Hisato Satō
Hisato Sato is a Japanese football player who plays for JEF United Chiba. He played for Japan national team. His brother Yuto Sato is also footballer.
Club career
Born in Kasukabe, Saitama, Japan, Sato is a product of JEF United Ichihara's youth system. He was promoted to JEF's top team in 2000. His first league appearance came on April 15, 2000, against Júbilo Iwata. He scored his first league goal on March 21, 2001, against Júbilo Iwata.Frustrated with the lack of play, he decided to move to J2 League side Cerezo Osaka in 2002. Cerezo's coach Akihiro Nishimura rated him highly as Sato had played for Japan's youth team in the previous year which was also managed by Nishimura. However, he suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome at the beginning of the season, and found himself playing not many games with Akinori Nishizawa and Yoshito Okubo ahead of him in the pecking order. The club finished 2nd and was promoted to J1 League.
Sato was loaned out to fellow J1 side Vegalta Sendai in the 2003 season. He finally became a first-choice forward playing 30 games with 9 goals. Despite his efforts, Sendai was relegated to J2. His loan contract became a permanent one and he played 44 league games with 20 goals for Sendai in the 2005 season but failed to navigate the club to J1.
He was transferred to J1 side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 2005 season. He recorded a hat trick twice and scored 18 goals in the season.
He is the record holder of the fastest goal in J1 League. He scored for Hiroshima after 8 seconds from the kick-off on April 22, 2006, against Cerezo Osaka.
On November 22, 2015, he equalled Masashi Nakayama as the all-time top-scorer in the J1 League with 157 goals. After equalling the record, having spent 12 years in Hiroshima, Sato decided to sign for J2 club Nagoya Grampus.
Grampus finished at the 3rd place in 2017 season and was promoted to J1. Although Sato played many matches in 2017, he could not play many matches in 2018.
In 2019, Sato re-joined J2 club JEF United Chiba for the first time in 18 years.
International career
In June 2001, Sato was selected Japan U-20 national team for 2001 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played 2 matches.Sato made his international debut for Japan national team on February 11, 2006, in a friendly against the United States. He scored his first international goal on February 22, 2006, in an 2007 Asian Cup qualification against India. In the run-up to the 2006 World Cup, he was regularly picked for the Japan national team, but left out of the final squad by national coach Zico.
Sato was a member of the Japan team for the 2007 Asian Cup finals and played four games in the tournament all as a substitute. He played 31 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 2010.
Style of play
Sato has cited Filippo Inzaghi as his inspiration; his playing style has often been described as being similar to that of the Italian former striker.Personal life
His twin brother Yuto is also a professional footballer who plays for JEF United Chiba and has been capped once at international level.Career statistics
Club
1Includes J1/J2 Play-offs, Japanese Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and J.League Championship.International
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | February 22, 2006 | International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan | 6-0 | Won | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification | |
| 2. | March 30, 2006 | Ōita Stadium, Ōita, Japan | 1-0 | Won | Friendly Match | |
| 3. | August 16, 2006 | Niigata Stadium, Niigata, Japan | 2-0 | Won | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification | |
| 4. | November 18, 2009 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong | 4-0 | Won | 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification |