Koki Mizuno

Koki Mizuno

Mizuno playing for Celtic in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-09-06) 6 September 1985
Place of birth Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Right winger
Club information
Current team
Vegalta Sendai
Number 29
Youth career
2002–2004 Shimizu Commercial High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 JEF United 86 (13)
2008–2010 Celtic 11 (1)
2010–2012 Kashiwa Reysol 12 (0)
2013–2014 Ventforet Kofu 30 (1)
2015 JEF United 19 (1)
2016– Vegalta Sendai
National team
2005 Japan U20 4 (1)
2007 Japan 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 January 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 December 2010

Koki Mizuno (水野 晃樹 Mizuno Kōki, born 6 September 1985 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Vegalta Sendai in J1 League. Mizuno began his professional career with JEF United, with whom he won the J. League Cup in 2005 and 2006; he was named most valuable player of the 2006 competition.[1] His other former clubs include Ventforet Kofu, Kashiwa Reysol, and Scottish side Celtic.

Mizuno has 4 caps for the Japan national football team, including two appearances as a substitute at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.[2] As a youth, Mizuno also appeared in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship as a member of the Japanese Under-20 team, scoring one goal.[3]

He is the cousin of Keita Suzuki, also a footballer.[4]

Club career

JEF United

After graduating from Shimizu Commercial High School, Mizuno joined JEF United in 2004. He was the MVP of the 2006 J. League Cup competition.[1]

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.[5]

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[6] 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.[7] On 1 July 2010, Mizuno was released by Celtic.[8]

Kashiwa Reysol

In the summer of 2010, Mizuno signed for J. League Division 2 side Kashiwa Reysol.[9] 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.[3] His first cap as a full international came when he substituted Naohiro Takahara on 24 March 2007 in a friendly against Peru.[2] He was a member of the Japan team for 2007 AFC Asian Cup and played two games as a substitute.[10]

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J. League Cup Total
2004JEF UnitedJ. League 171100081
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 ReysolJ. League 210000010
2011J. League 11003010140
20121410000141
2013Ventforet Kofu1901030230
20141111132154
2015JEF United ChibaJ. League 219120-211
2016Vegalta SendaiJ. League 1
Country Japan 1601611222419322
Scotland 1110010121
Total 1711711223420523

[11]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
200740
Total40

Honours

JEF United
Celtic
Individual

References

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