is a Japanese former football player. He played as a forward for the Japan national team. His brother Yuto Sato is also a footballer.
Club career Born in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan, Sato is a product of JEF United Ichihara's youth system. He was promoted to JEF's top team in 2000. His first league appearance came on April 15, 2000, against Júbilo Iwata. He scored his first league goal on March 21, 2001, against Júbilo Iwata.
Frustrated with a lack of playing time, Sato decided to move to J2 League side Cerezo Osaka in 2002. Cerezo's coach Akihiro Nishimura rated him highly, as he had also managed Sato for Japan's youth team the previous year. However, Sato suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome at the beginning of the season, and found himself playing not many games with Akinori Nishizawa and Yoshito Okubo ahead of him in the pecking order. The club finished 2nd and was promoted to J1 League.
Sato was loaned out to J1 side Vegalta Sendai in the 2003 season. He finally became a first-choice forward, playing 30 games and scoring 9 goals. Despite his efforts, Sendai was relegated to J2. His loan contract became a permanent one and he played 44 league games with 20 goals for Sendai in the 2005 season but failed to navigate the club to J1.
He was transferred to J1 side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 2005 season. He scored 18 goals during his first season with the club, including two hat-tricks.
On April 22, 2006, Sato set the record for the fastest goal in J1 League history, scoring just 8 seconds after kick-off against Cerezo Osaka.
On November 22, 2015, he equalled Masashi Nakayama as the all-time top-scorer in the J1 League with 157 goals. After equalling the record, having spent 12 years in Hiroshima, Sato decided to sign for J2 club Nagoya Grampus.Nagoya Grampus
Grampus finished at the 3rd place in 2017 season and was promoted to J1. Although Sato played many matches in 2017, he could not play many matches in 2018.
In 2019, Sato re-joined J2 club JEF United Chiba (formerly JEF United Ichihara) for the first time in 18 years.JEF United Chiba He retired at the end of the 2020 season.
International career In June 2001, Sato made the Japan U-20 national team squad for the 2001 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played 2 matches.
Sato made his international debut for Japan on February 11, 2006, in a friendly against the United States. He scored his first international goal on February 22, 2006, in a 2007 Asian Cup qualification against India. In the run-up to the 2006 World Cup, he was regularly picked for the Japan national team, but he was left out of the final squad by national coach Zico.
Sato was a member of the Japan team for the 2007 Asian Cup finals and played four games in the tournament, all as a substitute. He played 31 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 2010.
Style of play Sato has cited Filippo Inzaghi as his inspiration; his playing style has often been described as being similar to that of the Italian former striker.
Personal life His twin brother Yuto is also a professional footballer who plays for JEF United Chiba and has been capped once at international level.
Career statistics
Club 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)", February 7, 2018, Japan, (p. 146 out of 289)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)", February 8, 2017, Japan, (p. 155 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", February 10, 2016, Japan, (p. 11 out of 289)
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupAFC Champions LeagueOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJEF United Ichihara2000J1 League803042––15220011420031––173Cerezo Osaka2002J2 League13243–––175Vegalta Sendai2003J1 League3091064––37132004J2 League442020–––4620Sanfrecce Hiroshima2005J1 League32182062––4020200633182242––3922200734125161–2047142008J2 League402822––1142302009J1 League34151155––402120102710002161–3512201133112221––3714201234221163–334429201334176221301146212014291121550010371720153412201000504412201619410202011245Nagoya Grampus2017J2 League28531––203362018J1 League902031––141JEF United Chiba2019J2 League––Career total52921641165729111166654268
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan2006123200770200860200931201030Total314
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. February 22, 2006 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan 6-0 Won 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 2. March 30, 2006 Ōita Stadium, Ōita, Japan 1-0 Won Friendly Match 3. August 16, 2006 Niigata Stadium, Niigata, Japan 2-0 Won 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 4. November 18, 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong 4-0 Won 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Honors Sanfrecce Hiroshima J1 League: 2012, 2013, 2015 J2 League: 2008 Japanese Super Cup: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016
Individual J1 League Best Eleven: 2005, 2012 J2 League: Top scorer: 2008 J1 League: Top scorer: 2012 J.League Most Valuable Player: 2012
References
External links
Profile at Nagoya Grampus