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Yoshito Ōkubo

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Yoshito Okubo
Okubo in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-06-09) 9 June 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Kanda, Fukuoka, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1998–2000 Kunimi High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2006 Cerezo Osaka 87 (39)
2005–2006 → Mallorca (loan) 39 (5)
2007–2008 Vissel Kobe 62 (25)
2009 VfL Wolfsburg 9 (0)
2009–2012 Vissel Kobe 92 (25)
2013–2016 Kawasaki Frontale 130 (82)
2017 FC Tokyo 28 (8)
2018 Kawasaki Frontale 12 (2)
2018–2019 Júbilo Iwata 37 (4)
2020 Tokyo Verdy 19 (0)
2021 Cerezo Osaka 29 (6)
Total 544 (196)
International career
2004 Japan U23 3 (2)
2003–2014 Japan 60 (6)
Medal record
Cerezo Osaka
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2001
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2003
Kawasaki Frontale
Winner J1 League 2018
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2016
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Busan Team
AFC U-19 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2000 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yoshito Okubo (大久保 嘉人, Ōkubo Yoshito, born 9 June 1982) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward.[1] He played for the Japan national team scoring 6 goals in 60 appearances

Club career

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Okubo was born in Kanda, Fukuoka on 9 June 1982. After graduating from high school, he joined J1 League club Cerezo Osaka in 2001. He played many matches as forward and offensive midfielder from first season. However Cerezo finished at the bottom place in 2001 season and was relegated to J2 League. In 2002 season, he scored 18 goals which was the second top scorer and Cerezo reached the second place and was returned to J1 in a year. From 2003, he scored more than 15 goals in J1. He was also selected Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2003.

In 2005, Okubo moved to La Liga club Mallorca on loan. Although the club results were bad, Mallorca finished at 17th place and remained La Liga in 2004–05 season. Although he played many matches as substitute forward in 2005–06 season, his opportunity to play decreased from April 2006.[2]

In June 2006, Okubo returned to Cerezo Osaka. At then Cerezo won only one of 13 matches and at the bottom place of 18 clubs in 2006 season.[3] Although he played as forward all matches excluding suspension, Cerezo finished at the 17th place and was relegated to J2 again.[4]

In 2007, Okubo moved to J1 club Vissel Kobe. He played many matches as left midfielder in two seasons under manager Hiroshi Matsuda and scored more than ten goals both seasons.

On 3 January 2009, Vissel Kobe announced Okubo's transfer to VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga.[5] After just six months with Wolfsburg, he returned to Vissel Kobe. Upon his return, he became the first Japanese striker to have won the Bundesliga title.

In June 2009, Okubo returned to Japan and re-joined Vissel Kobe. He played as forward all 19 matches and scored 8 goals in 2009 season.[6] Although his opportunity to play decreased for injuries in 2010, he played as regular player until 2012. However Vissel finished at the 16th place in 2012 season and was relegated to J2 League.

After Vissel Kobe was relegated to the J2 League in 2013 season, Okubo transferred to Kawasaki Frontale. An ever-present figure and a regular starting eleven in Kawasaki, he scored 26 goals in his debut season in the Kanagawa Prefecture football club and clinched top scorer of 2013 season. He played more than 30 matches every season and he became a top scorer for 3 years in a row until 2015 season.

At the end of 2016 season and before J.League Championship, Okubo announced he would leave Kawasaki Frontale to sign for FC Tokyo in 2017.[7] He played in one season and scored eight goals.

In 2018, Okubo re-joined Kawasaki Frontale. However he could not as regular player and he mainly played as substitute forward.[8]

In June 2018, Okubo moved to Júbilo Iwata.[9]

International career

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In 2003, Okubo was selected Japan national team by manager Zico. He made his international debut on 31 May 2003 in a friendly against South Korea at Tokyo National Stadium when he was sent on to the pitch to replace Takayuki Suzuki.[10] Although he played many matches as forward in 2003, his opportunity to play decreased from 2004 as he struggled to score goals under Zico.[10]

Okubo was also part of the Japan U-23 national team for 2004 Summer Olympics, who exited in the first round, having finished fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy and Ghana.

In August 2007, Okubo was selected Japan for the first time in 2 years by manager Ivica Osim.[10] Okubo scored his first international goal on 17 October 2007 in a friendly against Egypt at Osaka Nagai Stadium.[10]

In 2010, Okubo was selected Japan for 2010 World Cup. He played as left midfielder in all 4 matches[10] and Japan qualified to the knockout stage.

Okubo's selection for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was the big surprise of coach Alberto Zaccheroni's squad announcement. The forward had previously played just once for the coach in four years.[11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of end of 2023 season[12][13][14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cerezo Osaka 2001 J1 League 20 2 3 0 1 1 — — 24 3
2002 J2 League 29 18 2 1 — — — 31 19
2003 J1 League 24 16 5 4 3 0 — — 32 20
2004 22 15 1 0 2 0 — — 25 15
Total 95 51 11 5 6 1 — — 112 57
Mallorca (loan) 2004–05 La Liga 13 3 — — — — 13 3
2005–06 26 2 1 1 — — — 27 3
Total 39 5 1 1 — — — 40 6
Cerezo Osaka 2006 J1 League 21 6 0 0 0 0 — — 21 6
Vissel Kobe 2007 J1 League 31 14 2 1 5 0 — — 38 15
2008 31 11 1 1 — — — 32 12
Total 62 25 3 2 5 0 — — 70 27
VfL Wolfsburg 2008–09 Bundesliga 9 0 2 0 — 2 0 — 13 0
Vissel Kobe 2009 J1 League 19 8 1 1 — — — 20 9
2010 17 4 1 1 0 0 — — 18 5
2011 30 9 1 0 1 0 — — 32 9
2012 26 4 1 0 3 2 — — 30 6
Total 92 25 4 2 4 2 — — 100 29
Kawasaki Frontale 2013 J1 League 33 26 4 3 8 4 — — 45 33
2014 32 18 1 0 4 2 8 1 — 45 21
2015 32 23 3 2 4 2 — — 39 27
2016 33 15 6 5 0 0 — 1 0 40 20
Total 130 82 14 10 16 8 8 1 1 0 169 101
FC Tokyo 2017 J1 League 28 8 0 0 2 1 — — 30 9
Kawasaki Frontale 2018 12 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 17 3
Júbilo Iwata 2018 17 3 1 0 0 0 — 1 0 19 3
2019 20 1 2 0 0 0 — — 22 1
Total 37 4 3 0 0 0 — 1 0 41 4
Tokyo Verdy 2020 J2 League 19 0 — — — — 19 0
Cerezo Osaka 2021 J1 League 29 6 2 1 5 0 6 1 — 42 8
Career total 573 214 40 21 38 12 20 2 3 1 674 250
  1. ^ Includes J.League Championship and Japanese Super Cup.

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2003 14 0
2004 3 0
2005 2 0
2006 0 0
2007 2 2
2008 12 3
2009 9 0
2010 11 0
2011 0 0
2012 1 0
2013 0 0
2014 6 1
Total 60 6
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ōkubo goal.
List of international goals scored by Yoshito Ōkubo[10]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 October 2007 Osaka, Japan  Egypt 4–1 2007 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
2
3 6 February 2008 Saitama, Japan  Thailand 4–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 2 June 2008 Yokohama, Japan  Oman 3–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 13 November 2008 Kobe, Japan  Syria 3–1 Friendly
6 6 June 2014 Florida, United States  Zambia 4–3 Friendly

Honours

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VfL Wolfsburg

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Yoshito Ōkubo at J.League (archive) (in Japanese) Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ nikkansports.com(in Japanese)
  3. ^ J.League
  4. ^ J.League
  5. ^ ＦＷ大久保嘉人選手の海外移籍について (in Japanese). vissel-kobe.co.jp. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  6. ^ J.League
  7. ^ FC Tokyo(in Japanese)
  8. ^ J.League
  9. ^ Júbilo Iwata
  10. ^ a b c d e f Japan National Football Team Database
  11. ^ McKirdy, Andrew (12 May 2014). "Zaccheroni chooses Okubo for World Cup". Japan Times. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  12. ^ Júbilo Iwata
  13. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 8 out of 289)
  14. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 177 out of 289)
  15. ^ "Mahdavikia scoops Asian best player award". FIFA. 11 December 2003. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
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