How have Japanese foreign players performed in the V.League?
In the history of the V.League, the number of Japanese foreign players can be counted on the fingers of one hand. And they have yet to have any successful performances in Vietnam.
Beginning of useJapanese foreign playersThat's Hoang Anh Gia Lai. In the 2016 season, the team from Pleiku signed Ideguchi Masaaki from Yokohama FC. This was an exchange deal between Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Yokohama FC. Midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh played for the Japanese club on loan.
In two seasons playing for Hoang Anh Gia Lai, the player born in 1988 made 33 appearances and scored 3 goals. This was a reasonably acceptable signing for the team from Pleiku. Currently, at the age of 36, Ideguchi Masaaki is still playing for FC Chanthabouly in Laos.
Following Ideguchi Masaaki's departure, midfielder Karube Ryutaro moved to Dong A Thanh Hoa in the V.League 2018. With his impressive physique (1.88m tall) and extensive playing experience, the Japanese midfielder was expected to add strength to the Thanh Hoa team's midfield. However, all Karube Ryutaro managed to do was score 2 goals in 11 appearances before prematurely parting ways with Dong A Thanh Hoa.
However, Karube Ryutaro also had a comeback period.VietnamHe will wear the Saigon FC jersey in the V.League 2021. This is the period when Saigon FC is led by coach Shimoda Masahiro, who was previously the head coach of the Japanese U23 national team.
Under the leadership of Masahiro Shimoda, Saigon Club had three Japanese foreign players. Besides Ryutaro Karube, there were also Daisuke Matsui and Hiroyuki Takasaki.
Among them, midfielder Matsui Daisuke stands out, having made 31 appearances for the Japanese national team and scored one goal. Matsui Daisuke's experience and skills were still very much utilized in the Saigon FC jersey. However, due to being past his peak and declining physical condition, the midfielder born in 1981 could not help Saigon FC perform well in the V.League 2021.
Similar to Matsui Daisuke, striker Takasaki Hiroyuki also failed to make much of an impression during his time in the V.League. After 5 matches, Takasaki Hiroyuki has not been able to score a single goal.
With the cancellation of the V.League 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Japanese foreign players also parted ways with Saigon FC, leaving fans deeply disappointed.
It can be said that the playing style of teams in the V.League is not really suited to Japanese foreign players. This explains why the V.League has few Japanese foreign players, even though leagues in Southeast Asia use them quite frequently.
With theLam River, Nghe AnWith Japanese center-back Wada Koji currently on trial, fans in Nghe An province are hoping that this 2001-born defender will break the jinx of Japanese foreign players in Vietnam and shine in the Song Lam Nghe An jersey.
