Kei Sano

Kei Sano (Japanese: 佐野 渓; born 3 April 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indonesian club PSS Sleman.[2]

Kei Sano
Personal information
Full name Kei Sano
Date of birth (1992-04-03) 3 April 1992
Place of birth Ichinomiya, Japan
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 PSS Sleman
Number 7
Youth career
Aichi Kogyo University Meiden HS
2014–2015 Aichi Gakuin University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 St. Andrews 24 (8)
2022–2023 Sirens 23 (6)
2023– PSS Sleman 13 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2023

Career

Early career

Sano started his career when he entered college by joining Aichi Kogyo University Meiden HS. Then he joined Aichi Gakuin University from 2014 to 2015.[3]

After that, he had a vacuum from the world of football because he had to take up work outside of football's activities. Because of his love for the world of football, Sano decided to return in 2020. After a year of training, he tried his luck by migrating to Malta.[4]

St. Andrews

Ahead of 2021–21 season, Sano signed a contract with Maltese Challenge League club St. Andrews.[5] He made his league debut on 7 February 2021, coming on as a substituted in a 2–1 lose against St. George's.[6] On 21 February 2021, He scored his first league goal for the team in a 2–3 away win against Pietà Hotspurs.[7] He contributed with 24 appearances and scored 8 goals in all competitions.[1]

Sirens

Ahead of 2022–23 season, he was signed by Sirens alongside Gabriel Ventura, and Paulo Vyctor.[8] He made his league debut on 19 August 2022, coming on as a starter in a 2–0 away lose over Birkirkara.[9] On 5 November 2022, Sano scored his first league goal for the club with scored a brace in Maltese Premier League, earning them a 2–0 home win over Gudja United.[10]

On 1 February 2023, Sano scored in a 3–3 draw over Valletta.[11] He then scored his fourth league goal for the club three days later, opening the scoring in a 1–2 home lose against Mosta.[12] On 12 March 2023, Sano scored another brace for Sirens in a 2–1 home win against St. Lucia, In fact, with four matches to go, Sirens are fifth from bottom on 25 points, eleven ahead of Żebbuġ and fourteen ahead of St. Lucia.[13] He contributed with 23 league appearances, scored 6 goals during his 2022–23 season.

PSS Sleman

On 28 April 2023, Sano signed a contract with Liga 1 club PSS Sleman, he will join fellow new signings Jonathan Bustos and Esteban Vizcarra as well as new head coach Marian Mihail at the Maguwoharjo Stadium for the upcoming season.[14] Sano made his Liga 1 debut on 1 July 2023 as a starter in a 0–1 away win over Bali United.[15]

Personal life

Kei Sano has a twin brother, Gaku Sano who is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Kouta Kazuraba, the main character of the Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Gaim.[16]

Career statistics

Club
As of 6 October 2023[17]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
St. Andrews 2020–21 Maltese Challenge League 5120–0071
2021–22 Maltese Challenge League 19720–00217
Sirens 2022–23 Maltese Premier League 23621–00257
PSS Sleman 2023–24 Liga 1 13200–00132
Career total 60166100006617

    References
    1. "Profil Kei Sano Kandidat Kuat Gelandang Asing PSS Sleman: Kualitas Bintang Lima, Harga Kaki Lima?". caping.co.id. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
    2. "PERTAMA KALI BERMAIN DI INDONESIA, KEI SANO TERMOTIVASI BEKERJA LEBIH KERAS" (in Indonesian). pssleman.id (web Resmi Club PSS Sleman). 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
    3. "PSS Sleman Datangkan Pemain Baru Lagi, Ini Profil Gelandang Jepang Kei Sano" (in Indonesian). 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
    4. "3 Fakta Menarik Kei Sano, Gelandang Anyar PSS yang Ternyata Kembaran Pemeran Kamen Rider" (in Indonesian). May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
    5. "3 Fakta Unik Gelandang Baru PSS Sleman Kei Sano: Kembaran Kamen Rider!" (in Indonesian). 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
    6. "St. George's 2–1 St. Andrews". aiscore.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
    7. "Pietà Hotspurs 2–3 St. Andrews". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
    8. "Three new foreigners for Sirens". www.maltafootball.com. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
    9. "Second-half goals hand Birkirkara first three points". www.maltafootball.com. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
    10. "Kei Sano hands Sirens first win". www.maltafootball.com. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
    11. "SIRENS VS. VALLETTA 3 - 3". Soccerway. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
    12. "Mosta jdawru telfa f'rebħa kontra Sirens biex jitilgħu momentarjament fir-raba' post". tvmnews.mt (in Maltese). 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
    13. "Kei Sano puts Sirens closer to safety". www.maltafootball.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
    14. "PSS Announce Signing of Kamen Rider Gaim's Twin Brother". football-tribe.com. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
    15. "5 Fakta Kekalahan Bali United dari PSS Sleman, Laga Buruk". bali.idntimes.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
    16. "3 Fakta Kei Sano, Bintang Baru PSS Sleman Saudara Kembar Artis Jepang" (in Indonesian). www.indosport.com. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
    17. "Japan - K. Sano - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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