Leo Brian Kokubo (小久保 玲央 ブライアン, Kokubo Reo Buraian, born 23 January 2001) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian team Sint-Truiden.
 Kokubo with Benfica in 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leo Brian Kokubo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 23 January 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chiba, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Sint-Truiden | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kashiwa Effort | ||||||||||||||||||||
| –2019 | Kashiwa Reysol | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2022 | Benfica | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Benfica B | 25 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Sint-Truiden | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Japan U16 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Japan U18 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Japan U23 | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 May 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
International career
editKokubo was born in Japan to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother. He is a youth international for Japan, having represented the Japan U16s, U18s and U23s.[1]
In the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup final, Kokubo saved penalty shot by Umarali Rakhmonaliev during stoppage time, helping Japan secure their 1–0 score against Uzbekistan, winning the competition for the second time in their history. He was consequently named as "Man of the match" for his heroic performance in the final.[2][3]
Career statistics
edit- As of 11 July 2024[4]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2021–22 | Liga Portugal 2 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Liga Portugal 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Sint-Truiden | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
Honours
editBenfica
Japan U23
References
edit- ^ "柏U-18のGK小久保玲央ブライアンが"縁ある"ベンフィカに加入". ゲキサカ. 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title". AFC. 4 May 2024.
- ^ "Japan lay down Olympic marker". FIFA. 4 May 2024.
- ^ Leo Kokubo at Soccerway
- ^ Vaza, Marco (9 August 2023). "Benfica soube mudar para ganhar a Supertaça". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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