Shoki Hirai

Shoki Hirai (平井 将生, Hirai Shōki, born 4 December 1987 in Tokushima) is a Japanese footballer for FC Maruyasu Okazaki.

Shoki Hirai
平井 将生

Personal information
Full name	Shoki Hirai[1]
Date of birth	(1987-12-04) 4 December 1987 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth	Tokushima, Japan
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	FC Maruyasu Okazaki
Number	14
Youth career
2003–2005	Gamba Osaka Youth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2013	Gamba Osaka	90	(31)
2012	→ Albirex Niigata (loan)	21	(0)
2014–2016	Avispa Fukuoka	88	(7)
2017–2018	Giravanz Kitakyushu	27	(2)
2018	→ FC Maruyasu Okazaki (loan)	8	(0)
2019–	FC Maruyasu Okazaki	27	(7)
International career‡
2007	Japan U-20	1	(0)
Medal record Gamba Osaka Winner AFC Champions League 2008 Runner-up J1 League 2010 Winner J.League Cup 2007 Winner Emperor's Cup 2008 Winner Emperor's Cup 2009 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2006
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 February 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 January 2012

Club career

Gamba Osaka

Hirai was born in Tokushima, Shikoku region, and began his career playing for his local club Kamihachiman SC before moving to a higher level joining Premiere SC in 2000.

At the age of 15, he was invited to attend Gamba Osaka youth academy. After spending three years there, Hirai signed his first professional contract with Gamba on 6 December 2005.^[2] He was, along with fellow player Michihiro Yasuda, promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 34 shirt. He made his professional debut on 9 December 2006 in the Emperor's Cup 4th round match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The following season, Hirai took over the number 14 shirt, previously worn by Akihiro Ienaga.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2008 season, Hirai playing time increased significantly as he appeared in 8 league matches. He made his J. League debut on 27 April 2008 against Vissel Kobe coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute.^[3] After making a few substitute appearances, he made his first league start on 26 July 2008 in a 1–0 defaut Oita Trinita playing 45 minutes.^[3] Hirai scored his first professional goal on 2 July 2008 in a J. League Cup match against Yokohama F. Marinos, which proved to be the winner as Gamba won the match 1–0. During the season, he signed new five-year contract.^[4]

Hirai had arguably one of the best seasons of his career in the 2010 season. He appeared in 31 total matches scoring a career-high 20 goals. On 23 March 2010, Hirai scored first career hat-trick against Singapore Armed Forces in the AFC Champions League. He was later named Man of the match for this performance, which led to a 4–2 victory.^[5]

Albirex Niigata

On 12 January 2012 it was announced that Hirai would be joining Albirex Niigata on loan for the 2012 season.^[6]

International career

On 16 March 2007, Hirai received his first call-up to the Japan U-20 squad,^[7] and won his first U20 cap as a substitute against Cape Verde on 25 March.^[8]

Team honors

• AFC Champions League – 2008
• Emperor's Cup – 2008
• Japanese Super Cup – 2007

Club career stats

Updated to 23 February 2020.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Club performance			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2006	Gamba Osaka	J1 League	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2007			0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
2008			8	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	11	1
2009			1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
2010			23	14	2	2	2	0	4	4	31	20
2011			21	5	1	0	2	0	3	0	27	5
2012	Albirex Niigata		21	0	1	0	6	2	–		28	2
2013	Gamba Osaka	J2 League	17	4	1	1	-	-	-	-	18	5
2014	Avispa Fukuoka		42	3	1	0	-		-		43	3
2015			15	2	1	0	–		–		16	2
2016		J1 League	31	2	0	0	5	3	–		36	5
2017	Giravanz Kitakyushu	J3 League	18	2	1	3	–		–		19	5
2018			9	0	–		–		–		9	0
	FC Maruyasu Okazaki	JFL	8	0	–		–		–		8	0
2019			27	7	–		–		–		27	7
Total			241	39	10	6	16	6	9	4	278	55

References

1. "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA – List Of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008.
2. "ガンバ大阪ユース6選手がプロ選手 (仮契約)として昇格". Gamba Osaka. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
3. "選手出場記録". J. League. Retrieved 14 January 2012. ^{[dead link]}
4. "Ｇ大阪"浪速のアンリ"ＦＷ平井が新潟移籍へ". Sports Nippon. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
5. "G大阪が公式戦７戦目にして初勝利！FW平井将生が初のハットトリック！". J's goal. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
6. "ガンバ大阪から平井 将生選手 期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ". Albirex Niigata. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
7. "U-20代表ポルトガル遠征、平井選手が追加招集". J's goal. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
8. "試合終了間際の河原のゴールで逆転勝利を収める". J's goal. 25 March 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
9. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 263 out of 289)
10. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 207 out of 289)
11. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 247 out of 289)
12. "Stats Centre: Shoki Hirai Facts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2009.

External links

• Shoki Hirai – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Shoki Hirai at Soccerway
• Shoki Hirai at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Official website (in Japanese)
• Profile at Giravanz Kitakyushu
• Profile at Avispa Fukuoka