Ko Itakura: Who is the Japan and Gladbach defender who previously shone at Schalke?
When Borussia Mönchengladbach moved to sign talented Japan defender Ko Itakura from Manchester City in 2022, the Foals added a skilled and versatile player with plenty of playing experience in Germany to their ranks.
Stats correct as of 1 January 2024
Age: 26 (born 27 January 1997)
Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Centre-back, defensive midfield
Country: Japan (22 caps/1 goal)
Key Stats
The Yokohama native joined Kawasaki Frontale as a boy and was on their books until 2019. After making his debut in 2016, he appeared five times as a substitute in Kawasaki's championship-winning 2017 season. He was sent on loan the following year, scoring three times in 24 league games for fellow J1 League club Vegalta Sendai. The 6'2" defender - who can also play as a holding midfielder - moved to Manchester City in January 2019, and was immediately loaned out to Dutch side Groningen.
Having taken six months to settle in, Itakura spent the next two seasons on loan in the Netherlands as well. He featured 22 times in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2019/20, and played every minute of the 2020/21 league campaign to help Groningen finish seventh.
A loan move to Schalke followed and things could hardly have gone better for Itakura, who played 31 times - 26 as a centre-back - and scored four goals as Die Knappen won the second division championship and returned to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking.
Itakura's progress at international level has been steady too. He played at the U-20 World Cup in 2017 before making his debut for Japan's senior team in their 2019 Copa America game against Uruguay. He returned home to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021, impressing at centre-back as the host country topped their group before eventually losing to Spain after extra-time in the semi-final. He has since racked up 20 caps for his country, scoring once.
Despite missing eight games due to a knee injury, he was named as part of the Japan squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and assisted Takuma Asano for the winning goal as Japan defeated Germany 2-1. He missed only one more game in the latter half of the 2022/23 season for the Foals, due to suspension, becoming a regular presence at the heart of their defence in his first year at the club. Two goals in the first three matches of 2023/24 proved he can pack a scoring threat too, and there was no keeping him out of the Gladbach side until an ankle injury sidelined him.
Plays a bit like: Jan Vertonghen
Rangy and quick over the ground, Itakura makes defending look easy. In theory right-footed but comfortable enough on the ball to have regularly played as the left-sided centre-half, he is similar in style to Benfica's former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen. The veteran Belgian is winding down his career at this stage after earning 148 caps and counting for his country, as well as finishing third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup along the way. Like Vertonghen did with Ajax, Itakura has patiently learned his trade in the Netherlands before making a big move as he enters the prime on his career. Capable of pinging an accurate diagonal pass over the top of a defence, he joined Schalke and successfully aided the Royal Blues in their goal of returning to the Bundesliga.
Watch: Ko Itakura in his previous spell in Germany, rescuing Schalke a point against Hamburg
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Did you know?
Itakura was not the first Japanese player to line out for former club Schalke. Atsuto Uchida was a regular at right-back for the Royal Blues between 2010 and 2017, clocking up 153 appearances for the club including 104 in the Bundesliga. He helped them to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2010/11 and won the DFB Cup the same season, adding the 2011/12 DFL Supercup as well before leaving for Union Berlin in August 2017 after injuries took their toll.
What they're saying
"Ko covers an unbelievable amount of ground and is a tactically disciplined player who can operate in different positions in defence, including as a No.6. He had a number of attractive options in terms of a transfer, so we're all the more delighted that he's decided to join us because he's a cornerstone of our planning." - Gladach sporting director Roland Virkus
"He plays well and is also a top professional who makes every effort to become better every day." - Itakura's former Groningen coach Danny Buijs speaking in March 2021
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