Biography
Who is Gōtoku Sakai?
Early life and career beginnings
Gōtoku Sakai was born in New York City and moved to Japan at the age of two. He grew up in Sanjō, located in the Niigata prefecture. He began his football training at the Sanjō junior soccer club, where he played alongside his brother, Noriyoshi Sakai. At age 15, he joined the youth academy for the professional club Albirex Niigata while attending Kaishu Gakuen High School.
During his final year of high school, he was selected as a designated development player. This special status allowed him to register with a professional club while maintaining his eligibility for school sports. He made his debut for the Albirex first team on 15 November 2008 during an Emperor's Cup match against FC Tokyo. He officially signed with the team the following season and was assigned the number 24 shirt.
Professional years in Germany
In January 2012, Gōtoku Sakai joined the German club VfB Stuttgart on loan. He made his Bundesliga debut on 11 February 2012 in a 5–0 home win against Hertha BSC. He played 14 matches during that initial season and recorded five assists. He scored his first goal for the team on 22 November 2012 in a UEFA Europa League match against FC Steaua București. He signed a permanent contract with Stuttgart in January 2013.
Gōtoku later moved to Hamburger SV ahead of the 2015–16 season. He became a significant presence for the squad and served as team captain starting in 2016. Even after the club experienced its first relegation from the Bundesliga in 2018, he chose to renew his contract. He remained with the team until he requested to return to Japan at the start of the 2019–20 season.
International and Vissel Kobe career
Gōtoku Sakai returned to Japan on 14 August 2019 to sign with Vissel Kobe. During his time with the club, he has achieved several honors, including winning the J1 League in both 2023 and 2024. He also secured the Emperor's Cup in 2019 and 2024, as well as the Japanese Super Cup in 2020. His performance in the 2023 season earned him a spot on the J.League Best XI team.
His international career included representing Japan at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship and participating in the 2012 Toulon Tournament. He was part of the squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He earned his first senior national team cap on 6 September 2012 in a Kirin Cup match against the United Arab Emirates. He was later selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, announcing his retirement from international football after the tournament.
Family and height
Gōtoku Sakai is 176 centimeters tall. He has three siblings named Noriyoshi Sakai, Gōhi Sakai, and Goson Sakai. His family background includes a German mother and a Japanese father.
Birthday and age
Gōtoku Sakai was born on March 14, 1991, which makes Gōtoku 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Gōtoku shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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