Tomoyuki Sakai

Tomoyuki Sakai
Personal information
Full name	Tomoyuki Sakai
Date of birth	June 29, 1979 (age 43)
Place of birth	Misato, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997	JEF United Ichihara
Senior career*
Years	Team
1997–2000	JEF United Ichihara
2001–2003	Nagoya Grampus Eight
2004–2007	Urawa Reds
2007–2008	Vissel Kobe
2009	Fujieda MYFC
2010–2011	Pelita Jaya
2011	Persiwa Wamena
2011–2012	Persiram Raja Ampat
2013	Deltras Sidoarjo
Total
National team
1994–1995	Japan U-17
1998–1999	Japan U-20
2000	Japan U-23
2000	Japan
Honours
JEF United Ichihara
Urawa Reds
Representing Japan
FIFA U-20 World Cup
AFC U-20 Asian Cup
AFC U-17 Asian Cup
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Tomoyuki Sakai (酒井友之, Sakai Tomoyuki, born June 29, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Sakai was born in Misato on June 29, 1979. He joined JEF United Ichihara from their youth team in 1997. He played many matches as defensive midfielder from first season. He moved to Nagoya Grampus Eight in 2001. He also played as right midfielder not only defensive midfielder. His opportunity to play decreased from the middle of 2003. He moved to Urawa Reds in 2004. Although he did not have much opportunity to play, the club won the 2nd place in 2004 and 2005 J1 League and the champions 2005 Emperor's Cup. He moved to Vissel Kobe in July 2007 and Fujieda MYFC in 2009. From 2010, he moved to Indonesia and played for Pelita Jaya, Persiwa Wamena, Persiram Raja Ampat and Deltras Sidoarjo. He retired in 2013.

In August 1995, Sakai was selected the Japan U-17 national team for 1995 U-17 World Championship. He played full-time in all 3 matches. In April 1999, he was also selected the Japan U-20 national team for 1999 World Youth Championship. He played full-time in all 7 matches as right midfielder and Japan won the 2nd place.

In September 2000, Sakai was selected the Japan U-23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics who carried high hopes of the nation because Sakai's teammates included such household names as Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura and Naohiro Takahara. Sakai played all 4 matches. However, in the team's quarterfinal match, Sakai committed a foul inside his own box at the 90th minute, conceding the United States, Japan's opponents, a crucial penalty to make it 2-2. The United States went on to win the penalty shootouts after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two teams.

On December 20, 2000, Sakai debuted for the Japan national team against South Korea.

Statistics[change | change source]

^[1]^[2]

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Total
1997	JEF United Ichihara	J1 League	18	2	2	0	1	0	21	2
1998			25	0	1	0	6	1	32	1
1999			22	0	1	1	0	0	23	1
2000			27	1	3	1	2	0	32	2
2001	Nagoya Grampus Eight	J1 League	25	3	1	0	6	0	32	3
2002			29	1	3	0	6	0	38	1
2003			17	1	0	0	3	0	20	1
2004	Urawa Reds	J1 League	19	1	3	0	7	1	29	2
2005			18	2	4	0	6	0	28	2
2006			3	0	3	0	5	1	11	1
2007			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	Vissel Kobe	J1 League	10	0	2	0	0	0	12	0
2008	Vissel Kobe	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	Fujieda MYFC	Prefectural Leagues	8	3	-		-		8	3
Indonesia			League		Piala Indonesia		League Cup		Total
2010/11	Pelita Jaya	Super League	11	1	-		-		11	1
2010/11	Persiwa Wamena		12	0	-		-		12	0
2011/12	Persiram Raja Ampat		33	2	-		-		33	2
Country	Japan		221	14	23	2	42	3	286	19
Country	Indonesia		56	3	-		-		56	3
Total			277	17	23	2	42	3	342	22