Hironobu Haga

1.1. Early life and education

Haga was born on December 21, 1982, in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. During his high school years, he attended Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School, where he distinguished himself by wearing the coveted number 10 jersey. He actively participated in significant national youth tournaments, including the National Sports Festival and the National High School Soccer Championship. His early potential was recognized when he was nominated as a candidate for the U-16 Japan national team. Following high school, Haga enrolled in Sendai University, but his unwavering ambition to become a professional footballer led him to make the decision to drop out of university to pursue his dream.

1.2. Amateur career and professional debut

In April 2003, after leaving university, Haga joined JEF United Ichihara Amateur, the reserve team of JEF United Chiba, after successfully passing a selection trial. During this period, Haga demonstrated remarkable dedication, balancing his football aspirations with a demanding job as a scaffolder (とび職_tobishoku^Japanese) during the day. He would then attend training sessions in the evenings and compete in the regional league matches on weekends. His hard work paid off, as he played a crucial role in his amateur team's success, helping them qualify as the Chiba Prefecture representative in the Emperor's Cup.

By the summer of 2004, Haga's talent and perseverance caught the eye of Ivica Osim, then manager of JEF United Chiba's top team, who invited him to participate in professional team training. In September 2004, Haga achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first player ever to be promoted directly from the amateur squad to the professional first team at JEF United. His J1 League debut followed shortly after, on November 20, 2004, in a match against Vissel Kobe. In this debut game, he also notably recorded an assist. In 2005, Haga formally signed a professional contract with JEF United. Although he did not make any official appearances during that year due to the team's strong midfield depth, the year he spent training and learning under Osim's guidance proved to be an invaluable experience for his development.

2.1. JEF United Chiba

Haga began his professional career with JEF United Chiba, playing for JEF United Ichihara in 2004 and the renamed JEF United Chiba in 2005. His debut on November 20, 2004, was his sole official match appearance for the club. Despite officially signing a professional contract in 2005, he did not feature in any competitive games that season, primarily due to the intense competition for midfield positions within the squad.

2.2. Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo

In 2006, Haga transferred to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, who had identified his potential after observing his performance in the Satellite League. Upon joining Sapporo, he quickly became a regular starter for the team. He was primarily deployed as a right wing-back and later transitioned into a role as a defensive midfielder. His leadership qualities were recognized by the club, and he was appointed captain for the 2007 season. At the time, Haga publicly expressed his strong commitment to the team's progress, stating his determination to contribute to the club's growth and achieve promotion to the J1 League.

A significant moment in his career came on June 27, 2007, during a J2 League match against Thespakusatsu Gunma. In this game, Haga scored his first J-League goal with a well-placed middle shot. He continued to be a key player for Consadole Sapporo, remaining with the club until the conclusion of the 2012 season.

4.1. Club statistics

4.2. Career milestones

• J1 League First Appearance: November 20, 2004, J1 2nd Stage, Matchday 13, against Vissel Kobe at Ichihara Rinkai Stadium.
• J2 League First Goal: June 27, 2007, J2 League Matchday 24, against Thespakusatsu Gunma at Sapporo Dome.