Naoya Kikuchi
Naoya Kikuchi is a former professional football player and current coach from Japan.
He began his professional career with Júbilo Iwata, where he played from 2003 to 2007.
Kikuchi had a brief loan spell at Albirex Niigata in 2005.
Biography
Early Life
Naoya Kikuchi is a Japanese football coach and former professional player, known for his role as a midfielder. He began his football journey in the Shimizu S-Pulse junior youth team and later attended Shimizu Commercial High School, a school renowned for its strong soccer tradition, producing notable players like Shinji Ono.
Career
Kikuchi's professional career took off when he joined Júbilo Iwata in 2003. He had a brief loan spell at Albirex Niigata before moving to Germany to play for FC Carl Zeiss Jena in 2008. His time in Germany was marked by a significant incident in 2007 when he was arrested for statutory rape, leading to a one-year suspension from football. After serving community service, he returned to Japan, signing with Oita Trinita in 2009. He later rejoined Albirex Niigata and played for Sagan Tosu, where he eventually retired at the end of the 2019 season.
Kikuchi also had a notable international career, representing Japan at various youth levels, including the U-17 and U-20 teams, and making his full international debut in 2010 during the AFC Asian Cup qualification.
Coaching Career
After retiring from professional play, Kikuchi transitioned into coaching and is currently the assistant manager of J2 League club Sagan Tosu, where he continues to influence the next generation of footballers.
Collected from open sources (2) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Career & Clubs
Kikuchi played for the Shimizu S-Pulse junior youth team and Shimizu Commercial High School, which has a strong soccer tradition with players such as Shinji Ono among its alumni. After graduating the school, he joined Júbilo Iwata and briefly loaned to Albirex Niigata. In 2002, he was invited to have a try-out at Arsenal and later went on to have another trial with Dutch team Feyenoord. On June 13, 2007, Kikuchi was arrested in Hamamatsu city for the charge of a statutory rape on a 15-year-old high school student. He was suspended on indictment and released some days later. On June 29, 2007, he was sacked by the club after the scandal. The Japan Football Association imposed one-year suspension on him. After performing voluntary community service for some months, he moved to Germany and joined FC Carl Zeiss Jena. In summer 2009, Kikuchi left FC Carl Zeiss Jena. After trialling with another German club, FC Schalke 04, he signed for Oita Trinita on July 27, 2009. In the winter of 2010, Kikuchi transferred from Oita to Albirex Niigata. Kikuchi retired at the end of the 2019 season.
Kikuchi was part of the 2004 Olympic football team for Japan that exited the tournament in the first round, having finished last in group B behind the teams from Paraguay, Italy, and Ghana. He also had an impressive 2001 U-17 World Championship. He capped for Japan U-20 national team at the 2003 World Youth Championship. He made his full international debut for Japan on January 6, 2010, in a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification against Yemen.
- Club
- Oita Trinita (2009–2010)
- Club
- FC Carl Zeiss Jena (2008–2009)
- Club
- Júbilo Iwata (2003–2007)
- Club
- Albirex Niigata (2005–2005)
- Club
- Albirex Niigata (2011–2013)
- Club
- Sagan Tosu (2013–2013)
- Club
- Sagan Tosu (2014–)
- Club
- Japan national under-17 football team (2001–2002)
- Club
- Japan national under-20 association football team (2002–2004)
- Club
- Japan national under-23 football team (2004–2004)
- Club
- Japan men's national football team (2010–2010)
- League
- 3. Liga
- League
- 2. Bundesliga
Clubs
- Sagan Tosu2014current
- Japan national under-17 football team2001–2002
- Japan national under-20 association football team2002–2004
- Júbilo Iwata2003–2007
- Japan national under-23 football team2004–2004
- Albirex Niigata2005–2005
- FC Carl Zeiss Jena2008–2009
- Oita Trinita2009–2010
- Japan men's national football team2010–2010
- Albirex Niigata2011–2013
- Sagan Tosu2013–2013
Played together with
- Adaílton dos Santos da SilvaJúbilo Iwata · 2015
- Ademir SantosJúbilo Iwata · 1987–1991
Adilson BatistaJúbilo Iwata · 1997–1999
Ado OnaiwuOita Trinita- Adílson Ferreira de SouzaJúbilo Iwata · 2014–2014
- Akihiko TakeshigeAlbirex Niigata · 2013–2013
- Akihiko TakeshigeJúbilo Iwata · 2010–2014
- Akihiro HayashiSagan Tosu · 2013–2016
- Akihiro HyodoOita Trinita · 2015–2015
Akihiro IenagaOita Trinita · 2008–2009- Akihiro KuriharaAlbirex Niigata
- Akihiro SakataOita Trinita · 2011–2015
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Naoya Kikuchi is a Japanese football coach and former professional player. he is the currently assistant manager of J2 League club Sagan Tosu.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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