Yoshito Ōkubo

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

Yoshito Okubo
Okubo in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1982-06-09) 9 June 1982
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)
International career
2004 Japan U23 3 (2)
2003–2014 Japan 60 (6)
Medal record
Cerezo Osaka
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2001
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2003
Kawasaki Frontale
WinnerJ1 League2018
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2016
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2002 BusanTeam
AFC U-19 Championship
Silver medal – second place2000 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 December 2021

Club career

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

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

Club
As of end of 2020 season[12][13][14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cerezo Osaka 2001 J1 League 2023011––243
2002 J2 League 291821–––3119
2003 J1 League 24165430––3220
2004 22151020––2515
Total 955111561––11257
Mallorca (loan) 2004–05 La Liga 133––––133
2005–06 26211–––273
Total 39511–––406
Cerezo Osaka 2006 J1 League 2160000––216
Vissel Kobe 2007 J1 League 31142150––3815
2008 311111–––3212
Total 62253250––7027
VfL Wolfsburg 2008–09 Bundesliga 9020–20–130
Vissel Kobe 2009 J1 League 19811–––209
2010 1741100––185
2011 3091010––329
2012 2641032––306
Total 92254242––10029
Kawasaki Frontale 2013 J1 League 33264384––4533
2014 3218104281–4521
2015 32233242––3927
2016 33156500–104020
Total 1308214101688110169101
FC Tokyo 2017 J1 League 2880021––309
Kawasaki Frontale 2018 J1 League 12200004011173
Júbilo Iwata 2018 J1 League 1731000–10193
2019 2012000––221
Total 3743000–10414
Tokyo Verdy 2020 J2 League 190––––190
Career total 5442083820331214131632242
  1. Includes J.League Championship and Japanese Super Cup.

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 2003140
200430
200520
200600
200722
2008123
200990
2010110
201100
201210
201300
201461
Total606
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
117 October 2007Osaka, Japan Egypt4–12007 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
2
36 February 2008Saitama, Japan Thailand4–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
42 June 2008Yokohama, Japan Oman3–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
513 November 2008Kobe, Japan Syria3–1Friendly
66 June 2014Florida, United States Zambia4–3Friendly

Honours

VfL Wolfsburg

Individual

References
  1. Yoshito Ōkubo at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
  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. 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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