SAKAI Hiroki

Date of Birth: 12 Apr 1990

Age: 31

Gender: Male

Height (m/ft): 1.83/6'0''

Place of birth: NAKANO

Birth Country:

Japan

Place of residence : JAPAN

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Football	Men JPN Japan	4

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Tokyo Stadium	Men's Group A #01 JPN Japan 1 RSA South Africa 0	Finished
	Saitama Stadium	Men's Group A #09 JPN Japan 2 MEX Mexico 1	Finished
	International Stadium Yokohama	Men's Group A #17 FRA France 0 JPN Japan 4	Finished
	Ibaraki Kashima Stadium	Men's Quarter-final #25 JPN Japan 0 (4) PSO NZL New Zealand 0 (2)	Finished
	Saitama Stadium	Men's Semi-final #30 JPN Japan 0 ESP Spain 1 AET	Finished
	Saitama Stadium	Men's Bronze Medal Match #31 MEX Mexico 3 JPN Japan 1	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Olympic Games

Rank	Event	Year	Location
4	Olympic	2012	London, GBR

FIFA World Cup

Rank	Event	Year	Location
15	Senior	2018	Russian Federation
29	Senior	2014	Brazil

AFC Asian Cup

Rank	Event	Year	Location
2	Senior	2019	United Arab Emirates

Sakai (reysol.co.jp, 14 May 2012)

Occupation:

Languages spoken:

English, French, Japanese

Urawa Red Diamonds [Japan] since 2021

Ricardo Rodriguez [club], ESP; Hajime Moriyasu [national], JPN

Position style:

Defender (asahi.com, 19 May 2021)

Right-footed (transfermarkt.com, 29 Aug 2019)

First A-match in 2012 for Japan Against Azerbaijan, in Japan (sanspo.com, 21 Oct 2020)

In March 2020 he underwent surgery on his left ankle and was sidelined for two months. (transfermarkt.com, 17 Mar 2020)

In April 2018 he damaged the medial collateral ligament [MCL] in his left knee in a Europa League match against Red Bull Salzburg. He was out of action for 17 days. (transfermarkt.com, 23 Apr 2018; web.gekisaka.jp, 23 Apr 2018)

In December 2010 he fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot. He underwent surgery and returned three months later. (transfermarkt.com, 08 Mar 2011; soccer.takagix.net, 03 Dec 2010)

In October 2008 he fractured a bone in the instep of his left foot. He underwent surgery and was sidelined for two months. (nikkansports.com, 08 Oct 2008)

National league:

J1 League [JPN] (urawa-reds.co.jp, 10 Jun 2021)

He was encouraged by his father and two older brothers. (spoducation.jp, 22 Oct 2020)

He was named Rookie of the Year and in the Team of the Season for the 2011 J1 League season in Japan. (sanspo.com, 21 Oct 2020)

He was presented with a Rookie Award at the 2011 Japan Pro Sports Awards. (sanspo.com, 21 Oct 2020)

General Interest

General
OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE
He relocated to Germany ahead of the 2012/13 season to join Hannover 96. He played for French Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille between 2016 and 2021 before returning to Japan to join Urawa Red Diamonds. (sbnation.com, 13 Jul 2012; transfermarkt.com, 29 Aug 2019; english.kyodonews.net, 10 May 2021; Instagram profile, 24 May 2021; japantimes.co.jp, 25 May 2021; urawa-reds.co.jp, 10 Jun 2021)

BOOK
In 2018 he released his first book titled 'Power to reset: Nature and mind to become stronger'. (amazon.co.jp, 25 May 2018)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event
AET:: After Extra Time
PSO:: Penalty Shoot-out

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos