Saori Takarada
Personal information
Full name Saori Takarada[1]
Date of birth (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999
Place of birth Tateyema, Toyama, Japan
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Linköpings FC
Number 6
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2020 Cerezo Osaka Sakai 110 (44)
2021 Washington Spirit 10 (0)
2022–2023 Linköpings FC 51 (5)
2024– Leceister City 0 (0)
International career‡
2016 Japan U-17 5 (2)
2018 Japan U-20 6 (5)
2019– Japan 21 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place2018 France
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place2017 China
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Silver medal – second place2016 Jordan
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
Silver medal – second place2015 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:21, 10 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:20, 10 December 2023 (UTC)

Saori Takarada (宝田 沙織, Takarada Saori, born 27 December 1999) is a Japanese professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder and forward for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Japan national team. She previously played for Cerezo Osaka Sakai, Washington Spirit, and Linköpings FC.

Early life

Takarada was born in Toyama Prefecture on 27 December 1999.

Club career

Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies

In 2013, Takarada joined Nadeshiko League club Cerezo Osaka Sakai. She scored 44 goals in 110 appearances for the club and helped the club gain promotion to the top flight of the Nadeshiko League in 2019. During the 2019 season, Takarada scored 2 goals in 18 appearances for Cerezo and helped the team to a fourth-place finish. She played both as a forward and as a midfielder for Cerezo.[2][3]

Washington Spirit

On 1 December 2020, Takarada signed a contract with the Washington Spirit for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Her Japanese national team teammate Kumi Yokoyama signed with the Spirit in 2019. Takarada reported to the Spirit's preseason training camp in February 2021.[4]

Linköping FC

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Takarada would transfer to Damalsvenskan club Linköping FC.[5]

International career

Youth

In 2016, Takarada was named to the Japan U-17 national team roster for the 2016 U-17 World Cup. She played in 5 matches and scored 2 goals,[6] helping Japan to a 2nd place finish.

In 2018, Takarada played for the Japan U-20 national team at the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[7] She played in all 6 matches and scored 5 goals and recorded 3 assists. Takarada scored the game-winning goal for Japan in the tournament final against Spain, leading Japan to the championship. She earned the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot for her performance in the tournament. Takarada also won the 2018 Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 2018.[3]

Senior

Takarada was named to the Japanese national team for the 2019 World Cup after Riko Ueki withdrew due to injury in May 2019.[8] She served as a substitute for Japan during the World Cup, appearing in three of Japan's four games.[3][9]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 23 September 2023[10]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team YearAppsGoals
Japan 201930
2021 6 1
2022 10 0
2023 2 0
Total211
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Takarada goal.
List of international goals scored by Saori Takarada
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 11 June 2021 Edion Stadium Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan  Ukraine 3–0 8–0 Friendly [11]

Honours

Cereza Osaka Sakai

Japan

Japan U20

Japan U17

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ↑ "Saori Takarada – Washington Spirit". Washington Spirit. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Jason Anderson (1 December 2020). "Washington Spirit sign Japanese attacker Saori Takarada". Black and Red United. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Jason Anderson (4 March 2021). "Washington Spirit announce 2021 preseason roster". Black and Red United. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. ↑ FC, Linköpings (6 January 2022). "Japansk landslagsspelare till Linköping FC". Linköping FC (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Saori Takarada – FIFA competition record (archived)
  7. ↑ FIFA
  8. ↑ Japan Football Association
  9. ↑ Japan Football Association
  10. ↑ "Nadeshiko Japan | National Teams｜JFA｜Japan Football Association".
  11. ↑ "国際親善試合". JFA｜公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 February 2023.
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