Mu Kanazaki

is a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Mu Kanazaki

Kanazaki playing for Nürnberg in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Mu Kanazaki
Date of birth	(1989-02-16) February 16, 1989
Place of birth	Tsu, Mie, Japan
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	Nagoya Grampus
Youth career
2004–2006	Takigawa Daini High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	Oita Trinita	82	(7)
2010–2012	Nagoya Grampus	69	(9)
2013	Nürnberg	4	(0)
2013–2016	Portimonense	49	(16)
2015	→Kashima Antlers (loan)	27	(9)
2016–2018	Kashima Antlers	75	(29)
2018–2020	Sagan Tosu	46	(10)
2020–	Nagoya Grampus	25	(6)
National team
2009–2017	Japan	11	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of the 2020 season

Biography

Kanazaki was born in Tsu on February 16, 1989. After graduating from Takigawa Daini High School, he joined J1 League club Oita Trinita in 2007. He played many matches as offensive midfielder from first season. Oita won the champions in the 2008 J.League Cup with young players, Shusaku Nishikawa, Masato Morishige and Hiroshi Kiyotake. Kanazaki was also selected "New Hero award". However Oita was relegated to J2 League end of 2009 season and Oita released their main players including Kanazaki due to their financial problems. Kanazaki moved to Nagoya Grampus in 2010. Nagoya won the champions in 2010 season and the 2nd place in 2011 season. In January 2013, he moved to German Bundesliga club Nürnberg. In summer 2013, he moved to Portuguese Segunda Liga club Portimonense. In February 2015, he moved to J1 club Kashima Antlers on loan. He played many matches as forward. Although he returned to Portimonense in January 2016, he moved to Kashima after a month. Kashima won the J1 champions in 2016 and the 2nd place in 2017. In July 2018, he moved to Sagan Tosu. In March 2020, he re-joined Nagoya Grampus.

In January 2009, Kanazaki was selected the Japan national team for 2011 Asian Cup qualification. At this qualification, he debuted against Yemen on January 20. He played 11 games and scored 2 goals for Japan until 2017.

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
2007	Oita Trinita	J1 League	18	2	1	0	4	1	-		23	3
2008			34	4	0	0	9	0	-		43	4
2009			30	1	2	3	3	1	-		35	5
2010	Nagoya Grampus	J1 League	25	4	2	0	3	0	-		30	4
2011			12	0	4	0	2	1	4	3	22	4
2012			32	5	4	1	1	0	7	1	44	7
Germany			League		DFB-Pokal		Premiere Ligapokal		Europe		Total
2012/13	Nürnberg	Bundesliga	4	0	0	0	-		-		4	0
Portugal			League		Cup of Portugal		Portuguese League Cup		Europe		Total
2013/14	Portimonense	Segunda Liga	30	7	1	0	-		-		31	7
2014/15			17	9	3	1	-		-		20	10
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
2015	Kashima Antlers	J1 League	27	9	0	0	5	5	4	1	36	15
Portugal			League		Cup of Portugal		Portuguese League Cup		Europe		Total
2015/16	Portimonense	Segunda Liga	2	0	2	0	-		-		4	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J. League Cup		Asia		Total
2016	Kashima Antlers	J1 League	30	10	2	0	0	0	-		32	10
2017			30	12	1	2	2	0	5	4	38	18
2018			15	7	1	0	0	0	6	3	22	10
2018	Sagan Tosu	J1 League	15	3	0	0	0	0	-		15	3
2019			31	7	2	1	4	0	-		37	8
2020			0	0	-		1	0	-		1	0
2020	Nagoya Grampus	J1 League	25	6	-		1	0	-		26	6
2021
Country	Japan		324	70	19	7	35	8	26	12	404	97
	Germany		4	0	0	0	-		-		4	0
	Portugal		49	16	6	1	-		-		55	17
Total			377	86	25	8	35	8	26	12	463	114

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2009	1	0
2010	4	0
2011	0	0
2012	0	0
2013	0	0
2014	0	0
2015	1	1
2016	4	1
2017	1	0
Total	11	2