Riku Saga Explained

Riku Saga
嵯峨 理久
Birth Date:27 May 1998
Birth Place:Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Height:1.66m
Currentclub:Fagiano Okayama
Clubnumber:23
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Tenno SS
Youthclubs2:Vanraure Hachinohe
Youthclubs3:Wings FC
Youthclubs4:Aomori Yamada High School
Youthyears4:2014–2017
College1:Sendai University
Collegeyears1:2017–2021
Years1:2021–2024
Caps1:92
Goals1:14
Years2:2024–
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Club-Update:22:08, 8 July 2024 (UTC)

is a Japanese footballer who plays as a defender for club Fagiano Okayama.[1]

Youth career

Saga was a good player at junior high school level and was even selected for a Japan U-15 training camp. After graduating from junior high, there was interest from some J.League clubs but Saga decided to go to Aomori Yamada High School.[2] Saga was an important player for the school, as they reached the semi-final of the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament in 2016[3] and won the competition in 2017 with a convincing 5–0 victory in the final. Saga started every game in the competition scoring three goals and scored his team's second goal in the final itself.[4] [5] Aomori Yamada also were champions of the Prince Takamado Cup U-18 Football League in 2016 after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth in the final, with Saga playing in every one of their games throughout the competition.[6]

Following graduation from high school in 2017, Saga went on to Sendai University. In his third year, he was appointed captain and was part of the team that both beat JFL team Iwaki FC in the first round of the Emperor's Cup where he scored their second goal[7] and narrowly lost in the second round to J2 League club Yokohama FC.[8] [9]

Club career

Iwaki FC

In December 2020, it was announced that Saga would be signing for JFL team Iwaki FC for the 2021 season.[10] He made his debut for the team in March in a 2–1 league victory over Veertien Mie and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw with ReinMeer Aomori.[11] [12] At the end of the 2021 season, Saga had participated in all 32 games and scored 8 goals, helping Iwaki FC gain promotion to the J3 League. He was named as Rookie of the Year and was also inducted into the 2021 JFL Best XI.[13]

In the 2022 season, Saga scored on his J.League debut in a 1–1 draw with Kagoshima United.[14] Another excellent season ensued for him as he helped Iwaki to back-to-back promotions, playing in all 34 of their league games and scoring 5 goals. For the second season running, Saga was inducted into the league's Best XI.[15]

In the 2023 season, Saga only made 20 appearances but did score his first J2 League goal in a 3–2 loss to Fujieda MYFC.[16] His playing time was further reduced in the 2024 season, only making seven appearances in the first half of the season.

Fagiano Okayama

In July 2024, it was announced that Saga would be transferring to fellow J2 League club Fagiano Okayama.[17]

Career statistics

Club

[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ. League CupTotal
Sendai University20192121
Iwaki FC2021JFL32810338
2022J3 League34500345
2023J2 League20100201
2024J2 League60001070
Total921410109414
Fagiano Okayama2024J2 League00000000
Career total921410109414

Honours

Iwaki FC
Individual

2022

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 嵯峨 理久:いわきFC:Jリーグ.jp . Jリーグ.jp(日本プロサッカーリーグ) . 11 December 2022 . ja.
  2. Web site: 青森山田出身!仙台大の嵯峨理久が、"先輩"松尾佑介と"親友"高橋壱晟から受けた「アドバイス」 . Qoly . 11 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2015-16 Japan Highschool Soccer Tournament . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  4. Web site: 青森山田、怒涛の5得点。前橋育英を下して悲願の選手権初優勝 . フットボールチャンネル . 11 December 2022 . ja . 9 January 2017.
  5. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2016 Riku Saga Result by Season . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  6. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2016 Takamadonomiya U-18 Cup Premier League 16/12/17 Aomori Yamada High School - Sanfrecce Hiroshima Youth Results, Players, Formation . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  7. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/05/25 Iwaki FC - Sendai University Results, Players, Formation . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  8. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/07/10 Yokohama FC - Sendai University Results, Players . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  9. Web site: 青森山田出身!仙台大の嵯峨理久が、"先輩"松尾佑介と"親友"高橋壱晟から受けた「アドバイス」 . Qoly . 11 December 2022.
  10. Web site: [いわきFC OfficialSite] いわきFC 新加入選手のお知らせ 〜仙台大学 MF嵯峨理久選手〜 ]. いわきFC OfficialSite . 11 December 2022 . ja . 18 December 2020.
  11. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2021 Japan Football League 21/03/14 Iwaki FC - Veertien Mie Results, Players . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  12. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2021 Japan Football League 21/04/11 Iwaki FC - ReinMeer Aomori F.C. Results, Players . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  13. Web site: 【JFLオフィシャルサイト】第23回日本フットボールリーグ受賞者(チーム・個人)決定のお知らせ . www.jfl.or.jp . 11 December 2022.
  14. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2022 J3 League 22/03/13 Kagoshima United - Iwaki FC Results, Players, Formation, Highlight . Soccer D.B. . 11 December 2022 . en.
  15. Web site: 最優秀選手賞(MVP)は有田 稜選手が受賞!得点王とのW受賞に!!~優勝クラブのいわきFCからは5名がベストイレブン(J3)に選出~【J3リーグアウォーズ】:Jリーグ.jp . Jリーグ.jp(日本プロサッカーリーグ) . 21 November 2022 . ja.
  16. Web site: Iwaki vs. Fujieda MYFC - 18 February 2023 - Soccerway . int.soccerway.com.
  17. Web site: 嵯峨理久選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ ファジアーノ岡山 FAGIANO OKAYAMA . ファジアーノ岡山[Fagiano OKAYAMA]公式サイト . 8 July 2024 . ja.
  18. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2022 Riku Saga Result by Season . Soccer D.B. . 6 January 2023 . en.