Keita Suzuki

In this blog I am posting articles about the key players in Urawa Reds. I want to start with Keita Suzuki as he is probably the longest player, constantly playing as a starter in the team. Also the game captain for the past several years since 2009.

Keita (as we all call him) joined Reds in 2000 from Tōkai University Fuzoku Shōyō High School and has been playing for the Reds throughout his professional career. 2013 would be his 14th season with the Reds. His position throughout his career has been defensive midfielder and has played in the Japanese National Team from 2006 to 2008 (28 matches).

Keita's strength is in managing the game where he is constantly running for the team avoiding dangerous situations. He is usually covering for defensive players when they go into the opponents field, and he is rarely seen in a offensive position. But during 2012 season he scored one goal which is very rare but with the new system introduced by Mihailo Petrovic he maybe scoring more goals in 2013. He is born on July 8th, 1981, will be 32 in 2013. Hopefully he will continue to play with the Reds for few more years until he retires.

Keita has been quite unlucky in a sense where he lost his position in the National Team in 2008 when he had a bad flu and also was not chosen to be playing in the Athens Olympic in 2004, although he contributed a lot in the  qualification matches. I would say he is sometimes not as valued as he should be because he does not contribute that much to offense. He usually needs a good offensive partner in midfield or defense for him to shine, and I think is a good match with Tomoaki Makino currently with Reds.

Keita has had number 13 ever since he started in Reds, also in the National Team. Not quite sure why he likes the number. He is married to a fashion model Hiroko Hatano and has one daughter.

Wikipedia: Keita Suzuki