Mizuho Sakaguchi

Japanese association football player

Mizuho Sakaguchi (阪口 夢穂, Sakaguchi Mizuho, born October 15, 1987) is a Japanese football player. She played for the Japan national team.

Mizuho Sakaguchi
Sakaguchi at the 2011 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Mizuho Sakaguchi
Date of birth (1987-10-15) October 15, 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Sakai, Osaka, Japan
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Omiya Ardija Ventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Speranza FC Takatsuki 21 (7)
2006–2008 Tasaki Perule FC 56 (15)
2009 FC Indiana 2 (1)
2010–2011 Albirex Niigata 28 (10)
2012–2020 Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza 125 (42)
2021– Omiya Ardija Ventus
National team
2006–2018 Japan 124 (29)
Honours
Tasaki Perule FC
Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2007
Winner Empress's Cup 2006
Runner-up Empress's Cup 2007
Albirex Niigata
Runner-up Empress's Cup 2011
Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Winner Nadeshiko League 2015
Winner Nadeshiko League 2016
Winner Nadeshiko League 2017
Winner Nadeshiko League 2018
Winner Nadeshiko League 2019
Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2012
Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2013
Runner-up Nadeshiko League 2014
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2012
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2016
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2018
Winner Nadeshiko League Cup 2019
Winner Empress's Cup 2014
Winner Empress's Cup 2017
Winner Empress's Cup 2018
Winner Empress's Cup 2019
Winner Empress's Cup 2020
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Team
FIFA Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2011 Germany
Silver medal – second place 2015 Canada
AFC Women's Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2014 Vietnam
Gold medal – first place 2018 Jordan
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Vietnam
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of the 2020 season

Biography

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Sakaguchi was born in Sakai on October 15, 1987. In 2003, at the age of 15, she debuted in the Nadeshiko League at Speranza FC Takatsuki. After graduating from high school, she joined Tasaki Perule FC in 2006. She was selected Best Eleven in 2007. However, the club was disbanded in 2008 due to financial strain. She went to the United States and joined USL W-League club FC Indiana in 2009. In 2010, she returned to Japan and joined Albirex Niigata. She was selected Best Eleven in 2011. In 2012, she moved to Nippon TV Beleza (later Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza). She was selected MVP awards for 3 years in a row (2015-2017). However she hurt her knee in April 2018[1] and she lost her regular position. In 2021, she moved to Omiya Ardija Ventus with teammate Saori Ariyoshi.[2]

In July 2006, Sakaguchi was selected to be on the Japan national team for the 2006 Asian Cup. At this competition, on July 19, she debuted and scored 2 goals against Vietnam. She played in the 2011 World Cup where Japan won the championship; Sakaguchi scored one of the penalties in the shootout against United States in the final. She also played in the 2015 World Cup where Japan came second. She was also part of the silver medal-winning 2012 Summer Olympic team. From June 2016, she was given the number 10 shirt for Japan by new manager Asako Takakura. She played at 2018 Asian Cup and won the champions. She played 124 games and scored 29 goals for Japan until 2018. She was also selected Japan for 2019 World Cup. However she could not play in the match.

Statistics

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Club Season League Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Speranza FC Takatsuki 2003 9 1 0 0 - 9 1
2004 12 6 0 0 - 12 6
Total 21 7 0 0 - 21 7
Tasaki Perule FC[3] 2006 16 4 4 1 - 20 5
2007 20 7 4 0 0 0 24 7
2008 20 4 3 0 - 23 4
Total 56 15 11 1 0 0 67 16
FC Indiana 2009 2 0 - - 2 0
Total 2 0 - - 2 0
Albirex Niigata[3] 2010 12 4 3 0 4 3 19 7
2011 16 6 4 1 - 20 7
Total 28 10 7 1 4 3 39 14
Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza[3] 2012
Total
Career total 107 32 18 2 4 3 129 37

[4][5]

Japan national team
Year Apps Goals
2006 7 10
2007 5 3
2008 17 1
2009 0 0
2010 4 1
2011 14 1
2012 14 1
2013 7 1
2014 17 8
2015 12 2
2016 6 0
2017 13 0
2018 8 1
Total 124 29

References

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  1. Nippon TV Beleza(in Japanese)
  2. Omiya Ardija(in Japanese)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 WorldFootball.net, Mizuho Sakaguchi; retrieved 2012-8-7.
  4. Japan Football Association(in Japanese)
  5. List of match in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 at Japan Football Association (in Japanese)

Other websites

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