Kyogo Furuhashi Explained

Kyogo
Birth Date:20 January 1995
Birth Place:Ikoma, Nara, Japan
Height:1.70 m[1]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Celtic
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Sakuragaoka FC
Youthclubs2:Athpegas Ikoma FC
Youthyears3:2010–2012
Youthclubs3:Kokoku High School
Collegeyears1:2013–2016
College1:Chuo University
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:FC Gifu
Caps1:68
Goals1:17
Years2:2018–2021
Clubs2:Vissel Kobe
Caps2:95
Goals2:42
Years3:2021–
Clubs3:Celtic
Caps3:96
Goals3:53
Nationalyears1:2019–
Nationalteam1:Japan
Nationalcaps1:21
Nationalgoals1:5
Club-Update:11 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:17 October 2023 (UTC)

, often known mononymously as Kyogo, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Celtic and the Japan national team.

Club career

FC Gifu

Kyogo Furuhashi joined J2 League club FC Gifu in 2017.

Vissel Kobe

On 1 August 2018, it was confirmed that Furuhashi would join the J1 League club Vissel Kobe for the rest of the 2018 season

In the club's Emperor's Cup semi-final match against Shimizu S-Pulse on 21 December 2019, Furuhashi scored Vissel's third goal to seal a 3–1 victory and a spot in their first ever major cup final.[2] Vissel would go on to defeat Kashima Antlers in the final on 1 January 2020.[3]

Furuhashi scored Vissel Kobe's second goal in their 2020 Japanese Super Cup victory over Yokohama F. Marinos on 8 February 2020. Four days later in Vissel Kobe's first ever match in a continental competition against Malaysia Super League champions JDT, Furuhashi scored again in a 5–1 victory.[4] Furuhashi netted the lone goal in the second group stage match against Suwon Samsung Bluewings on 19 February.[5]

Celtic

2021–22 season

On 16 July 2021, Furuhashi joined Scottish Premiership side Celtic for £4.5 million, signing a four-year deal.[6] He scored his first goal for the club on his debut against Jablonec in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round on 5 August 2021.[7] Three days later, Furuhashi scored his first Scottish Premiership goals, netting a 67-minute hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Dundee.[8] [9] He followed up his excellent run of form by scoring against Hearts,[10] and again in the UEFA Europa League against AZ Alkmaar.[11]

Furuhashi picked up an injury while on international duty with Japan in September, but returned after five games,[12] scoring on 3 October in a 2–1 victory against Aberdeen[13] and netting the only goal of the game in a home league win against Hearts on 2 December.[14] On 19 December 2021, Furuhashi scored twice against Hibernian in the final of the Scottish League Cup. The game ended 2–1, winning Furuhashi his first trophy with Celtic.[15]

2022–23 season

On 28 August 2022, Furuhashi scored a hat-trick in a 9–0 away win against Dundee United.[16] A month later, Furuhashi made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–0 home defeat against Real Madrid.[17]

On 2 January 2023, Furuhashi scored his first derby goal against Rangers to salvage a 2–2 away draw.[18]

On 26 February, Furuhashi scored a second consecutive League Cup finals double, now against Rangers in the 2023 Scottish League Cup Final.[19]

On 7 May, Furuhashi scored his 50th goal for Celtic in all competitions in a 2–0 away win against Heart of Midlothian.[20]

On 2 June, Furuhashi won the Scottish Premiership Golden Boot award, after scoring 27 goals for Celtic over the course of the season.[21] He also won the league's player of the year award.[22]

2023–24 season

In July 2023, he signed a new four-year contract with Celtic.[23]

On 3 September 2023, Furuhashi scored his sixth derby goal against Rangers in a 1–0 away win at Ibrox Stadium.[24] On 5 October 2023, he scored his first goal in the Champions League against Lazio in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. On 26 October, he also scored the opening goal in the third match against Atlético Madrid and on 30 December, he scored a wonder goal to help Celtic win 2–1 against Rangers.

International career

Furuhashi earned his first Japan call-up against Venezuela on 19 November 2019 for the Kirin Cup. He made his debut as in their 1–4 home defeat at the Panasonic Stadium Suita.[25]

Despite his form at Celtic, Furuhashi was not included in the Japan squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This came as a surprise to many supporters and media outlets at the time, where Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu justified his decision by saying: "We selected players who will be on the same wavelength as a team, who will be able to move and link up together, who through their organisation will be able to make use of their individual strengths".[26] [27]

Career statistics

Club

[28] [29]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Gifu2017J2 League42620446
20182611102711
Total6817307117
Vissel Kobe2018J1 League1350000135
2019311042103612
202030121084114017
2021211511002216
Total95425320841111150
Celtic2021–22Scottish Premiership20121033953320
2022–2336275433605034
2023–2438145310625019
2024–252000000020
Total96531177621713573
Career total259112191096291111318140

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan201910
2021113
202240
202352
Total215

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Furuhashi goal.

List of international goals scored by Kyogo Furuhashi
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 30 March 2021 Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan 10–0 14–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 11–0
3 7 June 2021 Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan 1–0 4–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 15 June 2023 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan 6–0 6–0 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup
5 17 October 2023 Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan 1–0 2–0 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup

Honours

Vissel Kobe

2019

2020[30]

Celtic

2021–22,[31] 2022–23,[32] 2023–24[33]

2022–23,[34] 2023–24

2021–22,[35] 2022–23[36]

Individual

2021–22,[37] 2022–23[38]

2022–23[39]

2022 - 23[40]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Teams|JFA|Japan Football Association.
  2. Web site: Vissel Kobe 3–1 Shimizu S-Pulse. Soccerway. 21 December 2019. 12 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Andrés Iniesta skippers Vissel Kobe to first trophy in David Villa's final match. AS. 1 January 2020. 2 January 2020.
  4. Web site: Vissel Kobe (JPN) 5–1 Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS). The AFC. 12 February 2020. 12 July 2020.
  5. Web site: SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR) 0–1 VISSEL KOBE (JPN) : Highlights. YouTube (The AFC Hub). 19 February 2020. 12 July 2020.
  6. News: Celtic sign Japan forward Furuhashi. en-GB. BBC Sport. 16 July 2021.
  7. Web site: First win for new manager Postecoglou. BBC Sport. 5 August 2021. 5 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Scottish Premiership: Kyogo Furuhashi hits hat-trick as Celtic thrash Dundee. Guardian. 8 August 2021. 8 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Celtic 6–0 Dundee. BBC. BBC Sport. Thomas. Duncan. 8 August 2021. 9 August 2021.
  10. News: BBC Sport Results. BBC Sport.
  11. News: BBC Sport Results. BBC Sport.
  12. News: Pirie . Mark . Kyogo Furuhashi reveals Celtic success secret as he makes bold 'outsmart' opponents claim . 23 October 2021 . Daily Record . 11 October 2021.
  13. News: McPheat . Nick . Aberdeen 1 – 2 Celtic . 23 October 2021 . BBC Sport . 3 October 2021.
  14. News: Kyogo Furuhashi's controversial strike gives Celtic narrow win over Hearts . The Guardian . 2 December 2021 . PA Media . 2 December 2021.
  15. Web site: Hibernian 1–2 Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi wins Scottish League Cup final for Ange Postecoglou's Celtic. 19 December 2021. Sky Sports. 20 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Dundee United 0–9 Celtic: Celtic strolled to an incredible record-breaking away league victory by humiliating beleaguered Dundee United to climb back to the top of the Scottish Premiership . BBC Sport . 28 August 2022 .
  17. Web site: Celtic-Real Madrid Line-ups UEFA Champions League 2022/23 . 31 December 2022 . UEFA.com . en.
  18. Web site: Rangers 2–2 Celtic: Kyogo Furuhashi's late strike maintains nine-point lead over Old Firm rivals . 2 January 2023 . Sky Sports . en.
  19. News: Rangers Celtic Scottish league cup final match report . The Guardian . 27 February 2023 . PA Media . 26 February 2023.
  20. News: Watt . Martin . 7 May 2023 . Hearts 0–2 Celtic . BBC Sport . 6 June 2023.
  21. Web site: 27 May 2023 . Scottish Premiership top scorers 2022–23: Furuhashi, Tavernier, Jota & other players in the race . 4 June 2023 . goal.com.
  22. Web site: Lancaster . Will . 15 May 2023 . Celtic Player of the Year awards in full as Kyogo picks up his first Treble . 4 June 2023 . footballscotland.
  23. Web site: Sky Sports. Celtic forward Kyogo signs new four-year deal. 6 July 2023. skysports.com.
  24. Web site: Celtic FC. Kyogo strikes as Brendan Rodgers masterminds another win at Ibrox. 3 September 2023. celticfc.com.
  25. Web site: SAMURAI BLUE lose final home match of the year 1–4 against Venezuela. JFA. 19 November 2019. 12 July 2020.
  26. Web site: Celtic's Maeda in Japan squad as duo miss out . 3 January 2023 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  27. Web site: McDougall . Mark . 1 November 2022 . Kyogo and Hatate's World Cup absence explained as Japan boss decision laid bare . 3 January 2023 . footballscotland . en.
  28. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, (p. 223 out of 289)
  29. Web site: Kyogo Furuhashi. Soccerway. 26 February 2023.
  30. Web site: Andres Iniesta lifts Japan Super Cup after nine straight pen misses. ESPN. 8 February 2020. 8 February 2020.
  31. News: Dundee United 1–1 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side reclaim league title. BBC Sport. 11 May 2022. 12 May 2022.
  32. News: Heart of Midlothian 0–2 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side seal back-to-back titles . Martin . Watt . BBC Sport . 7 May 2023 . 7 May 2023.
  33. Web site: Celtic crowned Scottish champions with game to spare . BBC Sport . 15 May 2024 . 15 May 2024.
  34. News: Celtic 3–1 Inverness CT: Ange Postecoglou's side win Scottish Cup to claim treble . Thomas . Duncan . BBC Sport . 3 June 2023 . 3 June 2023.
  35. News: Hibernian 1–2 Celtic . BBC Sport .
  36. News: Lindsay . Clive . 25 February 2023 . Viaplay Cup final: Celtic retain trophy in jaw-dropping finale . en-GB . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023.
  37. 1518892650966913024 . Your Premiership @PFAScotland Team of the Year . PFAScotland . 26 April 2022 . 26 April 2022.
  38. Web site: Seven Celtic players in PFA team of the year but star duo miss out . STV Sport . 9 May 2023 . 9 May 2023 . Peter . Cassidy.
  39. Web site: Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi and Caitlin Hayes win PFA Scotland player of the year awards . BBC Sport . 14 May 2023 . 14 May 2023.
  40. Web site: Kyogo crowned SFWA Player of the Year . SFWA . scottishfwa.com . 28 May 2023 . 28 May 2023.
  41. [:ja:日本プロサッカー選手会#JPFAアワード|Japan Pro-Footballers Association awards]