Yusuke Kato (加藤 友介, Katō Yūsuke, born 13 February 1986) is a Japanese former football midfielder who last played for Muktijoddha Sangsad KC in Bangladesh.[1][2][3] Kato is the second Japanese player to play in Argentina's top division football league after Naohiro Takahara.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yusuke Kato | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Osaka, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Huracán | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Huracán | 15 | (1) |
| 2008 | → Def. de Belgrano (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2011 | MIO Biwako Kusatsu | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | Dempo | 4 | (1) |
| 2012 | BEC Tero Sasana | 12 | (2) |
| 2013 | Nakhon Ratchasima | 31 | (14) |
| 2014 | Samut Songkhram | 24 | (4) |
| 2015 | BBCU | 30 | (14) |
| 2016 | Udon Thani | 9 | (0) |
| 2016 | Angthong | 5 | (0) |
| 2017 | South China | 8 | (2) |
| 2017 | Gresik United | 14 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Muktijoddha Sangsad | 21 | (7) |
| 2019–2020 | Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi | 5 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Muktijoddha Sangsad | 23 | (2) |
| Total | 214 | (48) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021 |
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (assistant manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
At the age of 14, he went to Argentina to learn football, and after graduating from high school, went to Argentina again to play football.
He is the first Japanese football player to play in the first division (Primera Division) after promoting from the U-20 in Argentina.
Antonio Mohamed, the manager of that time, said, “Kato is my son. He has a great scoring ability.”
The manager Osvaldo Ardiles said, “He can definitely play well in J League.”
The teammates who have played together so far are Javier Pastore, Dani Osvaldo, Joaquín Larrivey and Mario Bolatti.
When he played in Thailand, he played under Sven-Göran Eriksson and was said, “I assure that Kato’s ability to play in Thailand’s top team.”
Career edit
Argentina edit
Kato made Japanese football history when he joined Argentine Primera División side Huracán. He stayed there from 2006 to 2010 making 15 league appearances and scoring once. Kato scored his first goal for Huracán against Talleres de Cordoba in 2007.
Dempo edit
On 30 January 2012 it was confirmed that Kato had signed a deal with Indian I-League team Dempo S.C. for the 2011–12 season. He scored his first goal in I-League for Dempo S.C. on 24 March 2012 against HAL SC, in which Dempo won 3–0.
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC edit
Kato had his first stint with Muktijoddha Sangsad KC during the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League season. After spending the 2019-20 season with Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi he returned to the club, on 16 November 2020. Before the start of the 2021 Bangladesh Premier League season the clubs higher-ups decided against participating in the league due to financial problems. Kato helped the club tremendously by seeking help from the Japanese community and was able to get a donation of Tk30.[4][5][6] The donations allowed the club to take part in the Bangladesh Premier League and they ended the season finishing in tenth place out of 13 teams which was safe from relegation.[7]
On 18 November 2021, before the start of the 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League season, Kato retired from professional football and became a member of Muktijoddha's coaching staff for a short while. He is thought to be a modern day Muktijoddha Sangsad KC legend.[8]
Honours edit
Dempo SC
South China
- Hong Kong FA Cup Runner-up: 2016–17
References edit
- ^ "জাপানি পত্রিকায় মুক্তিযোদ্ধা সংসদ ও কাতো". dhakapost.com.
- ^ "বাংলাদেশের ফুটবল বন্ধু হতে চাই : ইউসুকে কাতো | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho. 12 January 2021.
- ^ "[১] মুক্তিযোদ্ধা সংসদ ক্রীড়া চক্রের জন্য তহবিল সংগ্রহ করে যাবেন জাপানি মিডফিল্ডার ইউসুকে কাতো". 19 August 2021.
- ^ Reporter, Sports (10 December 2020). "Kato seeks Japanese community's help to save Muktijoddha SKC". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Japanese Kato raises Tk30 lakh for Muktijoddha Sangsad | Dhaka Tribune". 19 August 2021.
- ^ Report, Star Online (20 December 2020). "Japanese company comes forward to help Muktijoddha Sangsad". The Daily Star.
- ^ Developer), Md Ashequl Morsalin Ibne Kamal(Team Leader)| Niloy Saha(Sr Web Developer)| Shohana Afroz(Web Developer)| Jobayer Hossain(Web. "BPL Football: Sheikh Jamal DC finish runners-up beating Mohammedan SC 2-0". unb.com.bd.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "ফিরে যাচ্ছেন মুক্তিযোদ্ধার জাপানি বন্ধু | কালের কণ্ঠ". Kalerkantho. 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Players – I-League – India – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
External links edit
- Josuke Kato at BDFA (in Spanish)
- Yusuke Kato at Soccerway