Koji Sakamoto (坂本 紘司, Sakamoto Koji, born December 3, 1978) is a former Japanese football player.

Koji Sakamoto
坂本 紘司
Personal information
Full name Koji Sakamoto
Date of birth (1978-12-03) December 3, 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Yasu, Shiga, Japan
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1994–1996 Shizuoka Gakuen High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Júbilo Iwata 0 (0)
2000–2012 Shonan Bellmare 456 (57)
Total 456 (57)
Medal record
Júbilo Iwata
Winner J1 League 1997
Winner J1 League 1999
Runner-up J1 League 1998
Winner J.League Cup 1998
Runner-up J.League Cup 1997
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

edit

Sakamoto was born in Yasu on December 3, 1978. After graduating from Shizuoka Gakuen High School, he joined J1 League club Júbilo Iwata in 1997. Although he played several matches as substitute forward in J.League Cup, he could hardly play in the match. In 2000, he moved to J2 League club Shonan Bellmare. Although he could not play at all in the match in 2000, he became a regular player as offensive midfielder from 2001 and played many matches for a long time. In 2007, he was converted to defensive midfielder. However he was returned to offensive midfielder by manager Yasuharu Sorimachi in 2009. The club also won the 3rd place in 2009 and was promoted to J1 from 2010. However the club finished at bottom place in 2010 and was relegated to J2 in a year. In 2012, he lost his regular position and played many matches as substitute. He retired end of 2012 season.

Sakamoto played 456 J.League games for Shonan Bellmare (a club record) between 2000 and 2012, also being for many years the team's captain.[1]

Club statistics

edit

[2]

Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Júbilo Iwata 1997 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1999 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
Shonan Bellmare 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2001 39 8 2 5 0 0 41 13
2002 38 7 4 3 42 10
2003 44 4 4 1 48 5
2004 38 8 3 1 41 9
2005 35 1 3 1 38 2
2006 39 1 1 0 40 1
2007 44 3 2 0 46 3
2008 39 3 1 0 40 3
2009 50 13 0 0 50 13
2010 30 3 1 0 2 1 33 4
2011 35 6 4 1 39 7
2012 25 0 0 0 25 0
Career total 456 57 26 13 5 0 487 70

References

edit
  1. ^ Sakamoto announces retirement. Shonan Bellmare. 13 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Stats Centre: Koji Sakamoto Facts". Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
edit