Riku Saga

Riku Saga
嵯峨 理久
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-05-27) 27 May 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Fagiano Okayama
Number 23
Youth career
Tenno SS
Vanraure Hachinohe
Wings FC
2014–2017 Aomori Yamada High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Sendai University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2024 Iwaki FC 92 (14)
2024– Fagiano Okayama 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:08, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

Riku Saga (嵯峨 理久, Saga Riku, born 27 May 1998) is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for J1 League club Fagiano Okayama.[1]

Youth career

Saga was a good player at junior high school level and was even selected for a Japan U-15 training camp. After graduating from junior high, there was interest from some J.League clubs but Saga decided to go to Aomori Yamada High School.[2] Saga was an important player for the school, as they reached the semi-final of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 2016[3] and won the competition in 2017 with a convincing 5–0 victory in the final. Saga started every game in the competition scoring three goals and scored his team's second goal in the final itself.[4][5] Aomori Yamada also were champions of the Prince Takamado Cup U-18 Football League in 2016 after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth in the final, with Saga playing in every one of their games throughout the competition.[6]

Following graduation from high school in 2017, Saga went on to Sendai University. In his third year, he was appointed captain and was part of the team that both beat JFL team Iwaki FC in the first round of the Emperor's Cup where he scored their second goal[7] and narrowly lost in the second round to J2 League club Yokohama FC.[8][9]

Club career

Iwaki FC

In December 2020, it was announced that Saga would be signing for JFL team Iwaki FC for the 2021 season.[10] He made his debut for the team in March in a 2–1 league victory over Veertien Mie and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw with ReinMeer Aomori.[11][12] At the end of the 2021 season, Saga had participated in all 32 games and scored 8 goals, helping Iwaki FC gain promotion to the J3 League. He was named as Rookie of the Year and was also inducted into the 2021 JFL Best XI.[13]

In the 2022 season, Saga scored on his J.League debut in a 1–1 draw with Kagoshima United.[14] Another excellent season ensued for him as he helped Iwaki to back-to-back promotions, playing in all 34 of their league games and scoring 5 goals. For the second season running, Saga was inducted into the league's Best XI.[15]

In the 2023 season, Saga only made 20 appearances but did score his first J2 League goal in a 3–2 loss to Fujieda MYFC.[16] His playing time was further reduced in the 2024 season, only making seven appearances in the first half of the season.

Fagiano Okayama

In July 2024, it was announced that Saga would be transferring to fellow J2 League club Fagiano Okayama.[17]

Career statistics

Club

As of the end 2022 season[18]
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
Sendai University 2019 – 2 1 – 2 1
Iwaki FC 2021 JFL 32 8 1 0 – 33 8
2022 J3 League 34 5 0 0 – 34 5
2023 J2 League 20 1 0 0 – 20 1
2024 J2 League 6 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
Total 92 14 1 0 1 0 94 14
Fagiano Okayama 2024 J2 League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 92 14 1 0 1 0 94 14

Honours

Iwaki FC
Individual

References

  1. ^ "嵯峨 理久：いわきＦＣ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. ^ "青森山田出身！仙台大の嵯峨理久が、"先輩"松尾佑介と"親友"高橋壱晟から受けた「アドバイス」". Qoly. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2015-16 Japan Highschool Soccer Tournament". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. ^ "青森山田、怒涛の5得点。前橋育英を下して悲願の選手権初優勝". フットボールチャンネル (in Japanese). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2016 Riku Saga Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2016 Takamadonomiya U-18 Cup Premier League 16/12/17 Aomori Yamada High School - Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth Results, Players, Formation". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/05/25 Iwaki FC - Sendai University Results, Players, Formation". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/07/10 Yokohama FC - Sendai University Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. ^ "青森山田出身！仙台大の嵯峨理久が、"先輩"松尾佑介と"親友"高橋壱晟から受けた「アドバイス」". Qoly. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  10. ^ "[いわきFC OfficialSite] いわきFC 新加入選手のお知らせ 〜仙台大学 MF嵯峨理久選手〜". いわきFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2021 Japan Football League 21/03/14 Iwaki FC - Veertien Mie Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2021 Japan Football League 21/04/11 Iwaki FC - ReinMeer Aomori F.C. Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  13. ^ "【ＪＦＬオフィシャルサイト】第23回日本フットボールリーグ受賞者(チーム・個人)決定のお知らせ". www.jfl.or.jp. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 J3 League 22/03/13 Kagoshima United - Iwaki FC Results, Players, Formation, Highlight". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  15. ^ "最優秀選手賞（MVP）は有田 稜選手が受賞！得点王とのＷ受賞に！！～優勝クラブのいわきＦＣからは5名がベストイレブン（Ｊ３）に選出～【Ｊ３リーグアウォーズ】：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Iwaki vs. Fujieda MYFC - 18 February 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  17. ^ "嵯峨理久選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ | ファジアーノ岡山 FAGIANO OKAYAMA". ファジアーノ岡山［Fagiano OKAYAMA］公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Riku Saga Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 6 January 2023.