Takahiro Ko

For the Chinese American comics artist with the Chinese name 高 宇洋 Gao Yuyang, see Laura Gao.

Takahiro Ko (高 宇洋, Kō Takahiro, born April 20, 1998) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for J1 League club FC Tokyo.^[1][2][3][4] He is the son of former Chinese international Gao Sheng.^[5]

Takahiro Ko
高 宇洋

Personal information
Full name	Takahiro Ko
Date of birth	(1998-04-20) April 20, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Tokyo
Number	8
Youth career
2006	FC Nakahara
2007–2013	Kawasaki Frontale
2014–2016	Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	→ Gamba Osaka U-23 (loan)	51	(3)
2017–2019	Gamba Osaka	18	(0)
2019–2020	Renofa Yamaguchi	53	(1)
2021–2023	Albirex Niigata	111	(3)
2024–	FC Tokyo	5	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:11, 5 January 2024 (UTC)

Career

After graduating from Ichiritsu Funabashi High School in Chiba, Ko signed his first professional contract with Gamba Osaka ahead of the 2017 season.^[6] He didn't feature for Gamba's senior side during his debut campaign, but played 28 times in J3 for Gamba U-23.

2018 was a more productive year and he started off captaining Gamba U-23, playing a total of 20 games and scoring 3 times. However, he spent most of the latter half of the year with Gamba's J1 side following the promotion of Gamba U-23 head coach Tsuneyasu Miyamoto. He made his J1 League debut in Miyamoto's first match as manager, a 1-1 draw at home to Kashima Antlers on July 28 and made a total of 12 league appearances that year.^[7] In addition he also played once in the J.League Cup in the quarter-final tie against Yokohama F. Marinos.^[3]

Career statistics

As of 3 December 2023^[3][8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Total
Gamba Osaka	2017	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2018	J1 League	12	0	0	0	1	0	13	0
	2019	J1 League	6	0	0	0	6	0	12	0
	Total		18	0	0	0	7	0	25	0
Gamba Osaka U-23 (loan)	2017	J3 League	28	0	0	0	–		28	0
	2018	J3 League	20	3	0	0	–		20	3
	2019	J3 League	3	0	0	0	–		3	0
	Total		51	3	0	0	0	0	51	3
Renofa Yamaguchi	2019	J2 League	12	0	0	0	–		12	0
	2020	J2 League	41	1	0	0	–		41	1
	Total		53	1	0	0	0	0	53	1
Albirex Niigata	2021	J2 League	41	1	2	0	–		43	1
	2022	J2 League	39	1	0	0	–		39	1
	2023	J1 League	31	1	2	0	2	0	35	1
	Total		111	3	4	0	2	0	117	3
FC Tokyo	2024	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			233	7	4	0	9	0	246	7

Honours

Albirex Niigata

• J2 League : 2022

Individual

• J2 League Best XI: 2022^[9]

References

1. Takahiro Ko at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
2. "高 宇洋：アルビレックス新潟：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
3. "Takahiro Ko Soccerway Player Statistics". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
4. "Takahiro Ko Gamba Osaka Player Profile". Gamba Osaka (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 March 2019.
5. "＜サッカー＞元中国代表の息子がJリーグへ！中国ネット「中国に帰ろうなんて考えないように」「どこでサッカーしても構わないが…」". Recordchina. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
6. "Gamba Osaka News – Ko and Bae signings". Gamba Osaka (in Japanese). 1 September 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
7. "Gamba Osaka vs Kashima Antlers 28 July 2018". J.League English Site. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
8. "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Takahiro Ko Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
9. "最優秀選手賞（Ｊ２）は小川 航基選手（横浜ＦＣ）が初受賞！得点王（Ｊ２）とのＷ受賞に！！～優勝クラブのアルビレックス新潟からは6名がベストイレブン（Ｊ２）に選出～【Ｊ２リーグアウォーズ】：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 November 2022.

External links

• Takahiro Ko at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)