1. Overview
Hiroaki Okuno (奥埜 博亮Okuno HiroakiJapanese) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or forward for Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League. Born on August 14, 1989, in Taishi, Osaka, he is known for his versatility and high work rate, having spent a significant portion of his career with Vegalta Sendai before joining Cerezo Osaka in 2019.
2. Early life and youth career
Hiroaki Okuno's foundational years in football began in Tokyo before he joined the youth system of Vegalta Sendai, where he developed his skills and was recognized as a promising talent early on.
2.1. Birth and early football
Born on August 14, 1989, in Taishi-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture, Okuno began his football journey in the second grade of elementary school. He joined Buddy SC in Tokyo, where he played alongside future professional footballer Yuichi Maruyama. During his formative years, he also spent time at JEF United Ichihara Chiba's Sendai school, further developing his skills.
2.2. Youth academy and university career
In junior high school, Okuno joined the youth system of Vegalta Sendai. His talent quickly became evident, as he was elevated to play in official youth matches even as a third-year junior high student. Despite an injury during his third year of high school, which prevented his immediate promotion to the top team, he continued his football development at Sendai University. At the university, he played in official matches from his first year, demonstrating his capabilities. In his third year, he achieved a hat-trick in the first round of the 34th All Japan University Soccer Tournament (Prime Minister's Cup) against Doshisha University, contributing to his team reaching the semi-finals. During his university tenure, he was also utilized as a forward. From 2009 to 2011, he was designated as a special designated player for Vegalta Sendai, indicating his high potential and allowing him to train with the professional squad while still in university. This made him the first youth product of Vegalta Sendai to join the top team via university.
3. Club career
Hiroaki Okuno's professional club career has seen him become a dedicated and versatile player, beginning with a long tenure at Vegalta Sendai before moving to Cerezo Osaka.
3.1. Vegalta Sendai (2009-2018)
Okuno officially joined Vegalta Sendai in 2012, after graduating from Sendai University. He was given the number "7" jersey, a number previously worn for 13 years by "Mr. Vegalta," Naoki Chiba, until his retirement two years prior.
3.1.1. Professional debut and V-Varen Nagasaki loan
Okuno made his professional debut on April 14, 2010, in a J. League Cup group stage match against Kyoto Sanga F.C. at Yurtec Stadium Sendai. His J. League debut followed on May 26, 2012, in a J1 League match against Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki Athletics Stadium. He scored his first professional goal on September 8, 2012, in the second round of the Emperor's Cup against Sony Sendai FC. In 2013, due to injuries and limited playing opportunities, he was loaned to V-Varen Nagasaki in July. His loan spell with V-Varen Nagasaki was extended through the 2014 season.
3.1.2. Return to Vegalta Sendai and key contributions
In 2015, Okuno returned to Vegalta Sendai and was appointed vice-captain. This season marked a turning point in his career as he earned a starting position in the opening match for the first time with Sendai. He frequently played as a center forward, starting in that position in 17 of his 27 appearances. As the first youth product to establish himself as a regular starter for the top team, he played in 32 league matches. He scored his first J1 League goal in the 11th match of the first stage against Urawa Red Diamonds. Okuno finished the 2015 season with 7 goals, tying for the team's top scorer, and was awarded the team's annual Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He continued to be a key player for Vegalta Sendai until the end of the 2018 season, when he announced his full transfer to Cerezo Osaka on January 4, 2019, concluding a 14.5-year association with Vegalta Sendai that included his time in their junior youth, youth, and special designated player programs.
3.2. Cerezo Osaka (2019-present)
Since joining Cerezo Osaka in 2019, Hiroaki Okuno has proven to be an indispensable player, demonstrating consistent performance and remarkable adaptability across various positions.
3.2.1. Transfer and initial impact
Okuno transferred to Cerezo Osaka in 2019, making an immediate impact. He was selected as a starter for the opening match against Vissel Kobe, contributing to the team's victory with a team-high running distance of 8.0 mile (12.9 km). On August 17, in the 23rd matchday of the J1 League against Yokohama F. Marinos, he scored two goals, helping his team secure their first victory in four matches. Due to a series of injuries among the team's forwards, Okuno was often deployed as a center forward. He excelled in this role, scoring 7 league goals while diligently fulfilling his defensive responsibilities. Under coach Miguel Ángel Lotina, Okuno continued to be highly valued as a center forward even after the main forwards returned from injury.
3.2.2. Versatility and continued performance
On September 9, 2020, during the J1 League 15th matchday against Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, Okuno scored the opening goal in the 6th minute, which marked the club's 1000th goal in the J1 League. He continued to be primarily utilized as a center forward throughout 2020. In 2021, Okuno primarily played as a defensive midfielder, or volante. On April 2, 2021, in a match against Sagan Tosu, he broke a deadlock with a decisive middle shot early in the second half, securing the winning goal. Following this performance, coach Levir Culpi highly praised him, stating, "I think he is a specialist in the midfield. He could be selected for the national team, and I believe he has the ability to win titles with Cerezo and move to Europe. I think he can grow even more depending on his future vision."
In the 2022 season, during the J1 League 4th matchday, Okuno started as a defensive midfielder. Under coach Akio Kogiku, a change in his tactical positioning and role led to him becoming more involved in offensive plays. In that match, he contributed one goal and one assist, and recorded the longest running distance of 8.0 mile (12.9 km) among both teams. On May 21, 2022, in the Osaka Derby against Gamba Osaka (J1 League 14th matchday), he was involved in all of Cerezo Osaka's goals, including scoring two himself, contributing significantly to a 3-1 comeback victory. Okuno consistently records the highest running distances in almost every match, showcasing his dedication. While primarily a defensive midfielder, his well-timed offensive runs highlight his strong finishing ability in front of goal. Under coach Kogiku, he has become a pivotal player for the team, contributing significantly to both offense and defense.
4. Club statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | AFC | Other1 | Total | |||||||||
| 2009 | Vegalta Sendai | J2 League | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 2010 | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | 7 | 1 | ||||||
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| V-Varen Nagasaki | J2 League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||||
| 2014 | 39 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 41 | 5 | ||||||
| 2015 | Vegalta Sendai | J1 League | 32 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | 40 | 8 | ||||
| 2016 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 41 | 4 | ||||||
| 2017 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | - | 40 | 6 | ||||||
| 2018 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | - | 37 | 3 | ||||||
| 2019 | Cerezo Osaka | 32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 38 | 7 | |||||
| 2020 | 34 | 7 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 38 | 7 | |||||||
| 2021 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | - | 46 | 5 | ||||
| 2022 | 31 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 42 | 5 | ||||||
| 2023 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 27 | 3 | ||||||
| 2024 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 37 | 0 | ||||||
| J1 Total | 315 | 40 | 32 | 4 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 394 | 48 | |||||
| J2 Total | 55 | 7 | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | 59 | 8 | ||||||
| Career Total | 370 | 47 | 35 | 5 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 453 | 57 | |||
Notes:
1 Includes Promotion Playoffs to J1.
5. International and representative career
Hiroaki Okuno has represented Japan at various youth and university levels, showcasing his talent from an early age. His representative career includes:
- 2002: U-13 Japan Selection
- 2005: U-16 Japan National Team
- 2007: U-18 Tohoku Representative at the Sendai Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament
- 2010: All Japan University Selection
- 2011: All Japan University Selection
6. Playing style and characteristics
Hiroaki Okuno is primarily a midfielder but is also highly effective as a forward, including roles as an attacking midfielder or center forward. He is known for his versatility, technical abilities, and strong mentality, which were evident from his youth career.
Okuno is characterized by his exceptional work rate and dedication on the field, consistently covering significant distances in matches, often leading his team in running statistics. While performing crucial defensive duties, he also possesses a keen sense for attacking opportunities. His ability to make well-timed runs into the final third, combined with his high finishing ability in front of goal, makes him a threat offensively.
Under coach Miguel Ángel Lotina at Cerezo Osaka, he was praised as a "hard-working striker" who, despite not having the physical presence of some traditional forwards, operates with a "stealth-like" quality. His extensive range of movement allows him to link up with teammates across the pitch, contributing to both defense and attack, and appearing in goal-scoring positions unexpectedly. His critical contributions on both ends of the pitch have made him a pivotal player under coach Akio Kogiku as well.
7. Personal life
Hiroaki Okuno announced his marriage to an ordinary woman in March 2019, with the news publicly shared on April 25, 2019.
8. Honors and achievements
- J. League Excellent Player Award: 2022