Gōtoku Sakai is a professional footballer known for his role as a left-back.
He began his professional career with Albirex Niigata, where he played from 2006 to 2011.
Sakai made a significant move to VfB Stuttgart in 2012, marking his entry into European football.
Biography
Early Life
Gōtoku Sakai was born in New York City to a German mother and a Japanese father, but his family moved to Japan when he was just two years old. Growing up in Sanjō, Niigata prefecture, he began his football journey at the Sanjō junior soccer club alongside his brother Noriyoshi. At the age of 15, he joined the youth academy of Albirex Niigata while attending Kaishu Gakuen High School, where he honed his skills in various youth tournaments.
Career
Sakai made his professional debut for Albirex Niigata at the age of 17 in the Emperor's Cup against FC Tokyo. He officially signed with the club for the 2009 season, quickly establishing himself as a promising talent. In 2012, he was loaned to VfB Stuttgart, where he made his Bundesliga debut and contributed significantly to the team's success. After a successful stint in Germany, he moved to Hamburger SV and later joined Vissel Kobe in 2019, where he continues to play as a left-back.
On the international stage, Sakai represented Japan at various youth levels, including the U20 and U23 teams, before making his senior debut in 2012. He was part of Japan's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and announced his retirement from international football following the tournament. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his talent, being named in the J.League Best XI in 2023 and contributing to his teams' successes in domestic competitions.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Early career
Sakai was born in New York to a German mother and a Japanese father. The family moved to Japan when he was two years old. He grew up in Sanjō, Niigata prefecture. Sakai started playing football at Sanjō junior soccer club, together with his brother Noriyoshi. At age 15, he joined Albirex Niigata youth academy and entered Kaishu Gakuen High School. His team played at the Prince Takamado Premier/Prince League, Japan Club Youth U-18 Football Championship and J.League youth tournaments. Years later in his final year at school, he was chosen as one of the designated players for development by J. League Division 1 and JFA. With this status, he was able to register as a J. League club player while he was still eligible to play for his school. He made his Albirex first-team debut, at the age of 17, on 15 November 2008 in the Emperor's Cup match against FC Tokyo. He officially signed with Albirex Niigata in the following season. After becoming professional, he was assigned the number 24 shirt. He made his professional football debut in the opening J1 League match of the 2009 season also against FC Tokyo.
VfB Stuttgart
On 1 January 2012, Gōtoku Sakai was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart until June 2013. VfB Stuttgart secured the contract option to sign Sakai permanently. On 11 February 2012, Sakai made his Bundesliga debut for VfB Stuttgart in a 5–0 home victory against Hertha BSC. He made 14 starts and recorded five assists in his first Bundesliga season.…
Sakai played for Japan U20 at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship in China. In 2011, he was named in Japan's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar but had to withdraw due to an injury. On 21 September 2011, Sakai was in the starting line-up of the Japan under-22 team in the first group match of his team in the 2012 Summer Olympics Asian Qualifiers against Malaysia. In the following group match against Bahrain he came off the bench. He participated with the Japan under-23 team in the 2012 Toulon Tournament. On 2 July 2012, Sakai was called up for the 2012 Summer Olympics Football tournament in London. He made his debut for the Japan senior national team on 6 September 2012 in the Kirin Cup against the United Arab Emirates. Sakai underlined his outstanding potential in late 2012 when he was selected by influential football website IBWM in their list of the 100 most exciting players in world football for 2013. In May 2018 he was named in Japan's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. After Japan lost in the Round of 16 to Belgium, Sakai announced his retirement from international duty.
Club
As of match played 8 December 2024
International
As of 2 July 2018
- Club
- Albirex Niigata (2006–2011)
- Club
- VfB Stuttgart (2012–2015)
- Club
- Hamburger SV (2015–2019)
- Club
- Japan national under-20 association football team (2009–2010)
- Club
- Japan national under-23 football team (2011–2012)
- Club
- Japan men's national football team (2012–)
- Club
- Japan Olympic football team (2011–2012)
- Club
- Vissel Kobe (2019–)
- League
- Bundesliga
- National team
- Japan
Legacy
VfB Stuttgart
DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2012–13 Vissel Kobe
J1 League: 2023, 2024 Emperor's Cup: 2019, 2024 Japanese Super Cup: 2020 J1 100 Year Vision League: 2026 Individual
J.League Best XI: 2023
Clubs
- Japan men's national football team2012current
- Vissel Kobe2019current
- Albirex Niigata2006–2011
- Japan national under-20 association football team2009–2010
- Japan Olympic football team2011–2012
- Japan national under-23 football team2011–2012
- VfB Stuttgart2012–2015
- Hamburger SV2015–2019
Played together with
Aaron HuntHamburger SV · 2015- Abdelaziz AhanfoufVfB Stuttgart
Adam HloušekVfB Stuttgart · 2014–2016- Adam HloušekVfB Stuttgart · 2014–2016
- Adhemar Ferreira de Camargo NetoVfB Stuttgart · 2001–2003
Adrian FeinHamburger SV · 2019
Adrian GrbićVfB Stuttgart- Adrian KnupVfB Stuttgart · 1992–1994
- Adílson Ferreira de SouzaVissel Kobe · 2010–2011
- Adílson Ferreira de SouzaVissel Kobe · 2013–2013
Ahmed Salah HosnyVfB Stuttgart · 1998–2001- Akihiko TakeshigeAlbirex Niigata · 2013–2013
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Gōtoku Sakai is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Vissel Kobe. He was born in the United States but raised in Japan, where he represented internationally.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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