Akira Kaji

Akira Kaji
加地 亮
Kaji with Gamba Osaka in 2010
Personal information
Full name Akira Kaji
Date of birth (1980-01-13) January 13, 1980
Place of birth Minamiawaji, Hyogo, Japan
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Cerezo Osaka 24 (0)
2000–2001 Oita Trinita 75 (3)
2002–2005 FC Tokyo 89 (1)
2006–2014 Gamba Osaka 225 (2)
2014 Chivas USA 15 (0)
2015–2017 Fagiano Okayama 86 (1)
Total 514 (7)
National team
1998–1999 Japan U-20 8 (1)
2003–2008 Japan 64 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Akira Kaji (加地 亮, Kaji Akira, born January 13, 1980) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.

Club career

After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School, Kaji joined Cerezo Osaka in 1998. He made his first league appearance on 25 July 1998 against Avispa Fukuoka. At the club, he found it difficult to break into the first team and was loaned out to J2 League side Oita Trinita at the start of the 2000 season.

After spending 2 years at Oita, Kaji came back to J1 League in 2002 to play for FC Tokyo. The manager Hiromi Hara made him a regular and assigned a more attacking role. His club won the 2004 J.League Cup by beating Urawa Reds in the final which ended 0–0 after the extra time. The penalty shoot-out was required and his successful conversion as the last penalty taker for Tokyo finally broke the deadlock.

He was transferred to Gamba Osaka at the beginning of the 2006 season and scored in the beginning league match against Urawa Reds. He was selected as a member of the 2006 J.League Best XI. The club won the champions 2007 J.League Cup, 2008 and 2009 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, the club won the champions 2008 AFC Champions League and the 3rd place 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. From 2012, his opportunity to play decreased for injury.

After eight years with Gamba Osaka, Kaji signed with Major League Soccer club Chivas USA on 24 June 2014.[1] However, the club was disbanded in 2014, he returned to Japan and joined Fagiano Okayama in 2015. He retired end of 2017 season.

National team career

Kaji was a member of the Japan U-20 national team for the 1999 World Youth Championship finals where the team finished runners-up.

He gained his first cap for Japan national team when national coach Zico played him on 8 October 2003 in a friendly against Tunisia. He was rated highly by Zico who made him the first-choice right full-back. He was a member of the Japan team who won the 2004 Asian Cup in China.[2] In a 2005 Confederations Cup against Brazil, his goal was disallowed by a controversial offside decision.[3] His first goal for the country finally came on 17 August 2005 in a 2006 World Cup qualification against Iran.[4]

He made the final squad for the 2006 World Cup finals. In a preparation match against Germany just before the tournament, he injured his ankle when tackled by Bastian Schweinsteiger.[5] Zico considered his replacement but decided to keep him. He missed Japan's first game in the tournament against Australia with Yuichi Komano filling in for his place, but he returned to the team and played in the rest of the competition.

After the 2006 World Cup, Zico was replaced by Ivica Osim who also regularly picks him for the national team. He was a member of the Japan team for the 2007 Asian Cup and played all the Japan games in the tournament. On 20 May 2008 he announced retirement from international football. He played 64 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 2008.[6]

Club statistics

[7][8][9]

Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Continental1 Total
AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Cerezo Osaka19981501011-171
1999900000-90
Oita Trinita20003432010-373
20014102040-470
FC Tokyo20022011060-271
20032202060-300
20042203010-260
20052502000-270
Gamba Osaka2006291510050392
20072814160-382
20082605040110430
2009200510010261
2010320202060420
2011300100060370
2012160501050270
201338020––400
2014600000–60
Fagiano Okayama201536010––370
201626100––261
201724000––240
Career total 499738332134060811

1Includes AFC Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.

National team statistics

[6]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
200310
2004200
2005141
2006140
2007111
200840
Total642

Appearances in major competitions

Team Competition Category Appearances Goals Team Record
Start Sub
 Japan1999 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipSenior0302nd place
 Japan2003 Confederations CupSenior0Group Stage
 Japan2004 AFC Asian CupSenior600Champions
 Japan2005 Confederations CupSenior0Group Stage
 JapanEast Asian Cup 2005Senior02nd place
 Japan2006 FIFA World Cup qualificationSenior1Qualified
 Japan2006 FIFA World CupSenior300Group Stage

Goals for Senior National Team

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 August 2005Yokohama, Japan Iran2–1Won2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2.17 October 2007Osaka, Japan Egypt4–1Won2007 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations

Personal Honors

Team Honors

Club
National Team

References

  1. ↑ mlssoccer.com
  2. ↑ afcasiancup.com
  3. ↑ Brazil Squeaks Past Japan | World Cup 2006 | Deutsche Welle | 22.06.2005
  4. ↑ Japan National Team: WC2006 Qualification Match (Iran)
  5. ↑ BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2006 | Teams | Japan | Zico furious with Schweinsteiger
  6. 1 2 Japan National Football Team Database
  7. ↑ 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. 176 out of 289)
  8. ↑ 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. 199 out of 289)
  9. ↑ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 2015 (NSK MOOK)", 14 February 2015, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411246 (p. 183 out of 298)
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