1. Early Life and Education
Masato Yamazaki was born on December 4, 1981, in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. His early life in Kyoto laid the foundation for his athletic development.
1.1. Youth Career
Yamazaki began his football journey at Kyoto Ohtaku SSS, where he played from 1989 to 1993. He then attended Kyoto Municipal Ohtaku Junior High School from 1994 to 1996, where Daisuke Matsui was a classmate. From 1997 to 1999, he continued his football training at Kyoto Prefectural Kumiyama High School, honing his skills before moving on to university.
1.2. University Career
In 2000, Yamazaki enrolled at Kokushikan University, where he played for the university's football club until 2003. During his time at Kokushikan University, he competed in the Japan Football League (JFL). Notable classmates from his university period included Takahito Soma, Yusuke Murayama, Kazuma Kita, Yuki Fuji, Kodai Suzuki, and Takashi Harashima. In his fourth year, 2003, Yamazaki was selected to represent Japan at the Universiade (World University Games), where he wore the number 10 jersey and served as a key striker for the team. His performance contributed significantly to Japan's success, including a gold medal at the 2003 Summer Universiade in Daegu, South Korea. He also participated in the 2005 Summer Universiade, where he was the team's top scorer with 5 goals, helping Japan secure consecutive gold medals.
2. Professional Playing Career
Yamazaki's professional career spanned 14 years, from 2004 to 2018, during which he played for several prominent Japanese clubs and represented his country at the international level.
2.1. Club Career
Yamazaki's club career saw him play for a variety of teams, often moving between clubs on loan or permanent transfers to seek more playing time and contribute to new challenges.
2.1.1. Kokushikan University
Before officially turning professional, Yamazaki played for the Kokushikan University team in the Japan Football League (JFL) from 2000 to 2003. This period served as a crucial developmental stage, allowing him to gain competitive experience at a high level before entering the professional ranks. He made 6 appearances and scored 1 goal in 2000, followed by 12 appearances and 4 goals in 2001. His appearances were limited in his final two years, playing 1 game in 2002 and 2 games in 2003.
2.1.2. Yokohama F. Marinos
Yamazaki joined Yokohama F. Marinos in 2004, marking his entry into the J1 League. Despite being part of a strong forward lineup that included players like Tatsuhiko Kubo, Ahn Jung-hwan, Daisuke Sakata, and Hideo Oshima, he found playing opportunities limited. He made 13 league appearances in 2004 and 2 in 2005, without scoring a league goal during his tenure. He did, however, score 1 goal in the J.League Cup and 1 in the AFC Champions League in 2004.
2.1.3. Oita Trinita
In August 2005, seeking more playing time, Yamazaki moved to Oita Trinita on a loan deal. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first league goal and a total of 2 goals during his loan spell in 2005. His contributions led to a permanent transfer to Oita Trinita in 2006. In 2006, he made 25 league appearances, mostly as a substitute. By late 2007, he had established himself as a regular starter, making 26 league appearances and scoring 1 goal. During his time at Oita, manager Péricles Chamusca highly valued Yamazaki for his tactical discipline.
2.1.4. Gamba Osaka
Yamazaki joined Gamba Osaka in 2008. Although his league appearances were somewhat limited, he became a crucial player in continental competitions. He scored 5 goals in the 2008 AFC Champions League, playing a pivotal role in Gamba Osaka's victory in the tournament. His strong performance in the AFC Champions League earned him the nickname "ACL Man." Furthermore, he scored against Manchester United and CF Pachuca in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first Japanese player to score against a European champion in the competition. He also contributed to Gamba Osaka's consecutive Emperor's Cup victories in 2008 and 2009. Manager Akira Nishino frequently utilized Yamazaki as a "super-sub" due to his ability to perform decisively in crucial moments.
2.1.5. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
In 2010, Yamazaki moved to Sanfrecce Hiroshima on a one-year loan, where he was expected to contribute to their AFC Champions League campaign. However, his playing time was restricted due to injuries, health issues, and the emergence of Lee Tadanari. Despite this, he made 25 league appearances and scored 3 goals in 2010. Sanfrecce Hiroshima made his transfer permanent in 2011, but he continued to struggle for consistent starts, making only 8 league appearances, all as a substitute.
2.1.6. Montedio Yamagata
In July 2011, Yamazaki was loaned to Montedio Yamagata, a team facing a goal-scoring drought and in urgent need of a forward. He quickly became a key player, scoring two winning goals and making a significant impact during his loan spell, which led to a permanent move in 2012. He became a consistent performer for Montedio Yamagata in the J2 League, making 35 appearances and scoring 4 goals in 2012, and 35 appearances with 8 goals in 2013. In 2014, he played a crucial role in the team's promotion to J1, scoring the decisive goal in the J1 promotion play-off final against JEF United Chiba on December 7, 2014. He continued with the club in J1 for the 2015 season, making 13 appearances.
2.1.7. Zweigen Kanazawa
In 2016, Yamazaki joined Zweigen Kanazawa on a permanent transfer. He continued to be a regular presence in the J2 League, making 38 appearances and scoring 7 goals in 2016, and 28 appearances with 2 goals in 2017. He played his final full season with the club in 2018 before moving on a loan.
2.1.8. Thespakusatsu Gunma
Towards the end of his playing career, in August 2018, Yamazaki moved to Thespakusatsu Gunma on a loan spell. He made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal in the J3 League before officially announcing his retirement from professional football on December 11, 2018.
2.2. International Career
Masato Yamazaki represented Japan at the international level primarily during his university years. He was a key member of the Universiade Japan national football team. In 2003, as a fourth-year university student, he was selected for the Universiade team and played as a crucial striker, wearing the number 10 jersey. His contributions helped Japan secure a gold medal at the 2003 Summer Universiade held in Daegu, South Korea. He also participated in the 2005 Summer Universiade, where he was the team's top scorer with 5 goals, contributing to Japan's consecutive gold medals in the tournament.
3. Playing Style and Characteristics
Masato Yamazaki stands at 69 in (174 cm) and weighs 150 lb (68 kg). He was known for his distinctive playing style, characterized by a high work rate and tactical flexibility. While primarily a forward, he was often described as more of a "chance creator" than a pure goal-scorer. His aggressive and tenacious approach involved extensive running across the pitch, often engaging in front-line defensive duties. This "gritty" style was a hallmark of his game.
He was highly regarded by coaches for his tactical discipline. Beyond his primary role as a forward, Yamazaki demonstrated versatility by effectively playing as an attacking midfielder or a wide midfielder. His ability to perform decisively in critical moments, particularly in the AFC Champions League, earned him the nickname "ACL Man." He consistently scored important goals in the competition, notably contributing 5 goals to Gamba Osaka's victorious 2008 campaign.
4. Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a professional player in December 2018, Masato Yamazaki transitioned into a coaching role, focusing on youth development. In 2019, he joined the academy staff of Oita Trinita, one of his former clubs. He served as the U-15 coach from 2019 to 2020, guiding young players in their formative years. From 2021 to 2023, he continued his work as a U-18 coach, further contributing to the development of promising youth talent. In 2024, Yamazaki was appointed as the manager of Oita Trinita's U-18 team, signifying his progression in the coaching field and his commitment to shaping the next generation of Japanese footballers.
5. Career Statistics
Masato Yamazaki's professional career statistics reflect his extensive playing time across various leagues and competitions in Japan and Asia. The "Other" column in the club statistics table accounts for appearances in additional competitions such as the J.League Championship, A3 Champions Cup, Japanese Super Cup, Pan-Pacific Championship, Suruga Bank Championship, FIFA Club World Cup, Promotion Playoffs to J1, and J2/J3 Playoffs.
5.1. 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 | Other | Total | ||||||||
| 2000 | Kokushikan University | JFL | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2001 | 12 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 12 | 4 | ||||||
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 2004 | Yokohama F. Marinos | J1 League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2005 | Oita Trinita | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2006 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 30 | 0 | ||||
| 2007 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 1 | ||||
| 2008 | Gamba Osaka | 30 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 56 | 14 | |
| 2009 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2010 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 32 | 3 | ||
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2011 | Montedio Yamagata | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 4 | |||
| 2012 | J2 League | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 36 | 4 | ||||
| 2013 | 35 | 8 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 38 | 8 | |||||
| 2014 | 36 | 4 | 6 | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 44 | 7 | ||||
| 2015 | J1 League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2016 | Zweigen Kanazawa | J2 League | 38 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 40 | 7 | ||
| 2017 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 30 | 2 | |||||
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | |||||
| Thespakusatsu Gunma | J3 League | 14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 400 | 47 | 30 | 8 | 27 | 2 | 28 | 8 | 17 | 4 | 502 | 69 | ||
5.2. International Statistics
Yamazaki's international appearances were primarily for the Universiade Japan National Team.
| Year | Team | Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Japan Universiade | Universiade | ? | ? |
| 2005 | Japan Universiade | Universiade | ? | 5 |
Note: Specific appearance data for Universiade matches are not fully detailed in the provided sources, but he was the top scorer with 5 goals in the 2005 Universiade.
6. Honors and Awards
Masato Yamazaki achieved significant team honors throughout his playing career, both at the club and international levels.
6.1. Club Honors
- Kokushikan University
- Kanto University Soccer League 1st Division: 2001
- Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Soccer Tournament: 2002
- Yokohama F. Marinos
- J1 League: 2004
- J1 League 1st Stage: 2004
- Gamba Osaka
- AFC Champions League: 2008
- Pan-Pacific Championship: 2008
- Emperor's Cup: 2008, 2009
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima
- J.League Cup: Runner-up 2010
- Montedio Yamagata
- J.League Cup: Runner-up 2014
6.2. International Honors
- Japan National Team
- Summer Universiade: Gold Medal 2003