1. Overview
Naoto Sakurai, born on September 2, 1975, in Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture (now part of Saitama City), is a former Japanese professional football player. Primarily playing as a forward and occasionally as a midfielder, Sakurai was known for his exceptional dribbling skills. His professional career spanned from 1994 to 2008, during which he played for three major Japanese clubs: Urawa Red Diamonds, Tokyo Verdy (formerly Verdy Kawasaki), and Omiya Ardija. After retiring from playing, Sakurai transitioned into coaching, contributing to youth development and specializing in dribbling techniques.
2. Life
Naoto Sakurai's early life and educational background laid the foundation for his professional football career.
2.1. Birth and early life
Naoto Sakurai was born on September 2, 1975, in Urawa City, Saitama Prefecture, which is now part of Saitama City. He was given the nickname "Saku" during his career. Sakurai stands at 67 in (170 cm) tall and weighs 143 lb (65 kg).
2.2. Education
Sakurai attended Saitama Prefectural Omiya Higashi High School from 1991 to 1993. After graduating from high school, he immediately embarked on his professional football journey.
3. Playing career
Naoto Sakurai's professional football career began in 1994 and concluded in 2008, seeing him play for several prominent clubs in the J.League.
3.1. Early career
After graduating from high school, Sakurai joined his local club, Urawa Red Diamonds, in 1994. He made his professional debut in 1995. Despite playing several matches each season during his initial years, he found it challenging to secure a consistent spot in the main squad, often spending time with the club's satellite team. This period was described as "unfortunate days" for him. In the middle of the 1999 season, seeking more playing opportunities, he made a rental transfer to Verdy Kawasaki.
3.2. Club career
Sakurai's club career saw him develop from a promising young player into a regular starter, particularly known for his dribbling ability as a forward.
3.2.1. Urawa Reds
Naoto Sakurai started his professional career at Urawa Red Diamonds in 1994. He debuted in 1995 and played for the club until mid-1999. During his time at Urawa, he struggled to establish himself as a regular, making limited appearances in league matches. He played 20 league matches without scoring a goal for the club.
3.2.2. Verdy Kawasaki / Tokyo Verdy
In the middle of the 1999 season, Sakurai moved to Verdy Kawasaki on a loan deal. This move proved to be a turning point in his career, as he immediately secured a regular position. Known for his dribbling skills, he became a key forward for the team. His performance led to a permanent transfer to Verdy Kawasaki in 2000. He continued to play for the club, which was renamed Tokyo Verdy in 2001, until the end of the 2004 season, consistently making significant contributions. He played a total of 116 league matches for Verdy Kawasaki/Tokyo Verdy, scoring 23 goals.
3.2.3. Omiya Ardija
In 2005, Sakurai transferred to Omiya Ardija, a club based in his hometown that had recently been promoted to the J1 League. He continued to be a regular player for Omiya Ardija until 2006, making many appearances. However, his playing opportunities significantly decreased from 2007 onwards. At the end of the 2008 season, after being informed that his contract would not be renewed, he decided to retire from professional football. He played 50 league matches for Omiya Ardija, scoring 9 goals.
4. Club statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1994 | Urawa Red Diamonds | J1 League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| 1996 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | ||
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | Verdy Kawasaki | J1 League | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 5 |
| 2000 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2001 | Tokyo Verdy | J1 League | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| 2002 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2003 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 8 | ||
| 2004 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 29 | 10 | ||
| 2005 | Omiya Ardija | J1 League | 19 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 5 | ||
| 2007 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 186 | 32 | 20 | 5 | 35 | 4 | 241 | 41 | ||
5. National team career
Naoto Sakurai was considered for the Japan national football team on multiple occasions. In 2001, he was named a candidate for the national team. Furthermore, in 2005, he was selected to participate in a training camp for the Zico-led Japan national team, alongside his former Urawa Reds teammate Yuichiro Nagai. However, despite being called up to these camps, Sakurai did not make the final squad for any official international matches.
6. Post-retirement activities
After retiring from professional football at the end of the 2008 season, Naoto Sakurai transitioned into coaching and other football-related ventures. Immediately following his retirement, he took on the role of coach for Omiya Ardija's U-12 team. In 2010, he returned to his former club, Urawa Red Diamonds, to join the coaching staff of the Heart-full Club, a community outreach program focused on football education. Since 2014, Sakurai has been actively involved in coaching at the Solpresa Soccer School, where he specializes in teaching dribbling techniques. His goal at the school is to nurture future national team players from the Urawa area who possess strong dribbling abilities, enabling them to break through defenses.