Keisuke Honda
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 Honda with CSKA Moscow in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Keisuke Honda[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 June 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Settsu, Osaka, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder, Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team
| Milan | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1998 | Settsu FC | ||
| 1999–2001 | Gamba Osaka | ||
| 2002–2004 | Seiryō High School | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2007 | Nagoya Grampus | 90 | (11) |
| 2007–2009 | VVV-Venlo | 68 | (24) |
| 2009–2013 | CSKA Moscow | 94 | (24) |
| 2013– | Milan | 39 | (7) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005 | Japan U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Japan U23 | 18 | (5) |
| 2008– | Japan | 70 | (28) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 May 2015. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 March 2015 | |||
He has earned over 60 international caps since 2008, playing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, where he was also voted Player of the Tournament.
Contents
[hide]Club career[edit]
VVV-Venlo[edit]
On 16 January 2008, Honda signed a two and half-year deal with Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo.[4][5] In his first six months at VVV, he experienced relegation for the first time in his professional career as his new side went down to Eerste Divisie, the second division. In the 2008–09 season, he scored 16 goals in 36 league appearances to help the team back into the Eredivisie.[6] He became known as Keizer Keisuke (meaning Emperor Keisuke) among the club's fans.[7]CSKA Moscow[edit]
At the end of December 2009, Honda transferred to Russian club CSKA Moscow.[8] Honda signed a 4-year contract.[9] The transfer fee was undisclosed, but VVV-Venlo was said to be very content with the fee as it almost matched their asking price; it is believed to be in the region of €6 million.[7] Honda made his debut for CSKA in the UEFA Champions League match against Sevilla.[10] In the second leg in Seville, he scored the winning goal through a direct free kick for CSKA after having set up the first goal for Tomáš Necid. This secured a 2–1 (3–2 aggregate) victory to send the club to the quarterfinals, making Honda the first Japanese player to be in the quarter-finals as well as the first to score in the knock-out stages. Honda scored his first league goal on 12 March 2010, in the home match against Amkar Perm. He scored the goal in the third minute of injury time, slotting home a pass from Necid with his left. With the goal, he secured the win for CSKA Moscow.
Honda picked up his first piece of silverware with CSKA on 22 May 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Alan Dzagoev in a 2-1 defeat of Alania Vladikavkaz in the Russian Cup final.[11] He netted two goals in the first half of CSKA's match against Krylia Sovetov three days later, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory for his side.[12] On 16 September 2012, Honda scored twice off of passes fromAhmed Musa, scoring the only goals in a league victory over Alania.[13]
On 13 July 2013, Honda scored CSKA's first and third goals in the club's 3-0 victory over Zenit in the Russian Super Cup match in Rostov.[14] In 2013 summer transfer window, he entered the final six months of his contract with CSKA and became free to talk to other clubs, expressing his interest in moving to a bigger club. On 11 December 2013, CSKA announced the conclusion of Honda's time at the club.[15]
Milan[edit]
On 27 October 2013, Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri announced a deal for Honda to join Milan on a free transfer in January 2014.[16][17] Honda officially joined the team on 4 January 2014 on a contract lasting until June 2017 and will wear the number 10 jersey.[18][19]On 12 January 2014, Honda made his debut coming on as a substitute for Robinho in a 4–3 Serie A defeat to Sassuolo. On 15 January, Honda made his full debut for Milan,[20] scoring in the 3–1 Coppa Italiaquarter-final win against Spezia.[21] He scored his first Serie A goal in Genoa-Milan, which was won by the Rossoneri 1-2.[22] Honda's contribution for Milan in the latter half of the 2013-14 season was considered disappointing, and he himself stated that "this is not me".[23]
On 31 August 2014, Honda scored for Milan against Lazio, netting the club's first goal of the season as the Rossoneri won 3–1 in Filippo Inzaghi's Serie A debut as manager.[24] Honda went on to score Milan's second goal against Parma on 14 September, helping Milan to win a nine-goal thriller, 5-4.[25] Honda provided an assist for Giacomo Bonaventura's opening goal and scored a bullet header to restored Milan's lead, from Ignazio Abate's cross.[26] In Milan's next match against Empoli, Honda drilled in a shot on the edge of the box equalizing for Milan as the sides drew 2–2.[27] Honda scored with a precise free kick over the Chievo wall in a 2–0 win on 4 October.[28] Honda scored his first brace playing for Milan in a 3-1 away win against Verona on 19 October.
Honda's performances for Milan lead him to be voted the AFiE player of the year for 2014.[29]
