Takumi Minamino facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Takumi Minamino
南野 拓実

Minamino with Red Bull Salzburg in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth	Izumisano, Japan
Height	1.72 m
Playing position	Attacking midfielder, winger
Club information
Current club	Monaco
Number	18
Youth career
2004–2006	Sessel Kumatori SC
2007–2012	Cerezo Osaka
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2012–2015	Cerezo Osaka	62	(7)
2015–2020	Red Bull Salzburg	136	(42)
2020–2022	Liverpool	55	(14)
2021	→ Southampton (loan)	10	(2)
2022–	Monaco	63	(11)
National team‡
2010–2011	Japan U17	15	(6)
2012	Japan U20	8	(5)
2015–2016	Japan Olympic	14	(4)
2015–	Japan	65	(24)
Honours Men's football Representing  Japan AFC Asian Cup Runner-up 2019 UAE AFC U-23 Championship Winner 2016 Qatar
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2025. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2024

Takumi Minamino (born January 16, 1995) is a Japanese professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder or winger. He currently plays for Ligue 1 club Monaco and the Japan national team.

Minamino started his club career at J.League Division 1 club Cerezo Osaka in 2012. In his first season, he was named the J.League Rookie of the Year. In 2014, he moved to Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg. He had four successful seasons there. After playing very well for Salzburg, he joined Liverpool on January 1, 2020. He won the 2019–20 Premier League in his first season with Liverpool.

Minamino first played for the senior Japan national team in 2015. He was a key player when Japan reached the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He also played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Early Life and Inspiration

Takumi Minamino was born in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. When he was in elementary school, he played for a local club called Sessel Kumatori. He loved watching the Brazilian football star Ronaldo. Ronaldo was famous for his amazing dribbling and scoring goals. Minamino was inspired by Ronaldo's moves and would practice them outside.

His older brother, Kenta, also inspired him. Their father would set up cones in a car park. They would practice dribbling around them very fast. Minamino described himself as a very active child when he was growing up.

Club Football Journey

Starting at Cerezo Osaka

Minamino joined the Cerezo Osaka youth team when he was 12 years old. He moved up through their training system. While he was in the youth team, he got to watch and even train with first-team players like Shinji Kagawa. He said the training was "insanely tough."

In 2009, Minamino was the top scorer in Japan's U15 Club Youth Soccer Championship. He scored eight goals! The next year, he helped Cerezo Osaka's U15 team win the Prince League Kansai. He even scored three goals in one game. In 2011, he played for the U18 team and was one of their top scorers. He also helped them reach the final of the J Youth Cup, where he was the top scorer with thirteen goals.

Minamino joined Cerezo Osaka's first team in August 2012. He made his debut on November 17, 2012. He scored his first goal for the club in December 2012 in the Emperor's Cup. In 2013, he became a regular player and was given the number thirteen shirt. He became the youngest goal scorer for the club in the J.League Division 1. He even scored a great goal in a friendly match against Manchester United. Their players and coach praised his performance.

At the end of 2013, Minamino won the J.League Best Newcomer award. This was a big achievement for him. In 2014, he played in the AFC Champions League. He scored his first goals in that competition in a 4–0 win. However, his second season was harder, and the club was moved down to a lower league. After this, many European clubs became interested in signing him.

Moving to Red Bull Salzburg

Minamino playing for Red Bull Salzburg in 2015

Red Bull Salzburg had been watching Minamino for a long time. They signed him on January 7, 2015. He made his debut for Red Bull Salzburg on February 13, 2015. He scored his first goals for the club on March 4, 2015. He quickly became an important player in the midfield.

Minamino helped Red Bull Salzburg win the Austrian league in his first season. They also won the Austrian Cup. He continued to score goals in the 2015–16 season, helping them win the league again. In the 2016–17 season, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for the club. He helped them win both the Austrian Cup and the league for the third time in a row.

In the 2017–18 season, Salzburg had their best ever European journey. They reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League. Minamino scored important goals in the knockout stages. He helped the team win the league for the fourth time in a row. In the 2018–19 season, he scored another hat-trick in a Europa League match against Rosenborg. He helped Salzburg win the league for the fifth time in a row and also the Austrian Cup. By the end of 2019, he had scored many goals for the club.

Playing for Liverpool

Minamino (front) playing for Liverpool in 2021

In December 2019, Liverpool decided to sign Minamino from Salzburg. He joined them on January 1, 2020, becoming the first Japanese player for the club. He made his Liverpool debut in an FA Cup game on January 5, 2020. He then played his first Premier League game later that month.

On August 29, 2020, Minamino scored his first goal for Liverpool in the Community Shield match. On December 19, he scored his first league goal for Liverpool in a big 7–0 win.

In February 2021, Minamino went on loan to Southampton for a short time. He scored on his debut for Southampton. He played ten games for them and scored two goals. He then returned to Liverpool for the 2021–22 season.

In November 2021, Minamino scored his first goal at Liverpool's home stadium, Anfield. In December 2021, he scored a last-minute goal in the EFL Cup against Leicester City. Liverpool went on to win the EFL Cup that season. He also scored goals in the 2021–22 FA Cup, helping Liverpool reach the quarter-finals. Liverpool won the FA Cup that season too.

Moving to Monaco

On June 28, 2022, Minamino signed a four-year contract with Monaco. He played in 12 matches during his first half-season, scoring one goal and making one assist.

In the 2023-2024 season, Minamino started playing regularly for Monaco. He scored two goals and made an assist in a home game against Strasbourg. He also scored a goal against FC Nantes. He continued to play well, setting up another goal for his teammate in a 3–0 win over Lens.

International Career for Japan

Youth Teams

Minamino played for Japan's youth teams, including the U15 and U16 sides. In the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship, he scored three goals in the group stage. He also scored in the quarter-finals. He was the top scorer in that tournament.

In 2011, he played for the Japan U-17 national team in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He scored one goal in that competition. In 2014, he played for Japan U19 in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship. He scored four goals in that tournament.

In 2016, Minamino was part of the Japan U23 team that won the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship. He played in all the matches leading up to the final. He also played in the 2016 Summer Olympics and scored a goal against Nigeria.

Senior National Team

Minamino made his debut for the Japan national team in a friendly game against Iran on October 13, 2015. He scored his first goal for Japan on September 11, 2018, in a 3–0 win against Costa Rica. He then scored more goals against Panama and two goals against Uruguay.

In December 2018, Minamino was chosen to play in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He helped Japan reach the final, where he scored his first Asian Cup goal. Japan finished as runner-up in that tournament. Minamino continued to score many goals for Japan throughout 2019. He has played in important tournaments like the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

How He Plays

Minamino playing for Red Bull Salzburg 2018

When Minamino played for Salzburg, he had a flexible attacking role. This meant he could move freely around the field. He was good at finding open spaces, making smart passes, and moving with skill.

Even though he isn't a very big player, his smaller size is an advantage. His low center of gravity helps him run past other players easily.

Liverpool's manager, Jürgen Klopp, praised Minamino a lot. Before Minamino joined Liverpool, Klopp said he was a "classy" and "best talent." After a game, Klopp also said Minamino was "everywhere" on the field. He said Minamino "defends like a devil" and is very involved in attacking plays.

Fun Facts About Takumi Minamino

On January 14, 2014, Takumi Minamino set a Guinness World Record! He achieved the record for the most high fives in one minute while running. He got 187 high fives at a shopping street in Japan.

Besides speaking Japanese, Minamino also speaks German. He learned it during his time playing for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

His friends and teammates often call him "Taki." This is a short and friendly nickname from his first name, Takumi.

Honours and Awards

Red Bull Salzburg

• Austrian Bundesliga: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
• Austrian Cup: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19

Liverpool

• Premier League: 2019–20
• EFL Cup: 2021–22
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2021–22

Japan U23

• AFC U-23 Asian Championship: 2016

Japan

• AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2019

Individual Awards

• J.League Rookie of the Year: 2013
• Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize's Rookie Award: 2013
• IFFHS Asian Men's Team of the Year: 2020, 2022
• Ligue 1 Fans' Team of the Season: 2023–24

Images for kids

• 

  Minamino (right) celebrating winning the 2014–15 Austrian Football Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg

• 

  Minamino playing for Red Bull Salzburg in 2018

See also

In Spanish: Takumi Minamino para niños