Koki Mizuno

Koki Mizuno (水野 晃樹, Mizuno Kōki, born 6 September 1985) is a Japanese football player who plays for SC Sagamihara in J3 League.[1]

Koki Mizuno
水野 晃樹
Mizuno playing for Celtic in 2009
Personal information
Full name Koki Mizuno
Date of birth (1985-09-06) 6 September 1985
Place of birth Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 SC Sagamihara
Number 29
Youth career
2001–2003 Shimizu Commercial High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 JEF United Chiba 86 (13)
2008–2010 Celtic 11 (1)
2010–2012 Kashiwa Reysol 25 (1)
2013–2014 Ventforet Kofu 30 (1)
2015 JEF United Chiba 19 (1)
2016 Vegalta Sendai 8 (0)
2017–2018 Sagan Tosu 9 (1)
2018 Roasso Kumamoto 12 (0)
2019– SC Sagamihara
National team
2005 Japan U-20 4 (1)
2007 Japan 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of 2018 season

Mizuno began his professional career with JEF United Chiba, with whom he won the J.League Cup in 2005 and 2006; he was named most valuable player of the 2006 competition.[2] His other former clubs include Ventforet Kofu, Kashiwa Reysol, and Scottish side Celtic.

Mizuno has 4 caps for the Japan national team, including two appearances as a substitute at the 2007 Asian Cup.[3] As a youth, Mizuno also appeared in the 2005 World Youth Championship as a member of the Japanese Under-20 team, scoring one goal.[4]

He is the cousin of Keita Suzuki, also a footballer.[5]

Club career

JEF United Chiba

After graduating from Shimizu Commercial High School, Mizuno joined JEF United Ichihara (later JEF United Chiba) in 2004. He was the MVP of the 2006 J.League Cup competition.[2]

Celtic

Celtic's interest was confirmed by chief executive Peter Lawwell in January 2008 who explained that the club planned on signing Mizuno, if he was granted a work permit.[6]

After initially being denied a permit, Gordon Strachan took part in an appeal hearing in which he described his other Japanese import Shunsuke Nakamura as a "flawless performer" and "The best player I have ever worked with, and that includes [Kenny] Dalglish and [Gary] McAllister", and claimed that Mizuno was a young player of immense talent and potential. The appeal was successful[7] and Celtic completed the signing of Koki Mizuno on 29 January 2008. On 18 July 2008, Mizuno made his debut in a 2–0 pre-season friendly win over Southampton. On 8 November, he made his league debut for Celtic in a 2–0 victory over Motherwell, replacing Scott McDonald in the 88th minute and, on 21 December 2008, he made his first start in a game against Falkirk. He scored his first goal for Celtic in the 90th minute of the match, assisted by a pass from Shunsuke Nakamura.[8] On 1 July 2010, Mizuno was released by Celtic.[9]

Kashiwa Reysol

In the summer of 2010, Mizuno signed for J2 League side Kashiwa Reysol.[10] In his first game for Kashiwa, he suffered a knee ligament injury which sidelined him for the rest of the 2010 season.

International career

Mizuno was a member of the Japan team for 2005 World Youth Championship where he scored a goal against Benin.[4] His first cap as a full international came when he substituted Naohiro Takahara on 24 March 2007 in a friendly against Peru.[3] He was a member of the Japan team for 2007 Asian Cup and played two games as a substitute.[11]

Club statistics

Updated to 23 February 2017.[12]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
2004JEF United ChibaJ1 League71100081
20052532150324
20062501052312
20072990050349
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
2007–08CelticPremier League00000000
2008–091010000101
2009–1010001020
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
2010Kashiwa ReysolJ2 League1000-10
2011J1 League1003010140
20121410000141
2013Ventforet Kofu1901030230
20141111132154
2015JEF United ChibaJ2 League19120-211
2016Vegalta SendaiJ1 League801040130
CountryJapan 1681612226420622
Scotland 1110010121
Total 1791712227421823

National team statistics

[13]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
200740
Total40

Honours
JEF United Chiba
Celtic
Individual

References
  1. Koki Mizuno at J.League (in Japanese)
  2. "Cup History". Yamazaki-Nabisco. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  3. Japan National Football Team Database
  4. "Japan - Benin 1:1 (0:1)". FIFA.com. 15 June 2005.
  5. "Emperor's Cup preview". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2 November 2006.
  6. "Celtic edge closer to Mizuno deal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2008.
  7. "Nakamura welcomes Mizuno". FIFA.com. 15 January 2008.
  8. "Falkirk 0–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 21 December 2008.
  9. "Celtic release midfielders Zhi and Mizuno". BBC Sport. 1 July 2010.
  10. "Celtic forgotten man Koki Mizuno returns to Japan". Daily Record. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  11. "2007 Asian Cup" (PDF). JFA. 30 July 2007.
  12. 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. 93 out of 289)
  13. Koki Mizuno at National-Football-Teams.com
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