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Kou Gotou (後藤航, Gotou Kou, born 12 April 1996) is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Khaan Khuns-Erchim of the Mongolian Premier League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 April 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan[1] | ||
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Khaan Khuns-Erchim | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2011 | Yokohama F. Marinos | ||
| 2012–2015 | Teikyo Daisan HS | ||
| 2015–2016 | Argentinos Juniors | ||
| 2016–2017 | Deportivo Riestra | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | Defensores San Antonio de Litín | ||
| 2017–2018 | Racing General Madariaga | ||
| 2018–2019 | Almirante Brown | 6 | (1) |
| 2019 | Deportivo Merlo | 0 | (0) |
| 2022 | Liniers | 10 | (0) |
| 2024– | Khaan Khuns-Erchim | 8 | (16) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:04, 24 September 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early career and move to Argentina
Born in Kamakura in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan, Gotou first got into football through his father, Yasuiuki, a fan of Argentinian side Boca Juniors who would show Gotou videos of the club, as well as playing with his elder brother.[2] He was in the academy of Yokohama F. Marinos before enrolling at the Teikyo Daisan High School.[3] Upon his graduation he moved to Argentina, later stating that it had been his dream since he was a child to play football in Argentina, and citing Diego Maradona as his footballing idol.[4][5]
Initially training with professional side Argentinos Juniors for ten months, he was unable to play for the club due to issues with his documentation.[6] During his time in Argentina, he was asked to pay to play for Estudiantes, which he declined, and slept on a park bench in Plaza Irlanda, where his bag was stolen.[7]
He dropped down to Deportivo Riestra in the Argentine fourth division, but after suffering an injury he returned to Japan for six months, working as a postman in order to raise money to return to Argentina.[8] On his return to Argentina he played briefly for Liga Bellvillense side Defensores San Antonio de Litín.[6]
Senior career
He first played semi-professional football with Racing General Madariaga of the Torneo Federal C, where he played alongside compatriot Hiroyuki Koyama.[6] On his debut for the club, he scored a goal and notched two assists in a 4–1 win against San Lorenzo de Villa Gesell, and in celebrating he referenced Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z.[4][6] During his time with Racing he was spotted by Alberto Papaianni, the director of professional club Almirante Brown, who invited him to trial with the club.[6]
After two weeks of trials Gotou signed a one-year deal with Almirante Brown, becoming the first Japanese player to join the club.[9][10] He marked his debut with Almirante Brown with a goal in a 2–2 draw with Tristán Suárez, having previously scored in the reserve league.[11] After a further five appearances, he dropped down to Deportivo Merlo in the Primera C Metropolitana in 2019[12][13] - though he did not make any appearances for the club before leaving at the end of the year.[14]
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, Gotou returned to Japan, where he again began to save money to return to South America.[7] In January 2020 he trialled with Colombian side Boyacá Chicó, but after failing to join the club he returned to his hometown of Kamakura, where the COVID-19 pandemic had not yet taken hold.[7] He was linked with a move to Club Nuevo Amanecer in Ostende, Buenos Aires, but this failed to materialise.[15]
In February 2022, two years after leaving Argentina, Gotou returned to the country to join Primera C Metropolitana side Liniers.[16] However, by the end of the year and after ten appearances with no goals, Liniers announced that Gotou would not continue with the team in 2023.[17]
Gotou signed for Khaan Khuns-Erchim of the Mongolian Premier League during the summer 2024 transfer window, marking the first time he would play for a club in Asia outside of Japan.[18]
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Almirante Brown | 2018–19 | Primera B Metropolitana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Deportivo Merlo | 2019–20 | Primera C Metropolitana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liniers | 2022 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Career total | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
- Notes
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