40 Facts About Hiroki Sakai

Hiroki Sakai is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a Right back and the inaugural captain for A-League club Auckland FC.

Hiroki Sakai initially played as a striker before converting to a full back, where he has played since.

Hiroki Sakai spent 10 years with the school football team before joining Kashiwa Reysol U15 side in 2003.

Hiroki Sakai progressed through the ranks of the Kashiwa Reysol and learned his guidance under Tatsuma Yoshida.

Ahead of the 2010 season, Hiroki Sakai was promoted to Kashiwa Reysol's first team, where he signed a contract with the club and was given the number 30 shirt.

At the start of the 2010 season, Hiroki Sakai started out on the substitute bench in number of matches.

Ahead of the 2011 season, the club announced that Hiroki Sakai were among players to agree to stay at Kashiwa Reysol and was given a number 4 shirt.

On 12 May 2011, it was announced that Hiroki Sakai signed another contract with the club.

Hiroki Sakai began to set up goals in number of matches for the side, including twice against Kawasaki Frontale on 16 July 2011.

Hiroki Sakai played four times in the tournament, as Kashiwa Reysol finished fourth place in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Hiroki Sakai's performance attracted interests from clubs in Europe, mostly Germany, as the season progressed.

Shortly after, Hiroki Sakai missed the rest of the season with a muscle injury.

Hiroki Sakai stated in an interview with France Football that he has settled in France, having suffered difficulties in his previous season.

However, Hiroki Sakai suffered a calf injury that saw him out for two matches.

Hiroki Sakai suffered a further setback when he suffered an adductor injury that saw him out for two matches.

On 24 May 2021, Hiroki Sakai announced that he was leaving the club despite having a year contract left.

On 10 June 2021, Hiroki Sakai made his return to Japan, signing for Urawa Red Diamonds in the J1 League.

Hiroki Sakai helped Urawa Red Diamonds keep five consecutive clean sheets in the league between 21 August 2021 and 25 September 2021.

Ahead of the 2023 season, Hiroki Sakai was appointed as the new captain of Urawa Red Diamonds.

Hiroki Sakai started in the first seven league matches of the season and led the club on winning their first four consecutive wins in the league for in over six years.

Shortly after, Hiroki Sakai suffered a meniscus injury on his right knee that expect him to be out for the rest of the season.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Urawa Red Diamonds announced that Hiroki Sakai would retain his captaincy.

Hiroki Sakai then set up two goals in two matches between 30 March 2024 and 3 April 2024.

On 11 June 2024, it was reported by Andy Harper that Hiroki Sakai agreed with a move to Auckland FC for their inaugural A-League Men's season.

On 24 July 2024, Hiroki Sakai's move to Auckland FC was confirmed.

On 2 July 2012, Hiroki Sakai was called up for the 2012 Summer Olympics Football tournament in London.

In October 2011, Hiroki Sakai was called up for the first time to the senior squad for a match against Vietnam and Tajikistan, but he appeared as an unused substitute instead.

Hiroki Sakai played two of the three matches in the group stage, losing both matches, and was eliminated from the tournament.

In May 2014, Hiroki Sakai was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

However, Hiroki Sakai made no appearances in the FIFA World Cup, as he spent the rest of the campaign on the substitute bench.

Hiroki Sakai assisted five goals along the way, including two separate matches against Thailand.

In May 2018, Hiroki Sakai was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Hiroki Sakai started the next two matches for Samurai Blue, and eventually qualifying for the knockout stage, due to receiving fewer yellow cards than Senegal, becoming the only Asian team to do so in the 2018 World Cup.

Hiroki Sakai helped the Samurai Blue reach all the way to the AFC Asian Cup final and kept three consecutive clean sheets along the way.

Hiroki Sakai then set up three goals in five matches for the Samurai Blue between 5 September 2019 and 14 November 2019.

Hiroki Sakai had to wait until on 15 September 2022 when he was called up to the Japan's squad for the Kirin Cup Soccer.

Hiroki Sakai said his idol growing up was Ronaldo and watched his performance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In 2014, Hiroki Sakai revealed that he married a non-celebrity woman and described her as supportive of his football career.

Since moving to Europe, Hiroki Sakai spoke out the culture in Germany and France.

In May 2018, Hiroki Sakai published his first book titled "Resetting Power 'Nature and the Mind Becomes Stronger' 46 Concept".