Summary
Saori Takarada (宝田 沙織, Takarada Saori, born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team. She previously played for Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Washington Spirit, and Linköpings FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Saori Takarada[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 December 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Tateyema, Toyama, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leicester City | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2020 | Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 143 | (56) |
| 2021 | Washington Spirit | 10 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Linköpings FC | 51 | (5) |
| 2024– | Leceister City | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Japan U-17 | 5 | (2) |
| 2018 | Japan U-20 | 6 | (5) |
| 2019– | Japan | 21 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:59, 13 February 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:20, 10 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
Early life edit
Takarada was born in Toyama Prefecture on 27 December 1999.[citation needed]
Club career edit
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies edit
In 2013, Takarada joined Nadeshiko League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She scored 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight of the Nadeshiko League in 2019. During the 2019 season, Takarada scored 2 goals in 18 appearances for Cerezo and helped the team to a fourth-place finish. She played both as a forward and as a midfielder for Cerezo.[2][3]
Washington Spirit edit
On 1 December 2020, Takarada signed a contract with the Washington Spirit for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Her Japanese national team teammate Kumi Yokoyama signed with the Spirit in 2019. Takarada reported to the Spirit's preseason training camp in February 2021.[4]
Linköping FC edit
On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Takarada would transfer to the Swedish Damalsvenskan club Linköping FC.[5]
Leicester City edit
On 8 December 2023, it was announced that Takarada would sign a pre-contract with Women's Super League club Leicester City.[6] She made her competitive debut for the club on 14 January 2024 in the fourth round of the FA Cup tie against Derby County.[7] She scored her first competitive goal for the club on 11 February 2024 in a FA Cup match against Birmingham City[8]
International career edit
Youth edit
In 2016, Takarada was named to the Japan U-17 national team roster for the 2016 U-17 World Cup. She played in 5 matches and scored 2 goals,[9] helping Japan to a 2nd place finish.
In 2018, Takarada played for the Japan U-20 national team at the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[10] She played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals and recorded 3 assists. Takarada scored the game-winning goal for Japan in the tournament final against Spain, leading Japan to the championship. She earned the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot for her performance in the tournament. Takarada also won the 2018 Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.[3]
Senior edit
Takarada was named to the Japanese national team for the 2019 World Cup after Riko Ueki withdrew due to injury in May 2019.[11] She served as a substitute for Japan during the World Cup, appearing in three of Japan's four games.[3][12]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of match played 11 February 2024[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cerezo Osaka Sakai | 2013 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 2 | ||
| 2014 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | Nadeshiko Challenge League | 18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 9 | |||
| 2016 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | — | 23 | 10 | ||
| 2017 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 18 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | — | 29 | 30 | ||
| 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2019 | Nadeshiko League 2 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | — | 21 | 14 | ||
| 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 2 | |||
| Total | 143 | 56 | 9 | 2 | 31 | 14 | — | 183 | 72 | |||
| Washington Spirit | 2021 | National Women's Soccer League | 10 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| Linköping FC | 2022 | Damallsvenskan | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||
| 2023 | Damallsvenskan | 26 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 | ||
| Total | 51 | 5 | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 60 | 6 | |||
| Leicester City | 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | |
| Career total | 207 | 61 | 18 | 4 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 262 | 79 | ||
- ^ Includes Empress's Cup, Svenska Cupen
- ^ Includes Nadeshiko League Cup, NWSL Challenge Cup, FA Women's League Cup
- ^ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
International edit
- As of match played 23 September 2023[14]
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takarada goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 June 2021 | Edion Stadium Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan |  Ukraine
|
3–0 | 8–0 | Friendly | [15] |
Honours edit
Cereza Osaka Sakai
- Nadeshiko League Cup Division 2: 2017, 2019
Japan
Japan U20
Japan U17
Individual
- Silver Ball, 2018 U-20 World Cup
- Bronze Boot, 2018 U-20 World Cup
- Asian Young Footballer of the Year: 2018
References edit
- ^ a b "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ "Saori Takarada – Washington Spirit". Washington Spirit. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Jason Anderson (1 December 2020). "Washington Spirit sign Japanese attacker Saori Takarada". Black and Red United. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Jason Anderson (4 March 2021). "Washington Spirit announce 2021 preseason roster". Black and Red United. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ FC, Linköpings (6 January 2022). "Japansk landslagsspelare till Linköping FC". Linköping FC (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Saori Takarada Signs Pre-Contract With LCFC Women". www.lcfc.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "City Cruise Through In FA Cup At Derby". www.lcfc.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Garry, Tom (10 February 2024). "New signings star as Leicester thrash Birmingham". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ Saori Takarada – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ FIFA
- ^ Japan Football Association
- ^ Japan Football Association
- ^ "Japan - S. Takarada - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association".
- ^ "国際親善試合". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
