010, he moved to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. After two great years there, Kagawa joined Manchester United in England. Two years later, he went back to Dortmund. Shinji Kagawa holds the record for the most games played and goals scored by a Japanese player in UEFA club competitions. He also played for clubs in Turkey, Spain, Greece, and Belgium before returning to Japan in 2023 to play for his first club, Cerezo Osaka.

He first played for the Japanese national team in May 2008. Since then, he has played over 90 games and scored over 30 goals for his country. In 2012, Kagawa was named the Asian Football Confederation International Player of the Year.

Shinji Kagawa's Football Journey
Playing for Japan
How Shinji Kagawa Plays
Shinji Kagawa's Awards
Images for kids
See also

Shinji Kagawa's Football Journey

Shinji Kagawa was born in Kobe, Japan. He started playing football when he was just five years old. He played for a few youth clubs before a big team noticed his talent.

Starting with Cerezo Osaka

Cerezo Osaka saw how good Kagawa was and signed him when he was only 17. He was the first Japanese player to sign a professional contract before finishing high school. This was very special! In 2007, he became a regular player for the team. In 2009, he was the top scorer in the J.League Division 2, which made many people notice him.

Becoming a Star at Borussia Dortmund

First Time in Germany (2010–2012)

Kagawa playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2011

In the summer of 2010, Kagawa moved from Cerezo to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. The transfer cost was not very high because of a special rule in his contract. This rule allowed him to leave cheaply if he got a chance to play in Europe.

He played his first game in the Bundesliga on August 23, 2010. He quickly scored his first goals for Dortmund in a UEFA Europa League game. Then, he scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfL Wolfsburg. He even scored two goals against their big rivals, Schalke 04, which made him a fan favorite!

Kagawa got injured while playing for Japan, so he missed half of the Bundesliga season. But he still scored eight goals in 18 games. His great start helped his team win the Bundesliga championship. He was even chosen for the Bundesliga Best XI team!

Winning More with Dortmund (2011–2012)

Kagawa was back and ready for the 2011–12 season. He quickly got back into the starting team. He scored his first goal of the season in September. On October 22, Kagawa scored early in a big 5–0 win against 1. FC Köln. He scored again in November as Dortmund beat VfL Wolfsburg 5–1.

In January 2012, Kagawa scored twice in a 3–1 win against Hoffenheim. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Werder Bremen in March. Kagawa scored two more goals in a huge 6–1 win against Cologne. Borussia Dortmund won the Bundesliga again in 2012, setting a new record for the most points in a season (81 points). Kagawa also scored a goal and helped with another in the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final against Bayern Munich. He finished that season with 13 goals and 8 assists.

Playing for Manchester United

Kagawa training with Manchester United in 2012

On June 5, 2012, Manchester United announced that Kagawa would join their team. He became the first Japanese player to play for Manchester United. The transfer fee was about £12 million. Kagawa passed his medical and got his work permit, and the deal was complete on June 22. He wore the number 26 shirt. Kagawa said he would always remember Borussia Dortmund and their fans.

Kagawa played his first game for Manchester United in a friendly match in South Africa on July 18, 2012. He scored his first goal for them against Shanghai Shenhua a few days later. He made his Premier League debut on August 20, 2012. He scored his first Premier League goal on August 25 in his home debut against Fulham.

On September 19, Kagawa started his first UEFA Champions League game for United. He helped set up the winning goal in a 1–0 win against Galatasaray. In October, he twisted his knee in a Champions League game, which kept him out for two months. He came back from injury in January 2013.

On March 2, 2013, Kagawa scored his first hat-trick for United. He was also the first Asian player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League! This happened in a 4–0 win against Norwich City. On April 22, Kagawa helped United win the Premier League title against Aston Villa. He became the first Japanese player to win a Premier League title.

Coming Back to Dortmund

Kagawa playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2014

On August 31, 2014, Kagawa went back to his old club, Borussia Dortmund. He signed a contract until 2018 and wore the number 7 shirt. In his first game back, Kagawa scored a goal and helped with another in a 3–1 win against SC Freiburg.

On July 14, 2017, Kagawa signed a new contract with Dortmund until 2020. In the first half of the 2018–19 season, Kagawa didn't play much because of injuries and the coach's choices. So, he joined the Turkish club Beşiktaş on loan for the rest of the season.

Playing in Other Countries

On August 9, 2019, Kagawa moved to Real Zaragoza in Spain. He signed a two-year contract. He played his first game for them on August 17, 2019, and scored his first goal eight days later. His contract with Zaragoza ended in October 2020.

On January 27, 2021, Kagawa joined PAOK in Greece. That season, PAOK won the Greek Cup. Kagawa played in 3 matches and gave one assist in the competition. He left PAOK in December 2021, after playing only 12 games.

On January 10, 2022, Kagawa signed with the Belgian club Sint-Truiden.

Back to Cerezo Osaka

On January 31, 2023, Kagawa returned to Japan. He rejoined his first professional club, Cerezo Osaka, for free. On March 12, in his first start for the club in 14 years, he scored his first goal. This helped Cerezo Osaka win their first game of the season against Sagan Tosu.

Playing for Japan

Kagawa played for the Japan under-20 national team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2008, he was also chosen to play for the Japan team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

On May 24, 2008, he played his first game for the senior national team in a friendly match. Japan won 1–0 against Ivory Coast. However, he was not chosen for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In September 2010, he scored the only goal in Japan's win over Paraguay.

Kagawa was part of the Japan team for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. In the quarter-final against Qatar, he scored two goals, helping Japan win 3–2. In the semi-final against South Korea, Kagawa broke a bone in his foot. This meant he missed the final, where Japan beat Australia to win the cup.

Kagawa was also in Japan's team for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He scored a goal against Italy in a game Japan lost 4–3. He played in his first World Cup in 2014, but Japan was eliminated early.

At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Kagawa scored Japan's second goal in a 2–0 win against Jordan. He was named man of the match. In the quarter-final against the United Arab Emirates, the game ended 1–1. Kagawa missed his penalty kick in the shootout, and Japan lost.

How Shinji Kagawa Plays

Kagawa is a very skilled and creative player. He is a attacking midfielder who helps create goals. He can also play on the left or right side of the field. Kagawa is calm with the ball and makes smart decisions when passing. He is quick and moves around the opponent's defense to find good passes or through balls. He is great at attacking, both with and without the ball. He also has excellent positioning, which helps him score goals. His best qualities are his quickness, smart passing, creativity, and ability to find key passes. He is quite fast and can score goals himself. When playing for Japan, he often plays as a left midfielder or a central attacking midfielder.