Shinji Okazaki is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker or offensive midfielder for Spanish club Cartagena and the Japan national team. In 2002, he began playing football for Takigawa Daini High School.
He started his professional career with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 after graduating from Takigawa Daini High School in 2004. VfB Stuttgart, Mainz 05, Leicester City, Malaga, and Huesca were among his later clubs. He is now a member of the Spanish club Cartagena.
He has represented Japan at several age levels on the international stage. He has played for Japan at both the U23 and senior levels. On October 9, 2008, he made his international team debut for the club. He has played in three World Cups for Japan: in 2010, 2014, and 2018. He has also won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, the 2013 Confederations Cup, and the 2019 Copa America. With 50 goals, he is the current best active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history. Since his debut, he has amassed over 110 caps for his nation and scored 50 goals.
Shinji Okazaki’s Bio
Shinji Okazaki was born on April 16, 1986, in Tokyo, Japan. Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan, is where he was born. His parents’ identities have been a closely guarded secret. Takigawa Daini High School was his alma mater. He is of Japanese descent. He is a member of the Asian ethnic group. His astrological sign is Aries.
Shinji Okazaki’s Career with the Club
In 2002, he began playing football for Takigawa Daini High School. He started his professional career with Shimizu S-Pulse in 2005 after graduating from Takigawa Daini High School in 2004. He made his professional debut for the club on August 6, 2005, in a 1-0 defeat against Urawa Reds in the first leg of the J.League Cup quarter-finals. In a 2-1 defeat to Kawasaki Front on April 15, 2007, he scored his first professional goal for the club. He made 25 appearances for the team in the 2006-07 season, scoring 5 goals and giving 1 assist across all competitions. He made 34 appearances for the club in the 2007-08 season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions. He made 41 appearances for the team in the 2008-09 season, scoring 17 goals and giving one assist across all competitions. He made 37 appearances for the team in 2009-10, scoring 16 goals and supplying 7 assists across all competitions.
He signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Stuttgart on January 30, 2011. FIFA gave him permission to play for the club on February 17, 2011. He made his first appearance for the club on February 17, 2011, in a 2-1 Europa League second round 1st leg defeat to Benfica. In a 4-2 defeat to Bayern Leverkusen, he made his Bundesliga debut for the club. In a 2-1 victory against Hannover 96 on May 7, 2011, he scored his first goal for the club. He made 14 appearances for the club in his debut season, scoring two goals in all competitions. His bicycle kick goal in a Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and Hannover 96 on February 19, 2012, was named Goal of the Month. He was the second Japanese player to win this title in Germany, after Yasuhiko Okudera in April 1978. He appeared in 29 games for the club in 2011-12, scoring seven goals and adding one assist across all competitions.
In the 2012-13 season, he only scored once in the Bundesliga. In all competitions, he made 42 appearances for the club, scoring four goals and contributing one assist. He joined 1. FSV Mainz 05 on July 1, 2013. In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, he made his debut for the club on August 3, 2013, in a 2-1 victory against SC Fortuna Koln. On the opening day of the 2013-14 Bundesliga season, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-2 victory against his old club Stuttgart on August 11, 2013. He made 35 appearances for the club in his debut season, scoring 15 goals and giving one assist across all competitions. He became the most prolific Japanese player in Bundesliga history on September 13, 2014, when he scored his 27th and 28th league goals in Mainz’s 3-1 victory against Hertha Berlin. He made 35 appearances for the team in the 2014-15 season, scoring 14 goals and assisting on six occasions across all competitions.
He joined Premier League team Leicester City on June 26, 2015, for a sum thought to be in the region of £7 million, subject to securing a work visa. He made his first appearance for the club on August 8, 2015, in a 4-2 victory against Sunderland on the club’s opening day. In a 2-1 victory against West Ham United on August 15, 2015, he scored his first goal for the club. He made 39 appearances for Leicester City in his debut season, scoring six goals and contributing two assists in all competitions as the team won the Premier League, making him the second Japanese player to win the Premier League after Shinji Kagawa.
He scored twice in a 2-4 loss to Chelsea in the third round of the 2016-17 EFL Cup on September 20, 2016. He scored in a 2-1 Champions League group stage victory against Club Brugge on November 22, 2016, becoming the sixth Japanese player to score in the competition and the first since Keisuke Honda in November 2013. He made 41 appearances for the team in the 2016-17 season, scoring six goals and giving one assist across all competitions. He made 32 appearances for the club in the 2017-18 season, scoring seven goals and giving four assists across all competitions. He made 26 appearances for Leicester in the 2018-19 season, scoring once and assisting once in all competitions before being released at the conclusion of the season.
He signed a one-year deal with Malaga CF on July 30, 2019. Malaga, on the other hand, terminated his contract after just 34 days since the club was unable to register him because his pay demands surpassed the league’s maximum budget spend limit. He signed a free move with Huesca in the Segunda Division on September 4, 2019. He made his first appearance for the club on September 8, 2019, in a 1-0 victory against Sporting Gijon. In a 1-0 victory against Girona on September 28, 2019, he scored his first goal for the club. He made 38 appearances for the club in his debut season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions as SD Huesca won the Segunda Division. He made his La Liga debut for the club on September 13, 2020, in a 1-1 draw against Villarreal CF. He made 26 appearances for the club in the 2020-21 season, scoring once and assisting once across all competitions. He signed a one-year deal with FC Cartagena in the second division on August 31, 2021.
International Career of Shinji Okazaki
At different ages, he has represented Japan. He has played for Japan at both the U23 and senior levels. On October 9, 2008, he made his international team debut for the club in a 1-1 friendly tie against the United Arab Emirates. In a 2-1 friendly victory against Yemen on January 20, 2009, he scored his first international goal for Japan. In a 6-0 victory against Hong Kong in 2011 Asian Cup qualifying on October 8, 2009, he scored his first international hat-trick for Japan. He has played in three World Cups for Japan, in 2010, 2014, and 2018, and was the best goalscorer in the Asian region of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying with eight goals.
In March 2016, he received a special jersey with the number 100 on the back in honor of his 100th international appearance for Japan.
He has also won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, the 2013 Confederations Cup, and the 2019 Copa America. With 50 goals, he is the current best active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history. Since his debut, he has amassed over 110 caps for his nation and scored 50 goals.
Girlfriend of Shinji Okazaki
He is not married, according to his personal life. The player is concentrating on his career. He may be dating a lovely lady right now, or he could be single. Any new information about his romantic life will be posted here.
Okazaki Shinji Dimensions and Weight
Shinji Okazaki is 1.75 meters tall, or 5 feet and 9 inches tall. He is 70 kg in weight. He has a muscular physique. His eyes are a dark brown tint, and his hair is black. He has a heterosexual sexual orientation.
Shinji Okazaki’s Salary and Net Worth
Shinji Okazaki makes a living as a professional football player. Contracts, wages, bonuses, and endorsements are all sources of money for him. His estimated net worth is £7 million, and his salary is £624,000 as of 2022. His current market worth is estimated to be approximately €1.5 million.
Quick Facts
On August 6, 2005, he made his professional debut for the club. Since his debut, he has amassed over 110 caps for his nation and scored 50 goals. With 50 goals, he is the current best active Japan national team goalscorer and third all-time in team history. For FC Cartagena, he wears the number 16 jersey. World’s Top Goal Scorer in 2009, according to the IFFHS. International Footballer of the Year in the AFC for 2016. Asia’s Best Footballer in 2016.