Hiroki Sakai

At 34 years old, Hiroki Sakai has this physical status:

Hiroki Sakai (born 12 April 1990) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Marseille and the Japan national team.

Personal life

In 2014, Sakai revealed that he married a non-celebrity woman and described her as supportive of his football career. It was announced in November 2014 that he would become a father and his wife gave birth to a baby girl in January 2015.

Sakai is a fan of Miso soup and once said: "Take only miso soup because miso soup is a necessity for me." After moving to Hannover 96 in 2012, Sakai began learning German and currently learning twice a week and English. Since moving to Europe, Sakai spoke out the culture in Germany and France.

In May 2018, Sakai published his first book titled "Resetting Power 'Nature and the Mind Becomes Stronger' 46 Concept".

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Club career

Sakai, a boy from Kashiwa, Japan, was introduced to football by his two older brothers and joined a school football team when he was in third grade. He started as a striker before converting to a full back, a position he held today. Sakai spent ten years with the school football team before joining the Kashiwa Reysol U15 team in 2003.

Sakai made his way into the ranks of the Kashiwa Reysol and received his mentorship under Tatsuma Yoshida. He eventually made his way to the U16 and U18 sides. Sakai went to Mogimirin EC to study abroad on a short-term, but he said the experience helped him to advance his right-back and center-back positions, but he returned to Japan in November 2009.

Sakai was recruited to the Kashiwa Reysol team in the 2010 season, where he agreed to the club's first team and was given a number 30 shirt. In a number of games, he started out on the replacement bench for the 2010 season. He didn't appear in Kashiwa Reysol's debut until May 5th, 2010, when he arrived as a substitute for Yohei Kurakawa in the 77th minute in a 1–1 draw against Ventforet Kofu. Sakai made his first appearance for the team on July 25, 2010, starting the whole game and setting up one of the goals in a 2–2 draw against JEF United Chiba. In a 4–1 victory over Mito HollyHock on October 31, 2010, he scored his first goal for the club. Sakai made 12 appearances and scoring for the side after being featured multiple times during the season.

Sakai were one of players to commit to remain at Kashiwa Reysol ahead of the 2011 season, and was given a number 4 shirt. However, due to a metatarsal fracture injury, he missed the start of the season but missed six games. Sakai didn't appear in the season's first appearance of the season on April 23, 2011 in a 1–0 victory over Omiya Ardija. Sakai quickly established himself in the starting eleven by playing in the right-back role. Sakai's new deal with the club was announced on May 12th. In a number of games for the team, including twice against Kawasaki Frontale on July 16, 2011, Sakai began to set goals, including twice against Kawasaki Frontale. After defeating Urawa Red Diamonds 3–2 in the last game of the season, Sakai helped Kashiwa Reysol win the league and the club lifted the trophy. As a result, the club qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup as part of winning the tournament. In a 2–0 victory over Auckland City, Sakai played his first match of the tournament, starting the whole game. In a 3–1 loss to Santos, Sakai then scored in the semi-finals. He appeared in the tournament four times as Kashiwa Reysol finished fourth place in the FIFA Club World Cup. Sakai was awarded J. satiety at the end of the 2011 season. In the J., Rookie of the Year was named as one of the Year's Best in the League and was named in the J. Best XI of the League. Despite being sidelined on several occasions later this season, he made 35 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Sakai started the 2012 season by helping Kashiwa Reysol win the Japanese Super Cup by defeating FC Tokyo 2–1. In a 3–2 loss to Buriram United, three days after winning the Japanese Super Cup, he scored his first goal of the season on the AFC Champions League. In a 3-3 draw against Yokohama F. Marinos in the club's first game of the season, Sakai scored and set up the club's third goal of the season. He returned to his first team appearance this season by playing in the right-back role. In a 3–1 loss to Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao in the AFC Champions League on April 17, 2012, his third goal of the season followed him. Sakai scored two goals in a 2–1 victory over Cerezo Osaka a month later, on May 17th. As the season progressed, his success attracted attention from clubs in Europe, mainly Germany. Sakai made his last appearance for the club on June 30, 2012, beating Gamba Osaka 6–2 for his transfer to Hannover 96. Following an end to Kashiwa Reysol's match, he was given a farewell sendoff after his departure. Despite missing out on one game at the time of his retirement, Sakai went on to make 23 appearances and scoring 3 times in all leagues this season.

Hannover 96 has agreed to a signing of Sakai from Kashiwa Reysol, according to the first announcement on June 13, 2012. It was later announced that Sakai had signed a four-year contract with the club, effectively ending his employment with the club until 2016. According to reports, the transfer cost 1 million euros (100 million yen).

Sakai did however miss several games in the 2012–13 season due to international service with Japan and his own injuries. In a 5–1 victory over l'sk Wrocaw, it wasn't until August 31, 2012, that he made his Hannover 96 debut in the UEFA League Second Leg of the UEFA Europa League, where he set up one of the goals. In a 3-1 loss to 1899 Hoffenheim, he made his league debut on September 23, 2012, where he came on as a replacement from 16 minutes to the end of the game. Sakai's first team experiences with Hannover 96 were limited, and as a result, she was on the replacement bench. Sakai began to play more for the last four matches as the season progressed. Sakai made 17 appearances in all competitions for the team in his first season at Hannover 96.

Sakai was supposed to compete with Steve Cherundolo once more in the right-back position going into the 2013-14 season. Cherundolo suffered his knee at the start of the season, and he began playing in a number of games since the season's began, starting in the right-back position. In a 3–2 loss to Werder Bremen on November 3, 2013, Sakai scored his first goal for the club against Werder Bremen. He started and played the entire game against local rivals, Eintracht Braunschweig, on November 8, 2013 in a 0–0 draw. Sakai did not have his first team position until early-2014 and was quickly dropped to the back bench for several games. In a 1–1 draw against FC Augsburg on March 1, he returned to the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. Although Sakai was sidelined on several occasions during the season, he went on to make 28 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Sakai's first team position in the right-back position after Cherundolo's retirement in 2014. Sakai continued to return to his first team spot until being fired in February 2015 to Joo Pereira. As the season progressed, Sakai and Pereira will fight for the right-back position over the next month. Despite being suspended on two occasions, including one when he was sent-off bookable offence in a 2–1 victory over FC Augsburg on May 16, 2015, Sakai retained his first team place despite being suspended on two occasions, including one when he was sent-off bookable offence. Despite suffering from injuries during the season, the team's season was good.

Sakai was linked with a departure from Hannover 96 ahead of the 2015-16 season, as clubs such as Napoli and other clubs became involved. He stayed with the club until the summer transfer window. Sakai's first team position in the right-back position at the start of the season. This lasted until mid-September, when he suffered a strain in his thigh and missed two games. He didn't return from injury until October 18, 2015, when he came back from surgery as a second-half replacement in a 1–0 victory over 1. FC Köln is a football team from Köln. Sakai was then sidelined between late-November and early-December, suffering from injuries for the second time this season. Sakai recovered his first team position in the right-back position after recovering from injury. In a 2–2 draw against FC Ingolstadt 04. He then scored his first goal of the season on April 23, 2016. However, the club was relegated to second place after the draw resulted in the club being relegated to two. After a 14-year absence from the Bundesliga, the team is back in Bundesliga. Sakai missed the remainder of the season due to a muscle injury just a few weeks later. In all competitions, he made 28 appearances and scoring once during the 2015–16 season.

Sakai expressed his desire to leave the club following Hannover 96's relegation.

Sakai joined Marseille on a free transfer on June 23, 2016, after Hannover 96 relegation. It was announced that Valiant Halilhod, the country's then national team manager, persuaded him to join Olympique de Marseille. In addition, Sakai became the second Japanese player to join Olympique de Marseille since Kiji Nakata. He was given a number two shirt ahead of the new season when joining the club.

In a 4–0 victory over Toulouse, Sakai made his Olympique de Marseille debut in the season's opener, where he scored for Florian Thauvin. He landed himself in the starting lineup for the team after starting in the right-back role. Sakai was the first player to play in the right-back situation, owing to the fact that he was the only one to play in the right-back position. Sakai took the right-midfield position against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. Despite being out on three occasions during the season, Sakai went on to make 40 appearances in all competitions. Although the team was in financial hardships during the season, manager Rudi Garcia and his teammate Florian Thauvin both lauded his contribution and results.

Sakai continued to establish himself in the starting eleven for the side by playing in the right-back position despite being pushed into the right-back competition against Bouna Sarr over the right-back position. In a conversation with France Football, he said he had settled in France, despite having had issues in his previous season. He was named Team of the Week after his role in a 2–0 triumph over Toulouse on September 24th. Sakai signed a four-year contract with the club on September 29, 2017, marking his return to the team so far this season. Sakai changed to playing in the left-back role after Patrice Evra's demise and injury of Jordan Amavi, having spent time in the right-back position in the first half of the season. He spent the next six games in left-back mode before returning to his original position. During a 3–2 loss to Lyon on March 18, he suffered an injury in the first half and was booted as a result, causing him to miss 8 to ten days. In a 1–0 loss to RB Leipzig on April 5, 2018, he returned from injury in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League first leg. Sakai scored his first UEFA Europa League goal in the quarter-final return leg on April 12th, a 5–3 aggregate victory over RB Leipzig. He sustained an injury during a 5–1 victory over Lille and was suspended in the first half as a result; he had been sidelined for three weeks. Despite recovering from his injury in mid-May, Sakai was on the reserve bench for 90 minutes as Marseille lost 3–0 to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Europa League Final, with Atlético Madrid falling 3–0. Sakai finished the season on the 2017-18 season, making 50 appearances and scoring twice in all competitions.

He announced he was leaving the team at the end of the 2020-2021 season (he later signed for Urawa Red Diamonds in the J. (Last League) 1).

International career

For the first time in June 2011, Sakai was called up by Japan's U23 team for the first time. In a 3–1 victory over Australia U23, he made his Japan U23 on the same day. He scored his first goal for the U23 side in the second leg of the Asian Qualifiers Preliminary Round of the Summer Olympics in a 2–1 loss to Kuwait U23 on aggregate on June 23, 2011 but Japan won 4–3 on aggregate. Sakai made his U23 debut in U23, and he remained a regular for the U23 throughout the year in the right-back position. In a 4–0 victory over Malaysia U23, it wasn't until 22 February 2012 that he scored and set up one of the goals.

Sakai was selected for the 2012 Summer Olympics Football tournament in London on July 2nd, 2012. In a 1–0 victory over Spain U23, he started in a match in which he played for 74 minutes before being substituted. Sakai went on to start three more matches in the tournament after Japan U23 advanced to the semi-finals and finished fourth place.

Sakai was named one of Japan's top over-age athletes for the 2020 Summer Olympics on home soil, along with Maya Yoshida and Wataru Endo.

Sakai was called up to the senior squad for the first time in October 2011, but he did not participate and was on the backup bench instead. Sakai made his debut for the team, where he spent 45 minutes, in a 2–0 victory over Azerbaijan in the Kirin Challenge Cup on May 23nd 2012. Sakai began to adjust under new manager Alberto Zaccheroni's rule by April 2012, having understood his tactics and leadership. Sakai continued to play in several games for the remainder of 2012.

Sakai began to compete with Atsu Uchida in 2013 for the right-back position, which culminated in both of them winning the competition in a number of games. In the 2013 Confederations Cup squad, he played in three of the three matches, both of which resulted in defeats. Sakai then began the next six Japan international matches in the absence of Uchida, who suffered a torn tendon injury and was suspended from play for the 2013-14 season.

Sakai was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in May 2014. He made it to the final cut for the 23-man team in the end. Sakai made no appearances in the World Cup, despite the fact that he spent the remainder of the year on the replacement bench. Sakai made his first appearance for the team in three months against Uruguay on September 5, 2014, defeating Uruguay by 2–0. However, under new Javier Aguirre's reign, he was unable to participate in the AFC Asian Cup tournament.

Sakai started to make an impact by missing Uchida's new games of 2015, earning his first team spot for the national team. Sakai remained in the right-back position for the next two years and started in every match he played.

Sakai was selected in Japan's preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia in May 2018. He made it to the final cut of the 23 man squad before the team's selection was announced. In Matchday 1 of the Group Stage, where he played the entire game, Sakai won by 2–1.

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