Naoki Sugai

Naoki Sugai
菅井 直樹

Personal information
Full name	Naoki Sugai
Date of birth	(1984-09-21) 21 September 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth	Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2002	Yamagata Chuo High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2018	Vegalta Sendai	389	(40)
Total		389	(40)
Medal record Vegalta Sendai Runner-up J1 League 2012 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Naoki Sugai (菅井 直樹, Sugai Naoki, born 21 September 1984) is a former Japanese football player.^[1]

Playing career

Sugai was born in Yamagata on 21 September 1984. After graduating from high school, he joined J1 League club Vegalta Sendai in 2003. He could not play at all in the match and Vegalta was relegated J2 League end of 2003 season. He played many matches as defensive midfielder from 2004. In 2006, he was converted to right side back under new manager Joel Santana and played many matches as regular player for a long time. Vegalta won the champions in 2009 season and was promoted to J1.

Although 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred in Sendai immediately after the opening 2011 season, Vegalta finished at the 4th place which is best results in the club history. In 2012 season, Vegalta won the 2nd place and qualified for 2013 AFC Champions League. His opportunity to play decreased behind Kazuki Oiwa from 2016. He retired end of 2018 season.^[2]

Club statistics

^[3][4][5]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		AFC		Total
2003	Vegalta Sendai	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	-		0	0
2004		J2 League	19	0	2	0	-		-		21	0
2005			13	0	0	0	-		-		13	0
2006			37	7	0	0	-		-		37	7
2007			40	6	1	0	-		-		41	6
2008			28	4	0	0	-		-		28	4
2009			49	3	5	0	-		-		54	3
2010		J1 League	26	2	0	0	6	0	-		32	2
2011			30	7	2	0	3	0	-		35	7
2012			30	5	1	0	6	0	-		37	5
2013			22	2	2	0	2	0	2	1	28	1
2014			30	3	1	0	2	0	–		33	3
2015			28	0	2	2	1	0	–		31	2
2016			16	0	0	0	3	0	–		19	0
2017			14	1	0	0	3	0	–		17	1
2018			7	0	2	0	5	0	–		14	0
Career total			389	40	18	2	31	0	2	1	440	43

References

1. Naoki Sugai at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
2. Vegalta Sendai(in Japanese)
3. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 100 out of 289)
4. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 100 out of 289)
5. Vegalta Sendai(in Japanese)

External links

• Naoki Sugai at Soccerway
• Naoki Sugai at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• KIN___25 on Twitter