18 Jun 2011 11:07:00
Shinji Kagawa, Borrusia Dortmund (Getty Images)
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ANALYSIS
By Cesare Polenghi
Few knew who Shinji Kagawa was when he joined Borussia Dortmund one year ago, but it took only a few weeks for the young attacking midfielder from Japan to become the centre of interest for media in Germany and the rest of Europe.
The former Cerezo Osaka youngster, who was picked as the best player of the first half of the Bundesliga season, is just one of the many skilled midfielders produced by the Japanese football system.
After our special on Japanese defenders, this time Goal.com‘s Cesare Polenghi introduces five midfielders from the land of the Rising Sun worthy of the attention of European clubs.
Age: 20
Position: Attacking midfielder
A product of Urawa’s youth system, Haraguchi is still only 20 years old but this is his third season as a professional with the Red Diamonds. In 2011, despite being surrounded by many famous players, he has unexpectedly become the star player of the team. Haraguchi is very talented with both feet and this season he has improved in mobility and speed, becoming the focus of his team’s offensive plays. The undisputed idol of the supporters of the most beloved team in Japan, he has scored four goals so far this J-League campaign.
COULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR: Chelsea
Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale)
Age: 30
Position: Attacking midfielder
Nakamura is one of the most popular players in the J-League. A full university graduate, he joined Frontale aged 22, and for the last eight-and-a-half years, he has been the symbol of the Kawasaki club. Kengo, as he is known to distinguish him from ex-Celtic man Shunsuke Nakamura, is a midfielder who specialises in distributing the ball and setting the tempo for the team. A quiet leader, he can cover any role in midfield and is gifted with a very powerful and precise shot with both feet.
COULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR: Paris Saint-Germain
Age: 25
Position: Central midfielder
Ueda has been tipped by many observers as the “next Yasuhito Endo,” but so far he hasn’t caught the attention of Japan boss Alberto Zaccheroni, possibly because a lack of consistency. However, when in good form, Ueda is possibly the best midfielder of his generation in Japan. His main quality is an innate sense of positioning that helps him both to create and to cover spaces. He is also a set-piece specialist and can deliver perfectly-curved crosses on both free-kicks and corners.
COULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR: AS Roma
Hiroshi Kiyotake (Cerezo Osaka)
Age: 21
Position: Attacking midfielder
Kiyotake effectively replaced Kagawa at Cerezo, but compared to his illustrious ex-teammate, he displays more tactical awareness. When in good physical shape, Kiyotake is capable of a considerable pace for the entire 90 minutes, soaking up pressure in front of defence while also adding creativity to the attack, with a few goals too. Kiyotake has been one of the best players in the AFC Champions League this season so far.
COULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR: Manchester United
Age: 20
Position: Playmaker
Promising youngster Morioka has started for Vissel on more than one occasion this season. He is the product of Kumiyama High School, one of the top football schools in Japan, famous for its passing style. Morioka likes to play between the opposition’s last two lines and to move across the width of the field. His specialities are very precise and quick passes over the top of the opposition defence, to set up his team-mates in front of goal. There’s still a lot of room to improve for him, but he is absolutely one of the most skilled players of his generation.
COULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR: Barcelona-B
Do you have another Japanese defender to propose to European clubs? As ever, we’re open to your suggestions and musings.
Read more here:
Who is the next Shinji Kagawa? – Five Japanese midfielders ready for Europe