The following article is written by guest contributor Julie Bayley:
Hero -i –Kiyo –take - away on your timeline – So what’s all the fuss about an exciting Japanese attacking midfielder who has intimated in the past couple of days…… he rather fancies playing for the Villa!
Hiroshi Kiyotake - FC Nurnberg, Germany
NAME: Hiroshi Kiyotake
AGE: 23 (12th November, 1989)
HEIGHT: 5’ 7+”
BORN: Oita, Japan
POSITION: Midfielder AM
CLUB: Nurnberg (FCN)
Five facts about Kiyo -
1) He’s a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, just under five feet and eight inches tall and predominantly right sided.
2) He spent five-years as a youth team player at Oita Trinita before progressing into senior football with the same side in 2008.
3) He was one of the leading assist providers in the Bundesliga last season with a tally of ten, which was more than Bayern Munich’s latest signing Mario Gotze (€37M)
4) He was also one of the most accurate passers in the Nurnberg side last season, with a pass completed rate of 81.3% and just under three key passes per game.
5) He has played for Japan at three different levels so far during his career, making 18 appearances at senior level scoring just one goal in the process
For those Villa fans who have no idea who he is - here’s a quick run down on why I think Kiyo to Villa could be one of THE signings of this Summer’s transfer window in the EPL.
Situation as at 18.07.2013
JulieB
*Captain Tsubasa is the name of a fearless cartoon footballer character in Japan who is a cult hero over there…it loosely translates as winger/attacker - Wiki Link to Captain Tsubasa
Thanks to Kuro @footballotaku8 for his translation of Japanese articles and keeping us all updated
HEIGHT: 5’ 7+”
BORN: Oita, Japan
POSITION: Midfielder AM
CLUB: Nurnberg (FCN)
1) He’s a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, just under five feet and eight inches tall and predominantly right sided.
2) He spent five-years as a youth team player at Oita Trinita before progressing into senior football with the same side in 2008.
3) He was one of the leading assist providers in the Bundesliga last season with a tally of ten, which was more than Bayern Munich’s latest signing Mario Gotze (€37M)
4) He was also one of the most accurate passers in the Nurnberg side last season, with a pass completed rate of 81.3% and just under three key passes per game.
5) He has played for Japan at three different levels so far during his career, making 18 appearances at senior level scoring just one goal in the process
For those Villa fans who have no idea who he is - here’s a quick run down on why I think Kiyo to Villa could be one of THE signings of this Summer’s transfer window in the EPL.
Bio….
Born in Oita, Kiyotake joined his first club Katiora FC at the age of 13, before two-years later joining the youth ranks of his local J-League side Oita Trinita. At the age of 17 he made his senior debut and scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Shimizu S-Pulse. Within months his was a first-team regular and has never looked back.
In 2010, Cerezo Osaka sold their star midfielder Shinji Kagawa to Borussia Dortmund and they immediately turned their attention to Kiyotake and took advantage of Oita's poor financial position to get him. Kiyotake stepped into Kagawa's shoes very well and later that same season was called into Japan's national squad for the first time, making his debut against South Korea. He was called into Japan's squad for the Olympics in 2012, but before they had begun - he was again following in the footsteps of Kagawa as he agreed a move to the Bundesliga with Nurnberg (FCN) paying £1million for his signature.
His first season in Europe was a massive one for Kiyotake, scoring four goals and grabbing ten-assists - more than Mario Gotze. After only one season he quickly caught the eye and became FCN’s best player. If you ask a lot of coaches the Bundesliga is one of the toughest most technical leagues in Europe more than rivalling La Liga - and for a small statured “tsushyaya” (loosely translates as winger) to stand out in that league – he must be a decent player!
Born in Oita, Kiyotake joined his first club Katiora FC at the age of 13, before two-years later joining the youth ranks of his local J-League side Oita Trinita. At the age of 17 he made his senior debut and scored the equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Shimizu S-Pulse. Within months his was a first-team regular and has never looked back.
In 2010, Cerezo Osaka sold their star midfielder Shinji Kagawa to Borussia Dortmund and they immediately turned their attention to Kiyotake and took advantage of Oita's poor financial position to get him. Kiyotake stepped into Kagawa's shoes very well and later that same season was called into Japan's national squad for the first time, making his debut against South Korea. He was called into Japan's squad for the Olympics in 2012, but before they had begun - he was again following in the footsteps of Kagawa as he agreed a move to the Bundesliga with Nurnberg (FCN) paying £1million for his signature.
His first season in Europe was a massive one for Kiyotake, scoring four goals and grabbing ten-assists - more than Mario Gotze. After only one season he quickly caught the eye and became FCN’s best player. If you ask a lot of coaches the Bundesliga is one of the toughest most technical leagues in Europe more than rivalling La Liga - and for a small statured “tsushyaya” (loosely translates as winger) to stand out in that league – he must be a decent player!
International Recognition for Japan….
Along with Kagawa and Takashi Inui, Kiyotake is among a clutch of rising young attacking midfielders that give the Samurai Blue coach Alberto Zaccheroni plenty of options to choose from. A tireless worker off the ball, Kiyotake possesses a fearsome long-range shot and his inch-perfect through-balls can unlock almost any defence. Kiyotake made his full international debut in 2011 and has featured in qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil. His free-flowing performances at the 2012 London Olympics guided Japan to a stunning victory against Spain in the group stage and an eventual fourth-place finish. His goalscoring is also a big thing, he has an outstanding eye for goal and many feel he has everything in his armoury to be the complete attacking midfielder.
On top of an impressive first season in the Bundesliga – Kiyotake also impressed at this Summer’s Federation Cup in Brazil where it was rumoured Villa had scouts watching potential targets like Ideye etc.
Along with Kagawa and Takashi Inui, Kiyotake is among a clutch of rising young attacking midfielders that give the Samurai Blue coach Alberto Zaccheroni plenty of options to choose from. A tireless worker off the ball, Kiyotake possesses a fearsome long-range shot and his inch-perfect through-balls can unlock almost any defence. Kiyotake made his full international debut in 2011 and has featured in qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil. His free-flowing performances at the 2012 London Olympics guided Japan to a stunning victory against Spain in the group stage and an eventual fourth-place finish. His goalscoring is also a big thing, he has an outstanding eye for goal and many feel he has everything in his armoury to be the complete attacking midfielder.
On top of an impressive first season in the Bundesliga – Kiyotake also impressed at this Summer’s Federation Cup in Brazil where it was rumoured Villa had scouts watching potential targets like Ideye etc.
Premier League comes calling Summer 2013…
It is little surprise that Kiyotake therefore found himself a target of at least one English Premier League club this Summer. The comparison is an easy one, with Kagawa now plying his trade at Old Trafford, and it is a valid one - they are very similar in stature and technique. Kiyotake has an outstanding football brain and he loves to play in the hole behind the forward line, where he can pick a pass or drive into space.
As any follower of Hiroshi’s twitter feed @13_Hiroshi - will know Kiyo & Shinji Kagawa remain good friends. In fact they were recently seen in bed together as part of a publicity campaign!
It is little surprise that Kiyotake therefore found himself a target of at least one English Premier League club this Summer. The comparison is an easy one, with Kagawa now plying his trade at Old Trafford, and it is a valid one - they are very similar in stature and technique. Kiyotake has an outstanding football brain and he loves to play in the hole behind the forward line, where he can pick a pass or drive into space.
As any follower of Hiroshi’s twitter feed @13_Hiroshi - will know Kiyo & Shinji Kagawa remain good friends. In fact they were recently seen in bed together as part of a publicity campaign!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BO02CAjCIAE_3DO.jpg:large
There were rumours in January that Kiyo was not happy at FCN, he didn’t like where they were playing him out of position and he was hankering for a move to England to join the success his friend and international teammate Kagawa was enjoying under Alex Ferguson.
So it comes as no surprise that Paul Lambert and Aston Villa soon came knocking on Martin Bhader’s door in mid-June in an attempt to prize this exciting, creative midfielder away from Nurnberg. At first rebuffed soundly
There were rumours in January that Kiyo was not happy at FCN, he didn’t like where they were playing him out of position and he was hankering for a move to England to join the success his friend and international teammate Kagawa was enjoying under Alex Ferguson.
So it comes as no surprise that Paul Lambert and Aston Villa soon came knocking on Martin Bhader’s door in mid-June in an attempt to prize this exciting, creative midfielder away from Nurnberg. At first rebuffed soundly
“I am able to confirm this transfer enquiry from Aston Villa. We have made it clear to Aston Villa we have no interest nor intention to sell the player,” said the club’s general manager Martin Bader.
Sky Sports Summer Scout Report
Sky Sports Summer Scout Report
To the people who got wind of all this, the agent’s apparent reassurances of Kiyo’s desire to play for Aston Villa 110%, must have been music to the two Pauls' ears at a time when their own star striker Christian Benteke was demonstrating an opposite viewpoint. It will be surely to Benteke’s loss and ironic - if he ends up leaving the football club who allowed him to ply his trade last season - at the very time when they might sign a player who could have unlocked his potential even further during a second season at Villa. Like some of our other Summer signings….methinks Kiyo would be a real coup and probably the biggest to date….
A few comments about Hiroshi Kiyotake ….
One Bundesliga journalist who became aware of Villa’s interest this Summer was asked which Premier League player he most would compare Kiyotake too the most? His answer “Modric I think, but possibly even better!”
One FCN fan who I had a twitter conversation about a possible move for Kiyo to Villa tweeted this….
A few comments about Hiroshi Kiyotake ….
One Bundesliga journalist who became aware of Villa’s interest this Summer was asked which Premier League player he most would compare Kiyotake too the most? His answer “Modric I think, but possibly even better!”
One FCN fan who I had a twitter conversation about a possible move for Kiyo to Villa tweeted this….
@JulieBayleyIFA @Omariqy @JamesNursey Don't take our #tsubasa away.... ;-) #fcn #kiyotake
— Molis Biggah (@MolisBiggah) July 13, 2013
@JulieBayleyIFA Forget Ocean's 11, forget Italian job, forget... #Tsubasa is a real coup! #fcn #avfc #kiyotake pic.twitter.com/fHq9VgzUCO
— Molis Biggah (@MolisBiggah) July 13, 2013
After leaving Tokyo for a few days holiday it’s thought to Oita where he was born - Kiyo was besieged by Japanese journalists asking him about a possible move to Aston Villa at the airport on his way back to Germany to join up with his teammates. Far from dismissing the transfer, Kiyo told reporters that “he hadn’t heard anything yet” but was pleased to hear of all the speculation regarding this potential transfer from Germany. In an interview available on You tube he also apparently referred to FCN being halfway to his goal ie B6
Being FCN’s best player obviously his return attracted media attention in Germany, so he was interviewed by Bundesliga journalists and of course yet again the question of a possible move to Villa came up. Again far from dismissing reports he said he appreciated very much the offer from Villa but he refused to say whether he would complete the signing or stay at FCN. He also said he did not know what the future held for him in the coming weeks but in the meantime his focus would be to prepare for the new season with Nuremburg. A diplomatic, perfect response from a top professional. As compared to….. oh well let’s not go there….
Being FCN’s best player obviously his return attracted media attention in Germany, so he was interviewed by Bundesliga journalists and of course yet again the question of a possible move to Villa came up. Again far from dismissing reports he said he appreciated very much the offer from Villa but he refused to say whether he would complete the signing or stay at FCN. He also said he did not know what the future held for him in the coming weeks but in the meantime his focus would be to prepare for the new season with Nuremburg. A diplomatic, perfect response from a top professional. As compared to….. oh well let’s not go there….
So something seems to be in the air over all this speculation on Kiyo to Villa
Let’s hope Villa land this brilliant attacking No 13 whose guile and footballing skills would grace any club in the Premiership and probably Europe in many people’s opinion.
Fortune favours the brave *Captain Tsubasa!!! Follow @13_Hiroshi
Let’s hope Villa land this brilliant attacking No 13 whose guile and footballing skills would grace any club in the Premiership and probably Europe in many people’s opinion.
Fortune favours the brave *Captain Tsubasa!!! Follow @13_Hiroshi
JulieB
*Captain Tsubasa is the name of a fearless cartoon footballer character in Japan who is a cult hero over there…it loosely translates as winger/attacker - Wiki Link to Captain Tsubasa
Thanks to Kuro @footballotaku8 for his translation of Japanese articles and keeping us all updated
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