Hiroki Sakai

2 Defender
biography-icon Biography

Hiroki Sakai signed his first professional contract with Kashiwa Reysol in Japan. His first start for the club was in 2010, where he set up one of the goals in a 2-2 draw against JEF United Chiba. Sakai moved to Germany to play for Hannover 96 in 2012, playing 92 games for the club and scoring twice from his fullback position. 

Sakai went on to play for Marseille in France’s Ligue 1 in 2016. He set up a goal on debut, helping to secure a 4-0 win. Sakai played 145 games for Marseille, before moving back to Japan to play for the Urawa Red Diamonds in 2021. Sakai captained the side to victory in the 2022 AFC Champions League final, defeating Al Hilal 2-1 on aggregate. 

Sakai was announced as Auckland FC’s captain for the club’s inaugural season in 2024, leading the side to become Premiers. On his Auckland FC debut, Sakai forced an own goal to help the side to a 2-0 win against Brisbane Roar. 

Sakai made his senior international debut for Japan in a 2-0 win against Azerbaijan in 2012. He travelled to three FIFA World Cups in 2014, 2018, and 2022. He made his World Cup debut in 2018 during a 2-1 group stage win over Colombia. 

Height

185

Weight

78

Age

36

Born

Kashiwa
Overview
General

22

Games Played

1565

Time Played

18

Starts

7

Substitute Off

Defence

94

Total Clearances

4

Blocks

22

Interceptions

Tackles

66.7%

Success Rate

Duels

59.7%

Success Rate

Areial Dual

68.9%

Success Rate

Distribution

Passes

71.0%

Success Rate

680

Total passes

483

Successful passes

31

Passes per 90 mins

Long passes

35%

Success Rate

Pass Direction %

48.8%

Forward

32.4%

Left

8.5%

Right

10.3%

Backward

Passing accuracy by area % soccerfield.svg

40.9%

Opp half

31.6%

Own half

3

Topic

10

Succ. crosses

2

Assists

14

Key Passes

Attack

Total Shots

7

Shots on target

2

Goals scored

-

-

Conversion rate

-

Min per goals

leftfoot.svg

-

Left foot goals

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-

Right foot goals

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-

Headed goals

othergoal.svg

-

Other

othergoal.svg

-

Goal inside the box

-

Goal outside the box

0

Direct free kick goals

Discipline

19

Fouls won

22

Foul conceded

5

Yellow cards

-

Red cards

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