| Kei Sano | |
| Fullname: | Kei Sano |
| Birth Date: | 3 April 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Ichinomiya, Japan |
| Height: | 1.72 m[1] |
| Position: | Winger |
| Currentclub: | Kanchanaburi Power |
| Clubnumber: | 7 |
| Youthclubs1: | Aichi Kogyo University Meiden HS |
| Youthyears2: | 2014–2015 |
| Youthclubs2: | Aichi Gakuin University |
| Years1: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs1: | St. Andrews |
| Caps1: | 24 |
| Goals1: | 8 |
| Years2: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs2: | Sirens |
| Caps2: | 23 |
| Goals2: | 6 |
| Years3: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs3: | PSS Sleman |
| Caps3: | 15 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs4: | → Sada Sumut (loan) |
| Caps4: | 8 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 2024– |
| Clubs5: | Kanchanaburi Power |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 16 January 2024 |
Kei Sano (Japanese: 佐野 渓; born 3 April 1992) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Thai League 2 club Kanchanaburi Power.[2]
Sano started his career when he entered college by joining Aichi Kogyo University Meiden HS. Then he joined Aichi Gakuin University from 2014 to 2015.[3]
After that, he had a vacuum from the world of football because he had to take up work outside of football's activities. Because of his love for the world of football, Sano decided to return in 2020. After a year of training, he tried his luck by migrating to Malta.[4]
Ahead of 2021–21 season, Sano signed a contract with Maltese Challenge League club St. Andrews.[5] He made his league debut on 7 February 2021, coming on as a substituted in a 2–1 lose against St. George's.[6] On 21 February 2021, He scored his first league goal for the team in a 2–3 away win against Pietà Hotspurs.[7] He contributed with 24 appearances and scored 8 goals in all competitions.[8]
Ahead of 2022–23 season, he was signed by Sirens alongside Gabriel Ventura, and Paulo Vyctor.[9] He made his league debut on 19 August 2022, coming on as a starter in a 2–0 away lose over Birkirkara.[10] On 5 November 2022, Sano scored his first league goal for the club with scored a brace in Maltese Premier League, earning them a 2–0 home win over Gudja United.[11]
On 1 February 2023, Sano scored in a 3–3 draw over Valletta.[12] He then scored his fourth league goal for the club three days later, opening the scoring in a 1–2 home lose against Mosta.[13] On 12 March 2023, Sano scored another brace for Sirens in a 2–1 home win against St. Lucia, In fact, with four matches to go, Sirens are fifth from bottom on 25 points, eleven ahead of Żebbuġ and fourteen ahead of St. Lucia.[14] He contributed with 23 league appearances, scored 6 goals during his 2022–23 season.
On 28 April 2023, Sano signed a contract with Liga 1 club PSS Sleman, he will join fellow new signings Jonathan Bustos and Esteban Vizcarra as well as new head coach Marian Mihail at the Maguwoharjo Stadium for the upcoming season.[15] Sano made his Liga 1 debut on 1 July 2023 as a starter in a 0–1 away win over Bali United.[16]
Kei Sano has a twin brother, Gaku Sano who is a Japanese actor, best known for his role as Kouta Kazuraba, the main character of the Kamen Rider series Kamen Rider Gaim.[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| St. Andrews | 2020–21 | Maltese Challenge League | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Maltese Challenge League | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | |||
| Sirens | 2022–23 | Maltese Premier League | 23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 25 | 7 | ||
| PSS Sleman | 2023–24 | Liga 1 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | ||
| Sada Sumut (loan) | 2023–24 | Liga 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 68 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 19 | |||