Shinji Okazaki Wiki, Biography, Height, Weight, Age, Lifestyle

Shinji Okazaki is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for the Belgian club Sint-Truiden. Internationally, he is currently the top active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history with 50 goals. He also won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016.

Shinji Okazaki
Shinji Okazaki

Quick Facts About Shinji Okazaki

Celebrated Name Shinji Okazaki
Age (As of 2024) 37 Years of 2024
Nick Name Shinji Okazaki
Birth Name Shinji Okazaki
Birth Date 1986-04-16
Gender Male
Profession Footballer
Nationality Japanese
Birth Nation Japan
Place Of Birth Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan
Horoscope Aries
Ethnicity Asian
School Takigawa Daini High School
Career Start 2002
Awards 2009 IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer, 2016 AFC International Footballer of the Year, 2016 Best Footballer in Asia, etc.
Marital Status Single
Height 5 ft. 9 inches
Weight 70kg
Body Type Alethic
Eye Color Dark Brown
Hair Color Black
Sexual Orientation Straight
Source of Wealth Football Career
Net Worth £7 Million
Salary £624,000
Current Club FC Cartagena
Position Forward
Jersey Number 16
Links Twitter Instagram
Shinji Okazaki is a Japanese professional football player who plays for the Spanish club Cartagena and the Japan national team as a forward or attacking midfielder. He started playing football for Takigawa Daini High School in 2002. After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School in 2004, he signed full professional terms with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 and began his career at the club. He then played for clubs like VfB Stuttgart, Mainz 05, Leicester City, Malaga, and Huesca. Currently, he is playing for the Spanish club Cartagena. On the international level, he has represented Japan at various age levels. He has represented Japan at U23 and the senior level. He made his international team debut for the club on 9 October 2008. He has represented Japan at three World Cup 2010, 2014, and 2018. He has also represented Japan in 2011, 2015 AFC Asian Cup, 2013 Confederations Cup, and 2019 Copa America, winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He is currently the top active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history with 50 goals. Since making his debut, he has obtained over 110 and scored 50 goals for his country.

What is Shinji Okazaki Famous For?

  • Being a professional football player.

Honors

  • Won the 2015-16 Premier League with Leicester City.
  • Won the 2019-20 Segunda Division with SD Huesca.
  • Won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with Japan.

Individual

  • Won the 2009 IFFHS World’s Top Goal Scorer.
  • Won the 2016 AFC International Footballer of the Year.
  • Won the 2016 Best Footballer in Asia.

Where is Shinji Okazaki From?

Shinji Okazaki was born on 16 April 1986. His birthplace is Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan. Detail about his parents has been kept secret and not been disclosed yet. He attended Takigawa Daini High School. He holds Japanese nationality. He belongs to the Asian ethnicity. His horoscope sign is Aries.

Shinji Okazaki Club Career

  • He started playing football for Takigawa Daini High School in 2002.
  • After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School in 2004, he signed full professional terms with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 and began his career at the club.
  • He made his professional debut for the club on 6 August 2005 in a 1-0 loss against Urawa Reds in the quarter-finals 1st leg of J.League Cup.
  • On 15 April 2007, he scored his first professional goal for the club in a 2-1 loss against Kawasaki Front. During his 2006-07 season, he made 25 appearances for the club, scoring 5 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • During his 2007-08 season, he made 34 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals in all the competitions.
  • During his 2008-09 season, he made 41 appearances for the club, scoring 17 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • During his 2009-10 season, he made 37 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and providing 7 assists in all the competitions.
  • On 30 January 2011, he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Stuttgart. On 17 February 2011, he was granted a clearance to play for the club by FIFA. He made his debut for the club on 17 February 2011 in a 2-1 loss against Benfica in the second round 1st leg of Europa League. He made his Bundesliga debut for the club in a 4-2 loss against Bayern Leverkusen. On 7 May 2011, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over Hannover 96. In his first season, he made 14 appearances for the club, scoring 2 goals in all the competitions.
  • His goal from a bicycle kick on 19 February 2012 in a Bundesliga match of VfB Stuttgart against Hannover 96 was selected Goal of the Month. After Yasuhiko Okudera in April 1978, he was the second player from Japan to win this award in Germany. During his 2011-12 season, he made 29 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • He had a poor 2012-13 season, scoring only once in the Bundesliga. That season, he made 42 appearances for the club, scoring 4 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • On 1 July 2013, he moved to 1. FSV Mainz 05. He made his debut for the club on 3 August 2013 in a 2-1 win over SC Fortuna Koln in the first round of DFB-Pokal. On 11 August 2013, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-2 win against his former club Stuttgart on the opening matchday of the 2013-14 Bundesliga season. In his first season, he made 35 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • On 13 September 2014, he became the most prolific Japanese player in Bundesliga, scoring his 27th and 28th league goals in Mainz’s 3-1 win over Hertha Berlin. During his 2014-15 season, he made 35 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals and providing 6 assists in all the competitions.
  • On 26 June 2015, he moved to Premier League club Leicester City for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million, subject to obtaining a work permit. He made his debut for the club on 8 August 2015 in a 4-2 opening day win against Sunderland. On 15 August 2015, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win over West Ham United. In his first season, he made 39 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 2 assists in all the competitions as Leicester City won the Premier League that season and became the second Japanese player to win the Premier League after Shinji Kagawa.
  • On 20 September 2016, he scored twice in a 2-4 defeat to Chelsea in the third round of the 2016-17 EFL Cup.  On 22 November 2016, he scored in a 2-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League group stage, becoming the sixth Japanese player to score a Champions League goal and the first since Keisuke Honda in November 2013. During his 2016-17 season, he made 41 appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • During his 2017-18 season, he made 32 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and providing 4 assists in all the competitions.
  • During his 2018-19 season, he made 26 appearances for the club, scoring once and providing 1 assist in all the competitions as he was released by Leicester at the end of that season.
  • On 30 July 2019, he signed a one-year contract with Malaga CF. However, Malaga canceled its contract with him after just 34 days, since the team was unable to register him as his wage demands exceeded its maximum budget spend as permitted by the league.
  • On 4 September 2019, he signed for Segunda Division club Huesca on a free transfer. He made his debut for the club on 8 September 2019 in a 1-0 win against Sporting Gijon. On 28 September 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win against Girona. In his first season, he made 38 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals in all the competitions as SD Huesca won the Segunda Division that season.
  • On 13 September 2020, he made his La Liga debut for the club in a 1-1 draw to Villarreal CF. During his 2020-21 season, he made 26 appearances for the club, scoring once and providing 1 assist in all the competitions.
  • On 31 August 2021, he moved to FC Cartagena in the second division, on a one-year contract.

Shinji Okazaki International Career

  • He has represented Japan at various age levels.
  • He has represented Japan at U23 and the senior level.
  • He made his international team debut for the club on 9 October 2008 in a 1-1 friendly draw to U.A.E.
  • On 20 January 2009, he scored his first international goal for Japan in a 2-1 friendly win against Yemen.
  • On 8 October 2009, he scored his first international hat-trick for Japan in a 6-0 win against Hong Kong in the 2011 Asian Cup qualification.
  • He has represented Japan at three World Cups in 2010, 2014, and 2018 as he finished as a top goalscorer in the Asian section of qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with eight goals.
  • In March 2016, he was presented with a commemorative shirt with 100 on the back in a presentation to celebrate his 100th international appearance for Japan.
  • He has also represented Japan in 2011, 2015 AFC Asian Cup, 2013 Confederations Cup, and 2019 Copa America, winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.