Rento Takaoka

Rento Takaoka
Personal information
Full name Rento Takaoka
Date of birth (2007-03-12) 12 March 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Miyazaki, Japan[1]
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2014–2018 Mimata SSS
2019–2021 Mimata Junior High School
2022– Nissho Gakuen High School
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Japan U17 9 (5)
2023– Japan U18 1 (0)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 05:55, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Rento Takaoka (高岡 伶颯, Takaoka Rento, born 12 March 2007) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a forward for U-18 Prince League Kyushu club Nissho Gakuen High School, from Miyazaki. He will join Premier League club Southampton in March 2025.

Club career

High school

Having initially started his career in Mimata in the Miyazaki Prefecture, where he was born, with Mimata SSS, he continued to play during his time at the Mimata Junior High School and Nissho Gakuen High School.[2] Takaoka helped Nissho Gakuen to participate in the 2023 All Japan High School Soccer Tournament as Miyazaki representative, scoring a hat-trick in a 6–1 win in the prefectural final over the Miyazaki Nihon University High School.[2][3]

Southampton

On 19 June 2024, Takaoka signed a pre-contract with Premier League club Southampton.[4] He will remain with Nissho Gakuen High School until he turns 18 in March 2025 and graduates from high school.[5]

International career

Takaoka was called up to the Japan under-17 in March 2023 for a friendly tournament in Algeria.[6] In June of the same year, he represented Japan at the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, scoring once against Australia. Plus, in August, he won the MVP award at 2023 Balcom BMW cup, which was held by JFA.[7]

He was called up again to the squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and in the opening game against Poland, his goal in the 76th minute secured a 1–0 win for Japan.[8] Having scored once more in Japan's 3–1 defeat to Argentina, he scored twice as they finished the group with a 2–0 win against Senegal, securing qualification to the knock-out rounds.[9][10] In the end, his national team finished their first global tournament at the round of 16.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Rento Takaoka at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "地元サッカー部から駆け上ったU17W杯代表 速さは「超高校級」" [The U17 World Cup representative who rose from the local soccer club has the speed of “super high school level”]. asahi.com (in Japanese). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ "[選手権]U-17日本代表FW高岡伶颯が決勝でハット!! 夏のリベンジ果たした日章学園が2年連続V!!:宮崎" [[Championship] U-17 Japan National Team FW Rento Takaoka scores a hat in the final!! Nissho Gakuen gets revenge for the summer for the second consecutive year!!: Miyazaki]. news.infoseek.co.jp (in Japanese). 28 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Saints sign Rento Takaoka on pre-contract". Southampton FC. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ^ House, Alfie (19 June 2024). "Southampton seal pre-contract signing of Japanese youth star". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  6. ^ "本校サッカー部 1年 高岡 伶颯くんがU-17日本代表アルジェリア遠征チームのメンバーに選出されました" [Our school's soccer club's 1st year student Rento Takaoka has been selected as a member of the U-17 Japan national team touring Algeria.]. nissho.ed.jp (in Japanese). 14 March 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  7. ^ "「自分の得点に繋がる近道」守備からゴール。U-17日本代表FW高岡伶颯(日章学園)がBalcom BMW CUP MVPに" ["My best way to score" Leading to goal from defense. The forward of U-17 Japan national Team, Rento Takaoka(Nissho Gakuen) won the Balcom BMW CUP MVP award.]. web.gekisaka.jp (in Japanese). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. ^ "スーパーサブの高岡伶颯の強烈なゴールで日本が白星発進" [Super sub Rento Takaoka's powerful goal gives Japan a winning start.]. fifa.com (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  9. ^ "【Ｕ17Ｗ杯】高岡伶颯３戦連発で得点ランクトップ！森山佳郎監督「またもや高岡」に笑顔" [[U17 World Cup] Rento Takaoka tops the scoring ranking in 3 games in a row! Director Yoshiro Moriyama smiles at “Takaoka again”]. nikkansports.com (in Japanese). 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ^ "「この子何者？」「海外オファー来る」 U-17日本代表の16歳FW、W杯で"衝撃の3戦連発"にSNS驚き" ["Who is this kid?" "Overseas offer coming" 16-year-old forward of U-17 Japan national team surprises social media with "3 shocking games in a row" at the World Cup]. nordot.app (in Japanese). 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Guiu the go-to man as Spain beat Japan". fifa.com. Retrieved 2023-11-21.