Shu Morooka (師岡 柊生, Morooka Shu, born 9 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Kashima Antlers.[2]

Shu Morooka
師岡 柊生
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-12-09) 9 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Hachiōji, Tokyo, Japan
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Kashima Antlers
Number 36
Youth career
Owada SC
FC Tama
2016–2018 Aviation High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Tokyo International University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Kashima Antlers 23 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:34, 8 August 2024 (UTC)

Youth career

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In junior high school, Morooka played for FC Tama alongside Ikuma Sekigawa and Junma Miyazaki.[3] He attended Aviation High School and represented them at the National High School Championship in the 2018 tournament, where they lost in the quarter-finals.[4]

In 2019, Morooka moved to Tokyo International University and scored 7 goals in 13 appearances in his debut season.[5] He continued to be a regular starter during his time at university and ended up making 78 appearances in his four seasons across all competitions, including the Kanto University League, scoring 31 goals.

Club career

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In August 2022, Morooka received an offer from Júbilo Iwata to join them ahead of the 2023 season.[6] However, in November the offer was cancelled as Júbilo had been prohibited from registering new players by FIFA for two transfer windows due to a breach of contract involving Fabián González.[7][8] This allowed J1 League club Kashima Antlers to offer a contract immediately following the announcement, to which Morooka accepted.[9][10] The move would join him back up with former school teammate Ikuma Sekigawa.

On 8 March 2023, Morooka made his debut for Kashima in a 1–1 J.League Cup draw with Kashiwa Reysol, appearing as a second-half substitute for Ryotaro Araki.[11] He made his first start for the club in the following month, in a 1–0 league victory over Avispa Fukuoka. Morooka made 9 appearances across all competitions in his debut season.

In his second season, Morooka was afforded much more game time under new manager Ranko Popović and has been a regular member of the starting XI. In July 2024, he scored his first professional goal in a 2–0 victory over Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.[12]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 8 August 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
Kashima Antlers 2023 J1 League 4 0 1 0 4 0 9 0
2024 J1 League 19 1 0 0 2 0 21 1
Career total 23 1 1 0 6 0 30 1

Style of play

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Morooka is described as being a well-balanced forward which allows him to effectively lead the line. He is also a hard-working player both offensively and defensively.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "師岡柊生". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ "| Kashima Antlers Player". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ "成長著しい東京国際大のエースストライカー! 師岡柊生が大学で手に入れた新たな武器「一気にプレーの引き出しが増えた」 | サッカーダイジェストWeb". www.soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. ^ "2018-19 全国高等学校サッカー選手権". Soccer D.B. (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  5. ^ "2019 師岡 柊生 選手". Soccer D.B. (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  6. ^ "師岡 柊生選手加入内定のお知らせ". www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp (in Japanese). 3 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  7. ^ "【磐田】来季内定、師岡柊生との仮契約を解除 クラブへの新規の選手登録禁止通達を受けて - J1 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). 18 November 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  8. ^ "師岡 柊生選手 来季加入仮契約解除のお知らせ". www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp (in Japanese). 17 November 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  9. ^ "磐田補強禁止で急転鹿島入り…東京国際大FW師岡柊生「自分らしいというか、そんなに重く捉えていない」". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b "師岡選手の2023年加入内定について | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). 17 November 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  11. ^ "2023 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ 23/03/08 柏レイソル - 鹿島アントラーズ 試合結果,スタメン". Soccer D.B. (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  12. ^ "鹿島の師岡柊生が札幌戦で待望のJ初ゴール!「やっと決めたな」アシストの鈴木優磨も祝福(SOCCER DIGEST Web)". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). 6 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 師岡 柊生 選手". Soccer D.B. (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 August 2024.
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