Shinji_Okazaki

Shinji Okazaki

Shinji Okazaki

Japanese footballer (born 1986)

The native form of this personal name is Okazaki Shinji. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Shinji Okazaki (岡崎 慎司, Okazaki Shinji, born 16 April 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian club Sint-Truiden. He is best known for winning the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Internationally, he is currently the top active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history 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.[4]

VfB Stuttgart

Okazaki with VfB Stuttgart in 2011

On 30 January 2011, Okazaki signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Stuttgart.[5] On 17 February 2011, clearance to play for the club was granted for Okazaki by FIFA.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

Leicester City

2015–16

Okazaki playing against West Ham 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] Leicester City went on to win the league that year, making Okazaki the second Japanese player to win the Premier League after Shinji Kagawa.[16]

His performances in the 2015–16 season earned him the Asian International Player of the Year award in December 2016.[17]

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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20] He finished the season with only three league goals.[21]

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.[22] He was released by Leicester at the end of the 2018–19 season.[23]

Málaga

On 30 July 2019, Okazaki signed a one-year contract with Málaga CF.[24][25] However, Málaga canceled its contract with Okazaki after just 34 days, since his wage demands exceeded its maximum budget as permitted by the league.[26]

Huesca

On 4 September 2019, the free agent Okazaki signed a one-year contract with Segunda División side Huesca.[27] 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.[28]

Cartagena

On 31 August 2021, Okazaki moved to FC Cartagena in the second division on a one-year contract.[29]

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.[30]

International career

Okazaki with the Japan national football team in 2009
Okazaki with Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

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.[31] On 20 January 2009, he scored his first goal for Samurai Blue in the team's opening 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen.[31]

In October 2009, Okazaki scored hat-tricks in consecutive matches as Japan beat Hong Kong and Togo 6–0 and 5–0 respectively.[31] He was named The World's Top Goal Scorer of 2009 by the IFFHS for his 15 goals with the national team.[32] 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.[31]

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.[33]

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.[31]

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.[34]

In June 2014, Okazaki was selected in the Japan's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[35] 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.[36]

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.[37]

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.[38]

Okazaki is currently the top active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history with 50 international goals.[39]

Managerial career

Okazaki co-founded the German football club Basara Mainz in the 2014–15 season when he was a player of Mainz 05.[40] 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.[41][42]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 January 2024[43][44]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Includes Emperor's Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, Community Shield and Copa del Rey.
  2. Includes J.League Cup and EFL Cup.
  3. Includes UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League.

International

As of 24 June 2019[45]
More information National team, Year ...
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Okazaki goal.[45]
More information No., Date ...

Honours

VfB Stuttgart

Leicester City

SD Huesca

Japan

Individual

See also

References

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    "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. [2]
    "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. [3]
    "Shinji Okazaki: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Shinji Okazaki in Stuttgart". VfB Stuttgart. 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  5. [5]
    "Shinji Okazaki signs for VfB". VfB Stuttgart. 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
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    "Clearance for Shinji Okazaki". VfB Stuttgart. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
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    "Okazaki gets maiden Stuttgart goal". The Japan Times. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  8. [8]
    "VfB Stuttgart 3 – 0 Schalke 04". ESPN Soccernet. 6 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
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    "Goal of the Month". VfB Stuttgart. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  10. [10]
    "Shinji Okazaki moves to Mainz". VfB Stuttgart. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  11. [11]
    "Okazaki and Müller fire Mainz to victory". Bundesliga. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  12. [12]
    "Hertha Berlin 1–3 Mainz". ESPNFC. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
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    "Shinji Okazaki Agrees Leicester City Deal". Leicester City. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  14. [14]
    "Shinji Okazaki Stars in Everton Win". 19 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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    "Leicester City 1–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
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    "Okazaki in wonderland after Leicester's Premier League triumph". The Japan Times. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
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    Okazaki: I'm thrilled to win Asian award, FIFA, 12 December 2016, archived from the original on 3 April 2017, retrieved 1 January 2017
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    Rose, Gary. "Leicester City 2–4 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
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    Aimee Lewis (22 October 2016), Leicester City 3–1 Crystal Palace, BBC Sport, retrieved 9 January 2017
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    "Okazaki, la guinda al ataque de la SD Huesca" [Okazaki, the cherry on SD Huesca's attack]. SD Huesca's official website (in Spanish). 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  28. [28]
    "Shinji Okazaki renueva con la SD Huesca hasta 2021" [Shinji Okazaki renews with SD Huesca until 2021] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  29. [29]
    "Okazaki, experiencia y gol para la delantera del FC Cartagena" [Okazaki, experience and goals for the forward lines of FC Cartagena] (in Spanish). FC Cartagena. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  30. [30]
    "Shinji Okazaki: Ex-Leicester forward and Premier League title winner announces retirement". BBC Sport. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  31. [31]
    "OKAZAKI Shinji". Japan National Football Team Database. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013.
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    "La IFFHS designa al japonés Shinji Okazaki mejor goleador de 2009" (in Spanish). Diario AS. 9 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
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    "Japan beat Argentina for 1st time". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  34. [34]
    "Japan 1 Mexico 2". BBC Sport. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
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    "Japan World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  36. [36]
    "Japan 1–4 Colombia". BBC. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
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    "Japan opens Asian Cup with 4-0 win over Palestine in Group D". USA Today. 12 January 2015.
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    "SAMURAI BLUE beat Syria 5-0 to top group in FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Round 2's last match –". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  39. [39]
    "Shinji Okazaki life in Spain". FIFA. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  40. [40]
    Schächter, Tobias (October 2014). "Shinji Okazaki: "Ich sehe mich nicht als Superstar"". bundesliga.com.
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    木崎伸也 (16 March 2022). "【インタビュー】創設者は岡崎慎司。日本人による欧州クラブ経営の"草分け"FCバサラ・マインツの現在を会長兼監督が語る". footballista.
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    Okuno, Taro (7 February 2017). "日本代表岡崎慎司と共にドイツでゼロからのサッカークラブ作り！外から来た日本人がドイツでサッカークラブを作るということの意味。". co-media.
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    Shinji Okazaki at Soccerway
  44. [44]
    "Shinji Okazaki > Club matches". Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  45. [45]
    "Shinji Okazaki – Century of International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  46. [46]
    "Leicester City favourite clinches last-minute title with new club". LeicestershireLive. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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    "SAMURAI BLUE". JFA｜Japan Football Association.
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    "FORMER RESULTS". IFFHS.de. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
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