Keita Kosugi
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 18 March 2006 | ||
Place of birth | Kamakura, Japan | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
Position(s) | Left back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Djurgårdens IF | ||
Number | 27 | ||
Youth career | |||
Nishikamakura SC | |||
–2024 | Shonan Bellmare | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2024– | Djurgårdens IF | 16 | (1) |
International career‡ | |||
2023 | Japan U17 | 10 | (0) |
2024 | Japan U19 | 4 | (0) |
2025– | Japan U20 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 April 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2025 |
Keita Kosugi (Japanese: 小杉啓太; born 18 March 2006) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Allsvenskan club Djurgårdens IF.
Early life
Kosugi was born on 18 March 2006 in Kamakura, Japan. As a youth player, Kosugi joined the youth academy of Japanese side Nishikamakura SC.[1] Subsequently, he joined the youth academy of Japanese side Shonan Bellmare.[2]
Career
From the youth team of Shonan Bellmare, Kosugi went on trial with Djurgården in March 2024.[3] On 22 March 2024, a couple of days after his 18th birthday, Kosugi signed with Djurgården on a four-year contract after two weeks of trial.[4][5] He made his Allsvenskan debut against Elfsborg on 12 May 2024.[6][7] Kosugi received limited play time in the first half of the season, as Djurgården also had left back Samuel Dahl in the squad.[8]
With Dahl sold to Roma, Kosugi's play time increased.[9] From September to November, Kosugi started in eleven of the league matches.[7] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 tie against Kalmar FF on 6 October.[9] During his first season in Djurgården, Kosugi made 14 league appearances and scored one goal.[7] In December 2024, he scored the first goal in Djurgården's 2–1 away win over Víkingur of Iceland in the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League league phase.[10]
Djurgården started the 2025 season with the 2024–25 Svenska Cupen group stage where Kosugi, in the second match day, scored the equaling 2–2 goal against second-tier team Oddevold in the 90+5th minute, saving one point to Djurgården.[11]
International career
Kosugi was selected for Japan for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup in Thailand.[12] He played all matches for the team that eventually won the cup with a 3–0 win against South Korea in the final.[7] Kosugi was again selected for Japan for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup later in the year.[13] He played four matches for during the tournament in Indonesia.[7] In May 2024, Kosugi was called up for the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament with the Japan national under-20 football team.[14][15]
Personal life
In a 2024 interview, Kosugi stated that he saw Yuto Nagatomo as football role model.[6]
References
- ^ Christophe, Victor. "Ett brev från Kamakura City: "Vi ska gå för att vinna guldet"" [A letter from Kamakura City: “We will go for winning the gold”] (in Swedish). SvenskaFans.com. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ "米ビッククラブからもオファーも 日本代表入り目指す次世代SB小杉啓太" [Next-generation SB Keita Kosugi, who is aiming to join the Japanese national team and has received offers from big American clubs] (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ "Keita Kosugi provspelar med herrlaget". DIF Fotboll.
- ^ Asahara, Makoto (22 March 2024). "Keita Kosugi skriver kontrakt med Djurgården". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Ögren, Vendela (22 March 2024). "Djurgården värvar från Japan". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b Asahara, Makoto (20 May 2024). "Keita Kosugi om segersången: "Lika bra att göra det helhjärtat"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Keita Kosugi". Soccerway. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Nordqvist, Casper (13 July 2024). "Keita Kosugi till FD: "Redo att ta över i Djurgården"". fotbolldirekt.se.
- ^ a b von Knorring, Martin. "Kosugi om vattenfirandet: "Haha, jag var törstig"". Fotbollskanalen.
- ^ Andréasson, Calle (12 December 2024). "Stormar fram i Europa efter drömminuterna". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ Wagner, Michael (23 February 2025). "Kosugi räddade 2–2 med sista sparken för Djurgården". Aftonbladet.
- ^ "U-17 Japan National Team squad & schedule – AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 (6/17-7/2@Thailand". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "U-17 Japan National Team squad & schedule – FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023™ (10/30~@Chiba, 11/1~@Indonesia)". Japan Football Association.
- ^ "Keita Kosugi kallad till japanska P19-landslaget". DIF Fotboll.
- ^ "Japan squad for the 2024 Maurice Revello Tournament". tournoimauricerevello.com.
External links
- Keita Kosugi at Djurgårdens IF (in Swedish)
- Keita Kosugi at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)
- Keita Kosugi at Soccerway
- Keita Kosugi – UEFA competition record (archive)