Keiji "Kein" 'Sato (Japanese: 佐藤 恵允; born 11 July 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a left winger or striker for Regionalliga Nord club Werder Bremen II.

Kein Sato
Personal information
Full name Keiji Sato
Date of birth (2001-07-11) 11 July 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Left winger, striker
Team information
Current team
Werder Bremen II
Number 23
Youth career
2006–2013 Setagaya United
2014–2016 Endo Football Academy
2017–2019 Jissen Gakuen High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Werder Bremen II 31 (6)
International career
2022 Japan U21 4 (2)
2021– Japan U23 26 (9)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Japan
AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2024 Qatar Team
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Uzbekistan Team
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 April 2024

Club career

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Sato was born in Tokyo, Japan, to a Colombian father and a Japanese mother.[2] He started his football career at the age of 5, playing for local club Setagaya United. In 2014, he joined the Endo Football Academy, run by former Japan national team defender Masahiro Endo. In 2017, he attended the Jissen Gakuen High School in Tokyo, before entering the Meiji University.[3][4] In August 2023, he dropped out of Meiji with a few months before completing his graduation, as he decided to sign for the reserves team of Werder Bremen.[5][6]

International career

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Sato is a youth international for Japan, having represented Japan U23 in the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and 2022 Asian Games where his team both finished as runners-up, and the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.[7][8]

Career statistics

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As of match played 1 August 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Werder Bremen II 2023–24 Bremenliga 14 5 2[a] 0 16 5
Career total 14 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 16 5
  1. ^ Appearances in promotion play-offs

Honours

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Japan U23

References

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  1. ^ "Kein Sato profile". Bundesliga. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ "無名の存在からパリ世代代表へ 佐藤恵允が原点取り戻した監督の一言" (in Japanese). Asahi. 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "明治大学のU-22日本代表FW佐藤恵允、ブレーメン加入が決定! ドリブラーがJリーグを経ずに海外へ". Goal.com. 18 July 2023.
  4. ^ "「明治でやってきたことが間違いじゃない」初の代表入りを果たした明治大学MF佐藤恵允が意気込む" (in Japanese). Ultra Soccer. 22 October 2021.
  5. ^ "ブレーメン加入の明大4年FW佐藤恵允 退部の葛藤明かすも「迷いはもう今はない。思い切って」" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 20 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Press conference held for SATO Kein of the Meiji University Football Club signing a contract and joining the Bundesliga team SV Werder Bremen". Meiji University. 28 July 2023.
  7. ^ ""紫紺の10番"明大MF佐藤恵允が最高学年へ「結果を出しながら代表もコンスタントに」…パリ五輪世代23年の誓い" (in Japanese). Hochi News. 9 February 2023.
  8. ^ "「ピークに達した佐藤恵允をお見せしたい」。13年ぶり優勝が懸かるアジア大会「人生で一番勝ちたい」日韓決勝戦へ" (in Japanese). Gekisaka. 7 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Kein Sato » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
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