Ryo Nagai

Ryo Nagai
Personal information
Full nameRyo Nagai
Date of birth23 May 1991
Place of birthHyōgo, Japan
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionWinger
Second Striker
Club information
Current team
Cerezo Osaka
Number9
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010–Cerezo Osaka41(1)
2012–2014Perth Glory (loan)26(4)
2015–Oita Trinita (loan)5(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).

Ryo Nagai (永井 龍 Nagai Ryo, born 23 May 1991) is a Japanese football player who can play as a winger on either side or through the centre as a striker. He currently plays for the J. League club Cerezo Osaka.

Club career

Cerezo Osaka

During the 2011/12 season, Nagai made his AFC Champions League debut as a 74th minute substitute for Cerezo Osaka against Chinese club Shandong Luneng on 10 May 2011. Cerezo Osaka won the group G match 4–0 at the Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan.[1]

Perth Glory

On 28 September 2012 it was announced that Nagai had signed with Perth Glory for a season long loan deal.[2] He will be wearing the number 12 shirt.[3] He played his first game for Perth Glory coming of the bench in the team's 1–0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners

During his first season with the Glory, Ryo found it hard to break into the starting team under then coach Ian Ferguson. His playing time was greatly restricted until Ferguson stood down in February and Perth Glory appointed Alistair Edwards as his replacement. Under Edwards, Nagai flourished and his performances improved with each game played and Nagai contributed to Glory's surprise push for the A-League finals.[4]

On 5 July 2013 it was announced that Perth Glory and Cerezo Osaka had finally agreed to a new loan deal for Ryo to spend the 2013/14 A-League season with the Western Australian club. Nagai will be looking to continue his good relationship with Glory and build on his 17 appearances and 2 goals he managed with the club in his first loan that earned him status of fan favourite.[5] Upon the announcement of the signing Perth Glory head coach, Alistair Edwards, told the media that Ryo had become one of the family and highlighted his versatility in attack as one of the major reasons Glory were keen to secure his signature for a second time.[6]

On 11 January 2014 Perth Glory and Nagai parted company with the Western Australian club terminating the speedy winger's loan contract. Nagai was unable to participate in the remainder of the A-League season after suffering a serious hamstring tear in Perth's round 11 0–0 draw with Adelaide United. It was mutually agreed that Nagai would be best served in his recovery by returning to Japan to parent club Cerezo Osaka. Perth Glory CEO, Jason Brewer, praised Nagai for being a fantastic player, citing Ryo's attacking flair on his departure from the club as the main reason why in just two years Nagai had become a firm fan favourite. Nagai responded to his departure from the club in an equally positive fashion, stating "I have met some great people here and I will take all the positive experiences I have learnt at Perth back to Japan with me".[7]

International career

Ryo Nagai has previously represented and captained Japan at U-19 level.[8]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 April 2014
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup League Cup Asia Total
2010Cerezo OsakaJ. League702200-92
2011100000010110
2012800050-130
Australia League Cup League Cup Oceania/Asia Total
2012–13Perth GloryA-League1720000-172
2013–14920000-92
Japan League Emperor's Cup League Cup Asia Total
2014Cerezo OsakaJ. League5000000050
Total Japan 300225010382
Australia 2640000-264
Career total 564225010646

References

  1. "Match Details: Cerezo Osaka vs Sahndong Luneng". Worldfootball.net. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. Ryo Nagai signs loan deal – Perth Glory
  3. Nagai moves to Perth on loan – The World Game SBS
  4. Goal Australia "Ryo Nagai re-joins Perth Glory". Goal.com. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  5. Sportal Australia "Nagai back for more Glory". FourFourTwo Australia. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  6. Quartermaine, Braden "Japanese attacker Ryo Nagai sticks with Perth Glory for 2013–14 season". The Advertiser. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  7. FourFourTwo Australia "Glory and Nagai agree to end loan spell". FourFourTwo Australia. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. "Ryo Nagai Profile". Football Federation Australia. 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2013.

External links