Ryota Nagaki

Ryota Nagaki (永木 亮太, born June 4, 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a midfielder for J1 League club Shonan Bellmare.^[2][3]

Ryota Nagaki
永木 亮太

Nagaki with Shonan Bellmare in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Ryota Nagaki[1]
Date of birth	(1988-06-04) June 4, 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth	Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Shonan Bellmare
Number	20
Youth career
1998–1999	Verdy Kawasaki
2000	FC Nara
2001–2006	Kawasaki Frontale
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2010	Chuo University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Shonan Bellmare	184	(19)
2016–2021	Kashima Antlers	156	(2)
2022–2023	Shonan Bellmare	23	(0)
2022	→ Nagoya Grampus (loan)	12	(0)
2023-	Tokushima Vortis	11	(1)
International career
2016	Japan	1	(0)
Medal record Kashima Antlers Winner AFC Champions League 2018 Winner J1 League 2016 Runner-up J1 League 2017 Winner Emperor's Cup 2016
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:16, 11 March 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Shonan Bellmare

Nagaki started his career with the Kawasaki Frontale youth teams, playing for both their U-15 and U-18 teams before playing for Chuo University.^[4] In his fourth year of study, he was approved as a specially designated player by the JFA in the 2010 season for Shonan Bellmare.^[5] He took the number 41 shirt and made his league debut for Shonan in July 2010, coming on as second-half substitute in 1–0 defeat to Kashima Antlers.^[6] He made nine appearances in his debut season where unfortunately Shonan finished bottom of the league and therefore relegated to the J2 League.

In his second season representing Shonan Bellmare, Nagaki was given the number 6 shirt and made 40 appearances across all competitions, however 2011 was another disappointing season for the club as they finished 14th of 20 teams in the second tier.^[7] Nagaki did score his first goal for the club in this season, scoring in the 41st minute in a 1–0 victory of Sagan Tosu.^[8] This was the first of four league goals in the 2011 season.

Nagaki continued to be a regular starter for Shonan over the next few seasons, as the club yo-yoed between the first and second tier. Things improved drastically in the 2012 season, as Nagaki made a further 43 appearances and scoring two goals for Shonan, helping them finish in 2nd place in the league and gaining automatic promotion back to the J1 League.^[9] They then finished 16th of 18 in the 2013 season and were relegated, but were then promoted again immediately in the 2014 season after scoring over 100 points and winning the J2 League by a considerable margin.^[10] Nagaki also had his highest scoring season, contributing six goals in 31 matches. Nagaki then had one more season the top-flight for Shonan in 2015, before signing for Kashima Antlers in December 2015 ahead of the 2016 season.^[11][12]

Kashima Antlers

Nagaki started his career with Kashima in impressive fashion, making 45 appearances across all competitions which included the team winning both the J1 League and the Emperor's Cup. His performances for Kashima hadn't gone unnoticed and on 29 September 2016, he was called up for Japan for the first time in his career.^[13] These successes led Nagaki to make his first continental appearances, firstly in a 1–0 defeat to Independiente Santa Fe in the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship and finally in the FIFA Club World Cup. Kashima impressively ended up as runners-up in the competition, beating Auckland City FC, Mamelodi Sundowns and Atlético Nacional on their way to a gutsy extra-time defeat in the final against a star-studded Real Madrid team. Nagaki played 114 minutes in the final.^[14][15]

It was almost a double for Kashima, as they finished runners-up in the league on goal difference in the 2017 season.^[16] They did win some silverware though, with a 3–2 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in the Japanese Super Cup – Nagaki being used as a second-half substitute.^[17] Nagaki made his debut in the AFC Champions League in this season, playing 90 minutes in a 2–0 win over K League outfit Ulsan Hyundai.^[18] Nagaki scored his first goal in a continental competition, turning in a ball across the box from Atsutaka Nakamura, but it was not enough in eventually falling to a 2–1 defeat to Brisbane Roar.^[19] Kashima topped their group in the first stage of the competition, but were knocked out in the round of 16 against Guangzhou Evergrande. The 2018 AFC Champions League was much more fruitful for Kashima, as they won the competition for the first time in their history after a 2-0 aggregate win over Persepolis.^[20]

Nagaki played his highest number of minutes for Kashima in the 2019 season, regularly playing in the starting XI and making 50 appearances across all competitions. This was the first season without a major trophy for Nagaki, but Kashima were runners-up in the Emperor's Cup after a 2–0 defeat to Vissel Kobe.^[21] Kashima made it into the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League, but were again knocked out by Guangzhou Evergrande.

In the 2020 season under new manager Antônio Carlos Zago, Nagaki played less frequently than previous seasons, only making 12 league starts with only a handful of 90 minute appearances. Kashima finished 5th in the league. The 2021 season also proved difficult for Nagaki – appearing mainly in cup competitions, he only played 450 league minutes throughout the season. At the end of the season, it was announced that he would be rejoining his first club Shonan Bellmare on a free transfer after five seasons with Kashima.^[3]

Nagoya Grampus

After playing only 11 matches from the start to the middle of the 2022 season, he was signed to Nagoya Grampus on a loan transfer until January 31, in 2023.^[22] He went on to play 14 times for Nagoya in the second half of the 2022 season.

Return to Shonan BellmareGet help with editing

In January 2023, Nagaki returned to Shonan for the 2023 J1 League season.^[23]

International career

In September 2016, Nagaki was called up to the national team as manager Vahid Halilhodzic wanted to give an opportunity to players to check the quality of their play.^[24] Nagaki played 68 minutes of Japan's 4-0 friendly win over Oman.^[25] This has been his only international cap to date.

Career statistics

Club

As of 11 March 2023.^[26][27][28]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		AFC		Other1		Total
2010	Shonan Bellmare	J1 League	11	0	0	0	0	0	-		-		11	0
2011		J2 League	36	4	4	0	-		-		-		40	4
2012			41	2	2	0	-		-		-		43	2
2013		J1 League	33	4	2	0	4	0	-		-		39	4
2014		J2 League	31	6	0	0	-		-		-		31	6
2015		J1 League	32	3	1	0	2	0	-		-		35	3
2016	Kashima Antlers		29	0	5	1	3	1	-		8	0	45	2
2017			20	1	4	0	1	0	8	1	1	0	40	1
2018			30	1	5	0	4	0	13	0	3	1	55	2
2019			31	0	6	0	4	0	9	0	-		50	0
2020			31	0	-		2	0	0	0	-		33	0
2021			15	0	2	0	6	0	-		-		23	0
2022	Shonan Bellmare	J1 League	6	0	2	1	3	0	-		-		11	1
	Nagoya Grampus (loan)		12	0	0	0	2	0	-		-		14	0
2023	Shonan Bellmare		3	0	0	0	0	0	-		-		3	0
Total			361	21	33	2	31	1	30	1	12	1	473	25

¹Includes Japanese Super Cup, J. League Championship, FIFA Club World Cup and Suruga Bank Championship.

International

As of match played 11 November 2016^[29]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	2016	1	0
Total		1	0

Honours

Shonan Bellmare

• J2 League: 2014

Kashima Antlers

• J1 League: 2016
• Emperor's Cup: 2016, 2019 Runners-up
• Japanese Super Cup: 2017
• Club World Cup: 2016 Runners-up
• J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship: 2016 Runners-up
• AFC Champions League: 2018

References

1. "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 14 December 2016. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017.
2. "永木 亮太：湘南ベルマーレ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2023.
3. "鹿島アントラーズ 永木亮太選手 移籍加入のお知らせ". 湘南ベルマーレ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 January 2022.
4. "永木 亮太 | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
5. "Soccer Club's Ryota Nagaki (4th Year Student in the Faculty of Economics) Appears for Shonan Bellmare (J1) in the J-League. : News : Chuo Online : YOMIURI ONLINE". yab.yomiuri.co.jp. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
6. "Kashima Antlers vs. Shonan Bellmare - 14 July 2010 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
7. "Summary - J2 League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
8. "Shonan Bellmare vs. Sagan Tosu - 15 May 2011 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
9. "Summary - J2 League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
10. "Summary - J2 League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
11. "永木選手が完全移籍で加入 | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
12. "永木亮太選手 鹿島アントラーズへ移籍のお知らせ". 湘南ベルマーレ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
13. "SAMURAI BLUE(日本代表)メンバー・スケジュール アジア最終予選(Road to Russia) 対イラク戦(10/6＠埼玉／埼玉スタジアム２００２) 対オーストラリア戦(10/11＠メルボルン／ドックランズスタジアム)". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
14. "Real Madrid vs. Kashima Antlers - 18 December 2016 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
15. McKirdy, Andrew (19 December 2016). "Antlers hold heads high after Club World Cup final near-miss against Real Madrid". The Japan Times. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
16. "Summary - J1 League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
17. "Kashima Antlers vs. Urawa Reds - 18 February 2017 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
18. "Kashima Antlers vs. Ulsan - 21 February 2017 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
19. "Brisbane Roar vs. Kashima Antlers - 12 April 2017 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
20. "Kashima Antlers realise their dream | Football | News | AFC Champions League 2021". the-AFC. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
21. "Vissel Kobe vs. Kashima Antlers - 1 January 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
22. "永木 亮太選手、期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 7 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
23. "永木亮太選手 名古屋グランパスより復帰のお知らせ". 湘南ベルマーレ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2023.
24. "SAMURAI BLUE blow past Oman 4-0 with Osako's two goals at KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2016". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 March 2021.
25. "Japan vs. Oman - Football Match Summary - November 11, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
26. 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. 16 out of 289)
27. 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. 42 out of 289)
28. "Soccer D.B. : 2023 Ryota Nagaki Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
29. "Nagaki, Ryota". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 March 2021.

External links

• Ryota Nagaki – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Ryota Nagaki at National-Football-Teams.com
• Ryota Nagaki at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Profile at Kashima Antlers