Daisuke Sakai
坂井 大将
Personal information
Full name Daisuke Sakai
Date of birth (1997-01-18) January 18, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Nagasaki, Japan
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
 Kerala Blasters
Number 21
Youth career
Oita Trinita
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2020 Oita Trinita 19 (0)
2015 → J.League U-22 (loan) 8 (0)
2017–2018 → Tubize (loan) 3 (0)
2018 → Albirex Niigata (loan) 8 (0)
2019 → Thespakusatsu Gunma (loan) 5 (1)
2020 → Gainare Tottori (loan) 27 (6)
2021–2022 Samut Prakan City 28 (4)
2022–2023 Customs United 37 (10)
2023– Kerala Blasters 16 (2)
International career
2013 Japan U17 4 (1)
2014–2016 Japan U19 8 (0)
2017 Japan U20 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
AFC U-19 Championship
Winner 2016 Bahrain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:27, 14 March 2024 (UTC)

Daisuke Sakai (坂井 大将, Sakai Daisuke, born 18 January 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

Club career

Youth and early career

Oita Trinita: Several loan spells

Sakai spent his youth career at Oita Trinita. After coming up through various ranks, he was promoted into senior team of the club in 2014. He spent loan spells at different clubs including the Japanese clubs Albirex Niigata, Thespakusatsu Gunma, Gainare Tottori and the Belgian side Tubize.[1]

Samut Prakan Citya

In June 2021, Sakai ended his six-year association with Oita Trinita and signed for the Thai League 1 club Samut Prakan City. He made 28 appearances for the club in the league and scored 4 goals.[2]

Customs United

In July 2022, Sakai signed for the Thai League 2 club Customs United. He played in 37 games and scored 10 goals.[3]

Kerala Blasters

On 2 September 2023, Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters announced the signing of Sakai. With this move, he became the first Japanese player to sign with the club.[4] Sakai made his debut for the club on 21 September, in the season opener against Bengaluru FC at home, which the Blasters won 2–1.[5] He provided his first assist for the club on 27 October against Odisha FC and helped in a 2–1 victory.[6] On 4 November, Sakai scored his debut goal for the Blasters during the match against East Bengal in the 32nd minute and helped them in 1–2 victory away from home.[7]

International career

In October 2013, Sakai was elected Japan U-17 national team for 2013 U-17 World Cup. He played all 4 matches and scored a goal against Tunisia. In May 2017, he was elected Japan U-20 national team for 2017 U-20 World Cup. At this tournament, he played 2 matches as defensive midfielder.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 November 2023[8][9][10][11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goal Apps Goals
Oita Trinita 2014 J2 League 0 0 1 1 — — 1 1
2015 J2 League 4 0 2 0 — — 6 0
2016 J3 League 11 0 2 0 — — 13 0
2017 J2 League 4 0 2 1 — — 6 1
Total 19 0 7 2 — — 26 2
J.League U-22 (loan) 2015 J3 League 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
Tubize (loan) 2017–2018 Belgian First Division B 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Albirex Niigata (loan) 2018 J2 League 8 0 2 1 — 2[b] 0 12 1
Thespakusatsu Gunma (loan) 2019 J3 League 5 0 0 0 — — 5 0
Gainare Tottori (loan) 2020 J3 League 27 6 0 0 — — 27 6
Samut Prakan City 2021–22 Thai League 1 28 4 2 0 — — 30 4
Customs United 2022–23 Thai League 2 37 10 1 0 — — 38 10
Kerala Blasters 2023–24 Indian Super League 6 1 — — — 6 1
Career total 141 21 12 3 — 2 0 155 24
  1. ^ Includes Emperor's Cup, Thai FA Cup
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in J.League Cup

Honours

Japan U19

References

  1. ^ "ISL: Japanese forward Daisuke Sakai signs for Kerala Blasters". Khel Now. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  2. ^ "Kerala Blasters rope in Japanese striker Daisuke Sakai". OnManorama. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  3. ^ ഡെസ്ക്, സ്പോര്‍ട്സ് (2023-09-02). "കാത്തിരിപ്പിനൊടുവിൽ അവനും വന്നു, കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സിന്റെ ഏഷ്യൻ സൈനിങ്ങിൽ ആരാധകർക്ക് ആവേശം". Southlive (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  4. ^ "26 വയസ്സുള്ള ജാപ്പനീസ് വിങ്ങര്‍ വരുന്നു, ഏഷ്യൻ താരത്തെ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച് ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സ്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  5. ^ "Kerala Blasters beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in ISL opener". The Week. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  6. ^ Scroll Staff (2023-10-28). "Watch, highlights ISL 2023-24: Kerala Blasters come from behind to beat Odisha FC". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  7. ^ Sharma, Amitabha Das (2023-11-04). "ISL 2023-24: Kerala Blasters beats East Bengal after Daisuke and Diamantakos score as Sachin saves two penalties". Sportstar. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  8. ^ 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. 161 out of 289)
  9. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 239 out of 289)
  10. ^ 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. 251 out of 289)
  11. ^ Daisuke Sakai at Soccerway

External links

Kerala Blasters FC – current squad
Categories