Kodai Sano (footballer)

This article is about a Japanese footballer. For the Japanese baseball player, see Kodai Sano (baseball).

Kodai Sano

Personal information
Full name	Kodai Sano[1]
Date of birth	(2003-09-25) 25 September 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth	Tsuyama, Okayama, Japan
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	NEC Nijmegen
Number	23
Youth career
0000–2018	FC Viparte
2019–2021	Yonago Kita High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Fagiano Okayama	50	(5)
2023–	NEC Nijmegen	42	(6)
International career^‡
2023–	Japan U20	11	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023

Kodai Sano (佐野 航大, Sano Kodai, born 25 September 2003) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen.

Club career

A graduate of the Yonago Kita High School [ja],[2][3] Sano signed his first professional contract with J2 League side Fagiano Okayama in October 2021.[4][5]

He made his professional debut for the club during the 2022 season, scoring three goals in 28 league matches.[3]

On 14 August 2023, Fagiano Okayama announced that they reached an agreement with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen for the transfer of Sano on a permanent deal;[3][6] the deal was made official three days later, as the player signed a five-year contract with the Eredivisie club.[7][8] In the process, Sano became NEC's second Japanese-born signing of the season, following Koki Ogawa.[8]

He made his debut for the club on 16 September 2023, coming on as a substitute for Rober in the 59th minute of a 4–0 league loss to PSV.[9]

International career

Sano has represented Japan at under-20 level, having taken part in both the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[10]

Personal life

Sano is the younger brother of fellow professional footballer Kaishu Sano.[4]

Career statistics

Club

As of 10 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fagiano Okayama	2022	J2 League	28	3	0	0	0	0	1[c]	0	29	3
	2023		20	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	21	2
	Total		48	5	1	0	0	0	1	0	50	5
NEC Nijmegen	2023–24	Eredivisie	25	5	6	1	0	0	0	0	31	6
	2024–25		1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Career total			74	11	7	1	0	0	1	0	81	12

Notes

1. Appearances in the Emperor's Cup and the KNVB Cup.
2. Appearances in the J. League Cup.
3. Appearances in the J1 League promotion-relegation playoffs.

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ SQUAD LIST: Japan (JPN)" (PDF). FIFA. 22 May 2023. p. 15. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
2. "インハイ優秀選手33名発表!劇的Vの青森山田からMF松木やCB丸山ら最多8名選出!". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 22 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
3. "岡山、U-20日本代表MF佐野航大のナイメヘン移籍を発表". DAZN (in Japanese). 14 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
4. "兄とJで戦う夢実現へ。米子北高MF佐野航大が岡山内定!". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 13 October 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
5. "佐野航大選手（米子北高校） 来季新加入内定のお知らせ". Fagiano Okayama (in Japanese). 13 October 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
6. "佐野航大選手 NECナイメヘン（オランダリーグ1部）へ完全移籍のお知らせ". Fagiano Okayama (in Japanese). 14 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
7. "Kodai Sano nieuwe aanwinst N.E.C." NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
8. "NEC haalt met Sano tweede Japanner binnen". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
9. "PSV kent tegen NEC zorgeloze generale voor weerzien met Arsenal". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 16 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
10. "佐野航大がNECナイメヘンと正式契約、テクニカル・ディレクターが才能発掘の経緯を語る「U-20W杯で…」". ゲキサカ (in Japanese). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.

External links

• Kodai Sano at Soccerway
• Kodai Sano at WorldFootball.net
• Kodai Sano at jleague.co
• Kodai Sano at jleague.jp (in Japanese)
• Kodai Sano at gekisaka.jp (in Japanese)