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Shinji Kagawa (Japanese: 香川 真司Kagawa Shinji [kagawa ɕindʑi̥]; born 17 March 1989) is a Japanese professionalfootballer who plays for German clubBorussia Dortmund and the Japan national team. Kagawa began his professional career in his homeland with Cerezo Osaka before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2010. After two years with Dortmund, Kagawa signed for Manchester United on a four-year contract. Two years later, he returned to Dortmund.[7] A goal-scoring midfielder, he is known for his "vision, technique, movement and deft passing."[8]
On 29 November 2012, Kagawa was named Asian Football ConfederationInternational Player of the Year.[9]
Club career
Kagawa started playing football at the age of five. He joined Marino Football Club from 1994 to 1999,[10] Kobe NK Football Club from 1999 to 2001, and FC Miyagi Barcelona in Sendai from 2001 to 2005.[11]
Cerezo Osaka
Cerezo Osaka noticed his talent and signed him at the age of 17. He was the first player in Japan to sign a professional contract before graduating high school, except players promoted from youth teams of the J. League clubs.[12] In 2007, he gained a regular position but the club missed the promotion to the J. League Division 1. It was 2009 that he became the top scorer of J. League Division 2 and recognized attention.
By mid-2010, Kagawa was represented with a sports agency run by retired German professional footballer Thomas Kroth, which ultimately handled his transfer to Borussia Dortmund.
Borussia Dortmund
2010–11 season
In the summer of 2010, Kagawa transferred from Cerezo to Borussia Dortmund for €350,000. The relatively modest cost of the transfer was because of a release clause in Kagawa's contract with Cerezo, which allowed him to leave the club cheaply if he had an opportunity to play in Europe.[13]
On 23 August 2010, he made his debut appearance in the German Bundesliga, starting for his new club Dortmund. After scoring his first two competitive goals for the club in the UEFA Europa League qualifying tie against Qarabağ FK, he continued this form with his first goal in the Bundesliga match againstVfL Wolfsburg, which Dortmund won 2–0.[14] In the Revierderby against arch-rivals Schalke 04, which Dortmund won 3–1, Kagawa claimed pre-match that he would score two goals; he managed to indeed score twice, making him a fan favourite in the process.[15]
Kagawa missed half of the Bundesliga season because of an injury he picked up on international duty with Japan, but managed to score eight goals in 18 appearances. His strong effort in the first half of the season helped his side finish as champions of the Bundesliga, and he was even named in the Bundesliga Best XI.[16]
2011–12 season
Kagawa celebrates winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Borussia Dortmund in 2012
Kagawa was back in time for the start of the 2011–12 Bundesliga campaign and quickly found his way back into the starting line-up. Kagawa scored his first goal of the new Bundesliga season on 18 September, coming on in a disappointing 2–1 loss to Hannover 96, as Dortmund gave up two goals in the last three minutes.[17] On 22 October, Kagawa opened the scoring in the seventh minute as Dortmund crushed 1. FC Köln 5–0 in front of 80,200 home fans at the Signal Iduna Park.[18]Kagawa scored again on 5 November, as Dortmund brushed aside VfL Wolfsburg 5–1 and moved within two points of league leaders Bayern Munich. Kagawa scored a late consolation against Arsenal in a 2–1 loss in the group stage of the Champions League.
On 28 January 2012, Kagawa scored twice in Dortmund's 3–1 win againstHoffenheim. Kagawa scored the only goal of the game against Werder Bremen on 17 March, heading in a pass from İlkay Gündoğan in the eighth minute.[19] Kagawa scored two goals in Dortmund's 6–1 thrashing of Cologne on 25 March, keeping Dortmund five points ahead of Bayern in the title race.[20] Kagawa won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2012 as they set a Bundesliga record scoring the most points in a season in the Bundesliga, with 81. Kagawa also scored a goal and provided an assist for Dortmund against rivals Bayern Munich in the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final. He scored a total of 13 goals and had 8 assists during that season.
Manchester United
Kagawa (right) training withManchester United in 2012
On 5 June 2012, it was announced byManchester United that the club had reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund and Kagawa for his transfer,[21] a deal that made him the first Japanese player to join the club.[22]The transfer was completed on 22 June after Kagawa passed his medical at Manchester United and received his UK work permit.[23] On 3 July, it was revealed that Kagawa would wear the number 26 shirt for United.[24] Kagawa spoke about his former club, Borussia Dortmund, saying, "I will carry this club, their great fans, and the whole city in my heart forever and will follow their results with great interest."[25]
On 18 July 2012, Kagawa was handed a two-minute appearance to mark his Manchester United debut in Durban,South Africa, against AmaZulu in a pre-season friendly match.[26] Kagawa made his first start for the Red Devils against Ajax Cape Town on 21 July 2012,[27] and scored his first goal against Shanghai Shenhua four days later.[28] He made his Premier Leaguedebut on 20 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes of United's 1–0 defeat away to Everton.[29] He scored his first goal against Fulham on 25 August in his home debut for the club. After Tom Cleverley's shot was parried by Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Kagawa scored on the rebound from close range.[30] On 19 September, Kagawa was given his first Champions Leaguestart as United played againstGalatasaray. He provided an assist for the winning goal scored by Michael Carrick in a 1–0 win.[31] On 23 October, he set up Javier Hernández for United's first goal in an eventual 3–2 Champions League victory against Braga. In that match, however, he twisted his knee, which left him sidelined for two months.[32] Kagawa returned from injury in January 2013.
On 2 March 2013, Kagawa scored his first hat-trick for United and also became the first Asian player to score ahat-trick in the Premier League,[33] in his team's 4–0 home win against Norwich City.[34] On 22 April, Kagawa played a part in the title-winning match againstAston Villa in which United won 3–0; he became the first Japanese player to win a Premier League title. On 12 May, Kagawa was included in the United squad to play against Swansea City inAlex Ferguson's last home game before retirement, which United won 2–1. On the same day, Kagawa received his Premier League medal and was voted Man of the Match.
Return to Dortmund
On 31 August 2014, Kagawa officially returned to his former club, Borussia Dortmund, signing a contract until 30 June 2018.[7] He was assigned the shirt number 7 which was vacated by Jonas Hofmann who had left Dortmund to 1. FSV Mainz 05 on loan.[35] On his return debut, Kagawa scored a goal and set up another to help Dortmund win 3–1 against SC Freiburg.[36
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