Koki Mizuno

Koki Mizuno

Mizuno playing for Celtic in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth6 September 1985
Place of birthShimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionRight winger
Club information
Current team
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
Number29
Youth career
2002–2004Shimizu Commercial High School
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2007JEF United86(13)
2008–2010Celtic11(1)
2010–2012Kashiwa Reysol12(0)
2012–Ventforet Kofu24(1)
National team
2005Japan U204(1)
2007[1]Japan4(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 March 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 December 2010

Koki Mizuno (水野 晃樹 Mizuno Kōki, born 6 September 1985 in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka) is a Japanese footballer, who currently plays as a midfielder for JEF United Ichihara Chiba.

He is the cousin of Keita Suzuki,[2] also a footballer.

Club career

JEF United

After graduating from Shimizu Commercial High School, Mizuno joined JEF United in 2004. He was the MVP of the 2006 J. League Cup competition.[3]

Celtic

Celtic's interest was confirmed by chief executive Peter Lawwell in January 2008 who explained that the club planned on signing Mizuno, if he was granted a work permit.[4]

After initially being denied a permit, Gordon Strachan took part in an appeal hearing in which he described his other Japanese import Shunsuke Nakamura as a "flawless performer" and "The best player I have ever worked with, and that includes [Kenny] Dalglish and [Gary] McAllister", and claimed that Mizuno was a young player of immense talent and potential. The appeal was successful[5] and Celtic completed the signing of Koki Mizuno on 29 January 2008. On 18 July 2008, Mizuno made his debut in a 2–0 pre-season friendly win over Southampton. On 8 November, he made his league debut for Celtic in a 2–0 victory over Motherwell, replacing Scott McDonald in the 88th minute and, on 21 December 2008, he made his first start in a game against Falkirk He scored his first goal for Celtic in the 90th minute of the match, assisted by a pass from Shunsuke Nakamura.[6] On 1 July 2010, Mizuno was released by Celtic.[7]

Kashiwa Reysol

In the summer of 2010, Mizuno signed for J. League Division 2 side Kashiwa Reysol.[8] In his first game for Kashiwa, he suffered a knee ligament injury which sidelined him for the rest of the 2010 season.

International career

Mizuno was a member of the Japan team for 2005 World Youth Championship where he scored a goal against Benin.[9] His first cap as a full international came when he substituted Naohiro Takahara on 24 March 2007 in a friendly against Peru.[1] He was a member of the Japan team for 2007 AFC Asian Cup and played two games as a substitute.[10]

Career statistics

Club performance 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
2004JEF UnitedJ. League 171100081
20052532150324
20062501052312
20072990050349
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
2007-08CelticPremier League00000000
2008-091010000101
2009-1010001020
Japan League Emperor's Cup J. League Cup Total
2010Kashiwa ReysolJ. League 210000010
2011J. League 11003010140
2012J. League 11400000141
Country Japan 111147116213417
Scotland 1110010121
Total 122157117214618

[11]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
200740
Total40

Honours

JEF United
Celtic
Individual

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "MIZUNO Koki". Japan National Football Team Database.
  2. "Emperor's Cup preview". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 2 November 2006.
  3. "Cup History". Yamazaki-Nabisco. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  4. "Celtic edge closer to Mizuno deal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2008.
  5. "Nakamura welcomes Mizuno". FIFA.com. 15 January 2008.
  6. "Falkirk 0–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. 21 December 2008.
  7. "Celtic release midfielders Zhi and Mizuno". BBC Sport. 1 July 2010.
  8. "Celtic forgotten man Koki Mizuno returns to Japan". Daily Record. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  9. "Japan - Benin 1:1 (0:1)". FIFA.com. 15 June 2005.
  10. "2007 Asian Cup" (PDF). JFA. 30 July 2007.
  11. Koki Mizuno at National-Football-Teams.com

External links