Yoichiro Kakitani
Yoichiro Kakitani was born in Ōsaka, Ōsaka Prefecture, Japan on January 3rd, 1990 and is the Japanese Association Football Player. At the age of 34, Yoichiro Kakitani biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 34 years old, Yoichiro Kakitani has this physical status:
Born in Osaka, Kakitani joined Cerezo Osaka's youth team at the age of 4. In 2006, he signed his first professional contract with Cerezo at 16 – the club record for the youngest player signed to a professional contract. He played his first J-League game on 26 November 2006. He also trained with the Arsenal F.C. and Inter Milan youth teams.
Kakitani entered the e-School of Human Sciences, Waseda University in 2008. Kakitani was loaned to Tokushima Vortis on 18 June 2009 and returned to Cerezo Osaka in 2012.
Kakitani joined FC Basel to the start of the 2014–15 Swiss Super League season. He made his debut for Basel on 2 August 2014 being substituted in during the 3–2 away win against Thun. The season 2014–15 was a successful one for Basel: the club won the championship (for the sixth time in a row that season), reached the cup final and entered the Champions League in the group stage reaching the knockout phase on 9 December 2014 as they managed a 1–1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool. However, Kakitani failed to make a lasting impression in this season under trainer Paulo Sousa. Of the 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures – 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches) Basel played that season, Kakitani appeared in just 28 – 14 League, 3 Cup, 3 Champions League and 8 test games – scoring a total of 11 goals.
Unable to establish himself at Basel in the first half of the 2015–2016 season, Kakitani left the club in early January 2016 returning to his home club Cerezo Osaka which had been relegated to the J2 League during his absence. The team has been playing in the J1 League since the 2017 season.
International career
He was named Most Valuable Player in the AFC U-17 Championship 2006 after helping Japan win the tournament, scoring 4 goals.
Kakitani scored two goals at 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Against France he scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line.
Kakitani debuted for the Japan senior team at the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup. He played his first international match against China, scoring his first international goal in the 59th minute. He then scored twice against South Korea in a 2–1 win. His three goals from three matches made him top goalscorer as Japan won the tournament.