Takumi Minamino

Cerezo Osaka

Minamino joined Cerezo Osaka's youth team at age 12 and progressed through the academy. While at the Cerezo academy, players such as Shinji Kagawa were in the first team, and Minamino would watch them up close and train with them. Minamino said of the club's youth team in 2014: "At Cerezo Youth, the current physical coach of the top team was the coach during my time in the youth team, it was insanely tough, really." In August 2009, Minamino participated in Japan's U15 Club Youth Soccer Championship Tournament and helped the Cerezo's U15 side finish eighth place, being eliminated in the quarter-finals. Nonetheless, he was the top scorer of the tournament, finishing with eight goals. The following year, Minamino helped Cerezo's U15 team finish at the top of the Prince League Kansai and at one point, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win over Kobe City Science and Technology High School on April 11, 2010. In 2011, he began playing for Cerezo's U18s, as they participated in the Takamadomiya Cup JFA U-18 Soccer Premier League. Minamino placed in 4th place as one of the top scorers in the tournament, scoring nine times. Minamino also helped the side reach the final of the J Youth Cup, but they lost 3–1 against Nagoya Grampus U18; but nevertheless, he finished as the top scorer in the tournament, scoring thirteen times. After spending two years progressing through Cerezo's youth system, Minamino was registered to the first team in August 2012. It was not until on…

Youth career

Minamino previously represented the Japan U15 and U16 sides. At one point, while playing for Japan U16, he was called up for the AFC U-16 Championship tournament. Minamino helped the side reach the knockout stage, having scored three times in the group stage, including a brace against Vietnam U16. He then scored in a 3–1 win over Iraq U16 in the quarter-finals. However, Japan U16 were eliminated by North Korea U16 in the semi-finals, in a 2–1 loss during which Minamino scored the national side's only goal of the match. Despite this, he finished the tournament's top scorer, alongside Timur Khakimov. In June 2011, Minamino selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He played four matches and scored a goal against New Zealand U17. In October 2014, Minamino was called up by Japan U19 for the AFC U-19 Championship, leading him to withdraw from Cerezo Osaka's first team for three matches. He scored the opening goal in Matchday 1 of the group stage, in a 2–1 loss against China U19. Minamino later scored two more goals in Matchday Three of the Group stage, in a 2–1 win over South Korea U19 to send through to the knockout stage. However, in the quarter-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship against North Korea U19, Minamino scored an equaliser from a penalty, sending the match into extra time and then a penalty shoot-out, where he missed the decisive penalty, leading North Korea U19 to go through. Despite this, Minamino scored four goals…

At Salzburg, Minamino was played in a fluid attacking role that allowed him to move freely and 'unlock doors, pick a pass and move with an elegant gait.' His comparatively slight frame has been described as an 'advantage' as his low centre-of-gravity means he can 'run past players with ease'. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has heaped praise on him, saying, prior to him signing for Liverpool, "I'd like to have Minamino in Liverpool. He's classy. The best talent." After a game against Ajax in the Champions League, Klopp said "He's everywhere, he defends like a devil and then offensively he's really involved."

Minamino was born in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture. While at elementary school, he played for the local club Sessel Kumatori. Growing up, he was inspired by the finishing and dribbling of Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who was the top scorer at the 2002 FIFA World Cup which Japan co-hosted. He would watch videos of Ronaldo's feints, and go outside to practice. He was also inspired by his older brother Kenta. Their father would put cones down in a car park for them to dribble in and out of at speed. He attended Osaka-Kokoku High School, where he became classmates with Kyōgo Furuhashi. Minamino has described himself as an "active child" growing up.