1. Overview
Daiki Asada (born April 5, 1989) is a Japanese former professional footballer who primarily played as a defender. Known in Japan as 浅田大樹Asada DaikiJapanese, his career spanned over a decade, during which he represented several clubs across the Japanese league system, including the Japan Football League (JFL) and the J3 League. Asada began his professional journey with Honda FC, progressing through teams like FC Ryukyu and Fujieda MYFC, before concluding his playing career at FC Kariya. He announced his retirement from professional football at the 2021 season, leaving a legacy of consistent performance and dedication to the sport.
2. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Daiki Asada's foundational years in football were spent developing his skills and passion for the sport before he embarked on his professional career.
2.1. Birth and Youth Football
Daiki Asada was born on April 5, 1989, in Tokyo, Japan. His early football development began in his youth, where he played for Setagaya FC from 2002 to 2004. Following his time with Setagaya FC, he continued to hone his skills during his high school years, playing for the football team of Teikyo High School from 2005 to 2007.
2.2. University Career
After completing high school, Asada advanced his football career at the collegiate level. He enrolled at Hosei University, where he was an active member of the university's football club from 2008 to 2011. His time at Hosei University served as a crucial period for his development, preparing him for the demands of professional football.
3. Professional Club Career
Daiki Asada's professional football career began in 2012, taking him through several clubs across Japan's professional and semi-professional leagues. He was primarily known for his role as a defender.
3.1. Honda FC
Asada made his professional debut in 2012 when he joined Honda FC directly from Hosei University. He spent two seasons with the club, from 2012 to 2013, competing in the JFL. During his tenure at Honda FC, he established himself as a reliable defender, making 62 appearances in league matches. Notable teammates during this period included Tatsuya Saito and Taisei Kono.
3.2. FC Ryukyu
In 2014, Asada transitioned to the J3 League by making a full transfer to FC Ryukyu. He played for the Okinawan club for two seasons, spanning from 2014 to 2015. His move to FC Ryukyu marked his entry into the J.League system. He made his J.League debut on March 9, 2014, in a match against J.League U-22 Selection at Okinawa Athletic Park Stadium. He scored his first J.League goal on November 9, 2014, in a game against FC Machida Zelvia at Machida Athletic Stadium. Across his two seasons with FC Ryukyu, Asada appeared in 65 league matches, contributing two goals. His contract with the club concluded at the end of the 2015 season.
3.3. Fujieda MYFC
Following his departure from FC Ryukyu, Asada joined Fujieda MYFC in 2016. This marked the longest period of his professional career, as he remained with Fujieda MYFC for five seasons, from 2016 to 2020. During his time at the club, he was a consistent presence in the squad, accumulating 123 league appearances and scoring three goals. In 2020, Daiki Asada launched his official homepage [https://wift.jp/teams/daiki-asada/home/ Daiki Asada Official Homepage] to connect with fans. His contract with Fujieda MYFC expired at the end of the 2020 season.
3.4. FC Kariya
For what would become his final professional season, Daiki Asada transferred to FC Kariya in 2021. The club competed in the JFL. He played 15 league matches for FC Kariya during this single season. He departed from the club at the conclusion of the year.
4. Career Statistics
The following table details Daiki Asada's club performance throughout his professional career:
| Club performance | League | Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | Total | |||||
| 2012 | Honda FC | JFL | 28 | 0 | - | 28 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 34 | 0 | - | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2014 | FC Ryukyu | J3 League | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| 2015 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | Fujieda MYFC | 26 | 2 | - | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2017 | 31 | 1 | - | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | 20 | 0 | - | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 33 | 0 | - | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | 13 | 0 | - | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | FC Kariya | JFL | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Career total | 265 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 269 | 5 | ||
5. Retirement
Daiki Asada concluded his professional football career at the end of the 2021 season. Following his departure from FC Kariya, he formally announced his retirement from the sport on December 25, 2021. His decision marked the end of a dedicated career that spanned over a decade in Japanese football leagues.