Keisuke Honda is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for Liga MX club C.F. Pachuca and the Japan national team. A versatile player, he usually plays as an attacking midfielder, but he can equally play as a winger or as a deep-lying playmaker, and has frequently featured as a right winger for Milan during the 2014–15 Serie A season. A quick, creative, strong, and energetic player, he is also known for his accuracy from bending free-kicks, powerful striking ability from distance, dribbling skills, and delivery as a dead ball specialist. He has earned over 90 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. Early career
After graduating Seiryō High School, Honda began his professional career in 2004, with J1 League side Nagoya Grampus. VVV-Venlo
On 16 January 2008, Honda signed a two and half-year deal with Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo. 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. He became known as Keizer Keisuke (meaning Emperor Keisuke) among the club's fans. Also, Honda introduced his agent, Tetsuro Kiyooka to Maya Yoshida in 2008 and led him to VVV-Venlo two years later. CSKA Moscow
At the end of December 2009, Honda transferred to Russian club CSKA Moscow. Honda signed a 4-year contract. 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. 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. Milan
On 27 October 2013, Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri announced a deal for Honda to join Milan on a free transfer in January 2014. Honda officially joined the team on 4 January 2014 on a contract lasting until June 2017 and will wear the number 10 jersey. Pachuca
On 14 July 2017, Mexican club Pachuca announced the signing of Honda. On August 23, 2017, Honda scored on his debut in a 4-1 win over Veracruz. International career
Senior career
He was a member of the Japan team for 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and played for the U-23 national team, that qualified for 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament finals. He made a full international debut for Japan on 22 June 2008 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bahrain. On 14 July 2008, he was formally named as one of the midfielders of the Japanese U-23 national football team for the Beijing Olympics football competition. He scored his first goal for the senior national team on 27 May 2009 in a friendly match against Chile at Nagai Stadium in Osaka and has since been given the nickname "Emperor Keisuke". He has scored 20 goals in 52 games for the Japan national football team from his debut in 2008, onwards. 2010 FIFA World Cup
Honda scored the only goal in Japan's 2010 FIFA World Cup match against Cameroon, finishing off Daisuke Matsui's cross into the top left corner of the net. His performance in the game gained him the Man of the Match Award from FIFA and the 1-0 victory was Japan's first World Cup triumph on foreign soil. Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian cited him as a 'false nine': a player superficially employed as a centre forward but moving deeper to pull the opposition defence around the pitch. 2011 AFC Asian Cup
Honda was included in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by coach Alberto Zaccheroni. In the game against Syria, he scored and was named "Man of the Match." Honda was awarded the most valuable player of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup as Japan lifted a record fourth continental title. 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification
Honda missed the majority of the third round of AFC World Cup qualification due to injury he picked up while playing for his club. Having won the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Japan qualified for the Confederations Cup in Brazil in 2013 and Honda was once again included in Zaccheroni's squad for the tournament. After losing 3-0 to hosts Brazil in the first group match on 15 June 2013, Japan faced Italy in the next game; Honda scored from the penalty spot to put Japan ahead but they fell 4-3 in a pulsating game which dumped the Asian champions out of the competition. 2014 FIFA World Cup
Japan was drawn into Group C in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil having to face Colombia, Greece, and Ivory Coast. In Japan's opening game against Ivory Coast, Honda collected a pass from Yuto Nagatomo after a quick throw-in and scored with a left footed shot in the 16th minute of the game. With this goal Honda became the first Japanese player to score in two World Cups, and also claimed sole possession of being the top Japanese scorer in FIFA World Cup history with three total goals. Japan went on to lose 2–1 to the African team. 2015 AFC Asian Cup
Honda was included in Javier Aguirre's 23-man squad for 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Honda started Japan's opener match against Palestine and scored a penalty kick in their 4–0 win. In next match against Iraq, Honda again netted a penalty which Japan won the match 1–0 and the first goal in 2–0 win of Jordan. Honda participated in Japan's quarter final match against the United Arab Emirates. |
