Akira Kaji
Kaji with Gamba Osaka in 2010
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Akira Kaji | ||
| Date of birth | 13 January 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Minamiawaji, Hyōgo, Japan | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
Fagiano Okayama | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Takigawa Daini H.S. | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–1999 | Cerezo Osaka | 24 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Oita Trinita | 75 | (3) |
| 2002–2005 | FC Tokyo | 89 | (1) |
| 2006–2014 | Gamba Osaka | 225 | (2) |
| 2014 | Chivas USA | 15 | (0) |
| 2015– | Fagiano Okayama | 36 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1998–1999 | Japan U-20 | 8 | (1) |
| 2003–2008 | Japan | 64 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 February 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 January 2010 |
|||
Akira Kaji (加地 亮 Kaji Akira?) (born 13 January 1980 in Minamiawaji, Hyōgo) is a Japanese professional footballer who last played for Fagiano Okayama FC. He is a specialist on the right-hand side of the pitch playing as a full back or a wide midfielder.
After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School, Kaji joined Cerezo Osaka in 1998. He made his first league appearance on 25 July 1998 against Avispa Fukuoka. At the club, he found it difficult to break into the first team and was loaned out to J. League Division 2 side Oita Trinita at the start of the 2000 season.
After spending 2 years at Oita, Kaji came back to Division 1 in 2002 to play for F.C. Tokyo. The manager Hiromi Hara made him a regular and assigned a more attacking role. His club won the 2004 J. League Cup by beating Urawa Red Diamonds in the final which ended 0–0 after the extra time. The penalty shoot-out was required and his successful conversion as the last penalty taker for Tokyo finally broke the deadlock.
He was transferred to Gamba Osaka at the beginning of the 2006 season and scored in the beginning league match against Urawa Reds. He was selected as a member of the 2006 J-League Team of the Year.
After eight years with Gamba Osaka, Kaji signed with Major League Soccer club Chivas USA on 24 June 2014.
...
Wikipedia