en Hitoshi Sogahata

Hitoshi Sogahata
曽ヶ端準
Personal information
Date of birth	August 2, 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986–1991	Namino SSS
1992–1994	Kashima Junior High School
1995–1997	Kashima Antlers
Senior career*
Years	Team
1998–2020	Kashima Antlers
Total
International career
2004	Japan Olympic (O.P.)
2001–2003	Japan
Medal record
Kashima Antlers
Representing Japan
AFC U-16 Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hitoshi Sogahata (曽ヶ端準, Sogahata Hitoshi, born August 2, 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Kashima Antlers^[2] and the Japan national team.

Club career

Sogahata was born in Kashima on August 2, 1979. He joined J1 League club Kashima Antlers based in his local from youth team in 1998. He debuted against Avispa Fukuoka on May 8, 1999 and played several matches until 2000.^[2] Although he could not play many matches behind Japan national team player Daijiro Takakuwa until 2000, Sogahata played in semifinals and final at 2000 J.League Cup^[3] and Antlers won the champions. He was also selected New Hero Awards.^[4] In 2001, he became a regular goalkeeper instead Takakuwa and Sogahata played as regular goalkeeper for long time. Antlers won the champions 2001 J1 League for two consecutive seasons. In 2002 season, he was selected Best Eleven award. Antlers also won the champions in 2002 J.League Cup. In 2007, Antlers won the champions in J1 League for the first time in six years. Antlers also won the champions in 2007 Emperor's Cup. Antlers won the champions in J1 League for three consecutive seasons (2007–2009). From 2010 season, Antlers won the champions 2010 Emperor's Cup, 2011 and 2012 J.League Cup. He also played all matches from 2008 season to 2014 season.^[2] He played for 244 consecutive matches until last match in 2014 season which is J1 League record. In 2015, although he could not play all matches in J1 League, Antlers won the champions in J.League Cup. In 2016, Antlers won the champions in J1 League and qualified for 2016 Club World Cup as host country champions. At Club World Cup, he played all four matches and won the 2nd place.^[5] In 2017, Antlers gained new goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae and Sogahata battles for the position with Kwoun Sun-tae. However Sogahata could not play many matches behind Kwoun Sun-tae from 2017.^[2] In 2018 AFC Champions League, he played four matches and Antlers won the champions first Asian title in the club history.

On December 24, 2020, Sogahata announced his retirement after more than twenty years with the club.^[6]

International career

On November 7, 2001, Sogahata debuted for Japan national team against Italy.^[7] However he could not play many matches behind Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and Seigo Narazaki. Sogahata was a member of Japan for 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played three games for Japan until 2003.^[7]

In August 2004, Sogahata was selected Japan U23 national team as over aged for 2004 Summer Olympics. At this tournament, he played full time in all three matches.^[5] Japan exited in the first round, having finished fourth in group B, below group winners Paraguay, Italy and Ghana.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[4]
Club	Season	League			Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Other^[a]		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kashima Antlers	1998	J1 League	0	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	1999		4	0	0	0	0	0	–		–		4	0
	2000		2	0	1	0	3	0	–		–		6	0
	2001		21	0	2	0	6	0	–		2	0	31	0
	2002		30	0	5	0	3	0	5	0	1	0	44	0
	2003		30	0	4	0	5	0	0	0	–		39	0
	2004		27	0	3	0	6	0	–		–		36	0
	2005		34	0	3	0	4	0	–		–		41	0
	2006		22	0	4	0	3	0	–		–		29	0
	2007		32	0	5	0	10	0	–		–		47	0
	2008		34	0	2	0	2	0	8	0	1	0	47	0
	2009		34	0	4	0	2	0	7	0	1	0	48	0
	2010		34	0	6	0	2	0	7	0	1	0	50	0
	2011		34	0	3	0	3	0	7	0	1	0	48	0
	2012		34	0	4	0	9	0	–		1	0	48	0
	2013		34	0	3	0	6	0	–		1	0	40	0
	2014		34	0	1	0	5	0	–		–		0	0
	2015		24	0	0	0	5	0	6	0	–		35	0
	2016		34	0	6	0	2	0	–		8	0	50	0
	2017		23	0	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	28	0
	2018		7	0	3	0	4	0	4	0	1	0	19	0
	2019		4	0	4	0	1	0	1	0	–		10	0
	2020		1	0	–		1	0	0	0	–		2	0
Career total			533	0	66	0	83	0	46	0	18	0	744	0