Shinji Okazaki

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Template:Short description

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Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is best known for winning the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016.

Internationally, he is Japan's third all-time top goalscorer with 50 goals.

Club career

Shimizu S-Pulse

After graduating Takigawa Daini High School in 2004, Okazaki signed full professional terms with Shimizu S-Pulse the following year. In December 2005, he made his first J.League appearance as a substitute against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. On 15 April 2007, he scored his first professional goal against Kawasaki Frontale. Okazaki ended his first season as a first team player with three goals from 13 matches.

Okazaki scored ten times in 27 matches during the 2008 J. League season and also represented S-Pulse in the J. League Cup Final, where the team lost 2–0 to Oita Trinita. He continued his promising goalscoring in the 2009 and 2010 seasons and, in January 2011, was signed by German side VfB Stuttgart of the Bundesliga.[1]

VfB Stuttgart

File:Shinji okazaki.jpg
Okazaki with VfB Stuttgart in 2011

On 30 January 2011, Okazaki signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Stuttgart.[2] On 17 February 2011, clearance to play for the club was granted for Okazaki by FIFA.[3] He made his competitive debut for VfB on the same night in a Europa League match against Benfica. On 20 February 2011, Okazaki made his Bundesliga debut for VfB against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Okazaki scored his first goal against Hannover 96, which he scored from outside the box.[4]

Okazaki came on as a second-half substitute for Stuttgart in their first game of the 2011–12 Bundesliga season against Schalke 04. His side were up 2–0 and Okazaki added a goal scoring from long range in the 90th minute, sealing a 3–0 win.[5] Okazaki's goal from a bicycle kick on 19 February 2012 in a Bundesliga match of VfB Stuttgart against Hannover 96 was selected Goal of the Month. After Yasuhiko Okudera in April 1978, Okazaki was the second player from Japan to win this award in Germany.[6] Okazaki had a poor 2012–13 season, scoring only once in the Bundesliga. However, he scored his first goals in European competition with two goals against Steaua București in the Europa League.

Mainz 05

On 1 July 2013, Okazaki moved to Mainz 05.[7] He scored his first goal for Mainz on his debut in a 3–2 win against his former club Stuttgart on the opening matchday of the 2013–14 Bundesliga season.[8] At the end of the season he ended with 15 league goals.

Okazaki became the most prolific Japanese player in Bundesliga history on 13 September 2014, scoring his 27th and 28th league goals in Mainz's 3–1 win over Hertha Berlin.[9]

Leicester City

2015–16

File:Shinji Okazaki.png
Okazaki playing for Leicester City against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in April 2016

On 26 June 2015, Okazaki moved to Premier League side Leicester City for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million, subject to obtaining a work permit.[10]

He made his debut for the club on 8 August 2015 in Leicester City's 4–2 opening day win against Sunderland, and scored his first goal for the club the following week in a 2–1 win against West Ham United. On 19 December 2015, Okazaki scored the winner in a 3–2 win over Everton at Goodison Park, to ensure that Leicester City topped the table at Christmas.[11]

On 10 January 2016, Okazaki scored Leicester's second goal in the FA Cup clash at White Hart Lane with Tottenham Hotspur despite drawing to a Harry Kane penalty in the 90th minute. On 14 March 2016, Okazaki scored in a league fixture against Newcastle United: a spectacular overhead strike that won Leicester City the game 1–0 and took them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.[12] Leicester City went on to win the league that year, making Okazaki the second Japanese player to win the Premier League after Shinji Kagawa.[13] His performances in the 2015–16 season earned him the Asian International Player of the Year award in December 2016.[14]

2016–17

Okazaki scored twice in a 2–4 defeat to Chelsea in the third round of the 2016–17 EFL Cup on 20 September 2016.[15] He scored his first league goal of the season in a 3–1 win over Crystal Palace on 22 October 2016, earning him Man of the match and achieving an 84.8% pass success rate, more than any other Leicester player.[16] On 22 November 2016, Okazaki scored in a 2–1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League group stage, becoming the sixth Japanese player to score a Champions League goal and the first since Keisuke Honda in November 2013.[17] He finished the season with only three league goals.[18]

2017–2019

Okazaki was in goalscoring form at the start to the 2017–18 season, scoring four goals in six appearances for Leicester in all competitions.[19] He was released by Leicester at the end of the 2018–19 season.[20]

Málaga

On 30 July 2019, Okazaki signed a one-year contract with Málaga CF.[21][22] However, Málaga canceled its contract with Okazaki after just 34 days, since his wage demands exceeded its maximum budget as permitted by the league.[23]

Huesca

On 4 September 2019, the free agent Okazaki signed a one-year contract with Segunda División side Huesca.[24] On 8 September 2019, he made his debut for Huesca as a substitute.

On 25 July 2020, after scoring 12 times as his side achieved promotion to La Liga, Okazaki renewed his contract for a further year.[25]

Cartagena

On 31 August 2021, Okazaki moved to FC Cartagena in the second division on a one-year contract.[26]

Sint-Truiden

On 19 August 2022, Okazaki signed with Sint-Truiden in Belgium. On 26 February 2024, he announced he would retire from playing at the end of the 2023–24 season.[27]

International career

File:Shinji Okazaki - International friendly match (1) cropped.jpg
Okazaki with Japan in 2009

After competing for the country's under-23 team at the 2008 Olympic Games in China, Okazaki made his full international debut for the Japan senior national team against the United Arab Emirates in October 2008.[28] On 20 January 2009, he scored his first goal for Samurai Blue in the team's opening 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen.[28]

In October 2009, Okazaki scored hat-tricks in consecutive matches as Japan beat Hong Kong and Togo 6–0 and 5–0 respectively.[28] He was named The World's Top Goal Scorer of 2009 by the IFFHS for his 15 goals with the national team.[29] Okazaki was included in the 2010 FIFA World Cup squads for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and appeared as a substitute in all four of Japan's matches. He scored once in the final Group E match, a 3–1 defeat of Denmark, to send Japan into the second round.[28]

File:Japan national football team World Cup 2018.jpg
Okazaki with Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

On 8 October 2010, Okazaki scored as Japan beat Argentina 1–0 in friendly match to record its first ever win over the 1978 and 1986 world champions.[30] Okazaki scored his third international hat-trick in a 5–0 Group B win against Saudi Arabia at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He then scored his kick in the semi-final shootout win over South Korea and played all 120 minutes of the final as Japan beat Australia to win the trophy for a fourth time.[28] Okazaki finished as top goalscorer in the Asian section of qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with eight goals. Okazaki scored twice at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, against Italy and Mexico respectively. However, Japan lost all three of its matches and was eliminated at the end of the group stage.[31][32] In June 2014, Okazaki was selected in the Japan's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[33] In the team's third group match, a 4–1 defeat to Colombia, he scored Samurai Blue's only goal with a header in the 45th minute.[34] Okazaki was included in Japan's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and scored in a 4–0 defeat of Palestine during the group stage.[35]

In March 2016 Okazaki was presented with a commemorative shirt with 100 on the back in a presentation to celebrate his 100th international appearance for Japan.[36] Okazaki is currently the top active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history with 50 international goals.[37]

Managerial career

Okazaki co-founded the German football club Basara Mainz in the 2014–15 season when he was a player of Mainz 05.[38] Now he serves as the club adviser. The club is run by the other co-founder, Takashi Yamashita, former player of Mainz's reserve team Mainz 05 II. Basara Mainz started in tier 11 of the German football league system. It was promoted to tier 6, Verbandsliga Südwest, in 2019.[39][40]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[41][42]
Club Season League National cupTemplate:Efn League cupTemplate:Efn ContinentalTemplate:Efn Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Shimizu S-Pulse 2005 J.League Division 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 — 5 0
2006 7 0 3 0 2 0 — 12 0
2007 21 5 2 0 2 0 — 25 5
2008 27 10 2 1 5 0 — 34 11
2009 34 14 3 2 4 1 — 41 17
2010 31 13 4 2 2 1 — 37 16
Total 121 42 17 5 16 2 — 154 49
VfB Stuttgart 2010–11 Bundesliga 12 2 — — 2 0 14 2
2011–12 26 7 3 0 — — 29 7
2012–13 25 1 6 1 — 11 2 42 4
Total 63 10 9 1 — 13 2 85 13
Mainz 05 2013–14 Bundesliga 33 15 2 0 — — 35 15
2014–15 32 12 1 1 — 2 1 35 14
Total 65 27 3 1 — 2 1 70 29
Leicester City 2015–16 Premier League 36 5 2 1 1 0 — 39 6
2016–17 30 3 3 0 1 2 7 1 41 6
2017–18 27 6 3 0 2 1 — 32 7
2018–19 21 0 1 0 3 0 — 25 0
Total 114 14 9 1 7 3 7 1 137 19
Huesca 2019–20 Segunda División 37 12 1 0 — — 38 12
2020–21 La Liga 25 1 1 0 — — 26 1
Total 63 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 65 13
Cartagena 2021–22 Segunda División 32 2 3 0 — — 35 2
Total 32 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 35 2
Sint-Truiden 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 30 1 2 0 — — 32 1
2023–24 7 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 9 1
Total 37 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 41 2
Career total 495 109 47 9 23 5 22 4 587 127

Template:Notelist

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[43]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2008 4 0
2009 16 15
2010 15 3
2011 14 8
2012 9 3
2013 14 7
2014 13 4
2015 13 7
2016 8 2
2017 5 1
2018 5 0
2019 3 0
Total 119 50
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Okazaki goal.[43]
List of international goals scored by Shinji Okazaki
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 20 January 2009 Umakana Yokana Stadium, Kumamoto, Japan File:Flag of Yemen.svg Yemen 1–0 2–1 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification [1]
2 4 February 2009 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 1–0 5–1 Friendly [2]
3 2–0
4 27 May 2009 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile 1–0 4–0 2009 Kirin Cup [3]
5 2–0
6 31 May 2009 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 3–0 4–0 [4]
7 6 June 2009 Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification [5]
8 9 September 2009 Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, Netherlands File:Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana 3–3 4–3 Friendly [6]
9 8 October 2009 IAI Stadium Nihondaira, Shizuoka, Japan File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong 1–0 6–0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification [7]
10 5–0
11 6–0
12 14 October 2009 Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi, Japan File:Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Togo 1–0 5–0 Friendly [8]
13 2–0
14 4–0
15 18 November 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong 4–0 4–0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification [9]
16 3 March 2010 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan File:Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain 2–0 2–0 [10]
17 24 June 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 3–1 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup [11]
18 8 October 2010 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 1–0 1–0 Friendly [12]
19 17 January 2011 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia 1–0 5–0 2011 AFC Asian Cup [13]
20 2–0
21 5–0
22 6 September 2011 Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan 1–1 1–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification [14]
23 11 October 2011 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan File:Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan 2–0 8–0 [15]
24 8–0
25 11 November 2011 Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan File:Flag of Tajikistan.svg Tajikistan 2–0 4–0 [16]
26 4–0
27 23 May 2012 Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Azerbaijan 2–0 2–0 Friendly [17]
28 3 June 2012 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan File:Flag of Oman.svg Oman 3–0 3–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification [18]
29 14 November 2012 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman File:Flag of Oman.svg Oman 2–1 2–1 [19]
30 6 February 2013 Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium, Kobe, Japan File:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia 1–0 3–0 Friendly [20]
31 3–0
32 22 March 2013 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 1–0 2–1 [21]
33 11 June 2013 Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha Qatar File:Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq 1–0 1–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification [22]
34 19 June 2013 Itaipava Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy 3–3 3–4 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup [23]
35 22 June 2013 Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 1–2 1–2 [24]
36 19 November 2013 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 3–1 3–2 Friendly [25]
37 5 March 2014 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan File:Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 1–0 4–2 [26]
38 4–0
39 24 June 2014 Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá, Brazil File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 1–1 1–4 2014 FIFA World Cup [27]
40 18 November 2014 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 2–0 2–1 Friendly [28]
41 12 January 2015 Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia File:Flag of Palestine.svg Palestine 2–0 4–0 2015 AFC Asian Cup [29]
42 27 March 2015 Ōita Bank Dome, Ōita, Japan File:Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia 1–0 2–0 Friendly [30]
43 31 March 2015 Ajinomoto Stadium, Chōfu, Japan File:Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Uzbekistan 2–0 5–1 [31]
44 11 June 2015 Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Japan File:Flag of Iraq.svg Iraq 3–0 4–0 [32]
45 8 September 2015 Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran File:Flag of Afghanistan (2013–2021).svg Afghanistan 4–0 6–0 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification [33]
46 5–0
47 8 October 2015 Al-Seeb Stadium, Al-Seeb, Oman File:Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958–1971), Flag of Syria (1980–2024).svg Syria 2–0 3–0 [34]
48 24 March 2016 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan File:Flag of Afghanistan (2013–2021).svg Afghanistan 1–0 5–0 [35]
49 3 June 2016 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan File:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria 1–0 7–2 2016 Kirin Cup [36]
50 28 March 2017 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand 2–0 4–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

[37]

Honours

VfB Stuttgart

Leicester City

SD Huesca

Japan

Individual

See also

References

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External links

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