Yuki Abe
Japanese defensive midfielder who played in the 2010 World Cup and won AFC Champions League titles with Urawa Reds.
Yuki Abe is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He played 53 times for Japan between 2005 and 2011 and was a member of the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Defender (right-back; centre-back)
- Primary club
- FC Tokyo
- National team
- Japan
- Peak national era
- Late 2000s – early 2010s
- Signature quality
- Aerial dominance and physical defending
- Key tournament
- 2010 FIFA World Cup (South Africa)
- Leadership role
- Club captain at FC Tokyo
Lore & Background
Born in Ichikawa, Chiba, Abe made his debut with JEF United Chiba at age 16 years and 333 days, a record for the youngest Japanese professional player and J1 League at the time. He became captain of JEF United Chiba and led the club to the 2005 and 2006 J.League Cup titles. He later played for Urawa Reds and Leicester City, returning to Urawa Reds in 2012. He retired at the end of the 2021 season.
Reader's Guide
Abe played as a defensive midfielder. He made his senior national team debut on 29 January 2005 against Kazakhstan and scored his first national team goal on 6 September 2006 against Yemen. He appeared in all of Japan's games at the 2010 World Cup. He played 53 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 2011.
Did You Know?
- His transfer to Urawa Reds in 2007 cost around ¥360 million, a record for a Japanese player in a domestic deal.
- Abe scored once in the second leg of the 2007 AFC Champions League final against Sepahan FC.
- He suffered from homesickness at Leicester City, leading to his contract being cancelled by mutual consent in January 2012.
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