Keisuke Honda

Keisuke Honda (本田 圭佑) is a Japanese professional football manager and player.

When Honda was a Seiryo High School student, he made an appearance at J.League Cup as Special Designated Youth Player in 2004.

After graduating high school, he began his professional career in 2005, with J1 League side Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Honda earned over 90 international caps between 2008 and 2018, playing at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

On 16 January 2008, Honda signed a two and half-year deal with Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo.

In his first six months at VVV, he experienced relegation for the first time in his professional career as his new side went down to Eerste Divisie, the second division.

In the 2008–09 season, he scored 16 goals in 36 league appearances to help the team back into the Eredivisie.

He became known as Keizer Keisuke (meaning Emperor Keisuke) among the club's fans.

Also, Honda introduced his agent, Tetsuro Kiyooka, to Maya Yoshida in 2008 and led him to VVV-Venlo two years later.

At the end of December 2009, Honda transferred to Russian club CSKA Moscow.

Honda signed a 4-year contract.

The transfer fee was undisclosed, but VVV-Venlo was said to be very content with the fee as it almost matched their asking price; it is believed to be in the region of €6 million.

Honda made his debut for CSKA in the UEFA Champions League match against Sevilla.

In the second leg in Seville, he scored the winning goal through a direct free kick for CSKA after having set up the first goal for Tomáš Necid.

This secured a 2–1 (3–2 aggregate) victory to send the club to the quarterfinals, making Honda the first Japanese player to be in the quarter-finals as well as the first to score in the knock-out stages.

Honda scored his first league goal on 12 March 2010, in the home match against Amkar Perm.

He scored the goal in the third minute of injury time, slotting home a pass from Necid with his left.

With the goal, he secured the win for CSKA Moscow.

He was also part of the squad which won the 2011 Asian Cup, where he was also voted Player of the Tournament.

Born and raised in Settsu, Honda had belonged to the local junior youth team at Gamba Osaka, but was not promoted to the youth team.

Honda picked up his first piece of silverware with CSKA on 22 May 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Alan Dzagoev in a 2–1 defeat of Alania Vladikavkaz in the Russian Cup final.

He netted two goals in the first half of CSKA's match against Krylia Sovetov three days later, a match that ended in a 3–0 victory for his side.

On 16 September 2012, Honda scored twice off passes from Ahmed Musa, scoring the only goals in a league victory over Alania.

On 13 July 2013, Honda scored CSKA's first and third goals in the club's 3–0 victory over Zenit in the Russian Super Cup match in Rostov.

In 2013 summer transfer window, he entered the final six months of his contract with CSKA and became free to talk to other clubs, expressing his interest in moving to a bigger club.

On 11 December 2013, CSKA announced the conclusion of Honda's time at the club.

On 27 October 2013, Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri announced a deal for Honda to join Milan on a free transfer in January 2014.

Honda's contribution for Milan in the latter half of the 2013–14 season was considered disappointing, and he himself stated that "this is not me".

A versatile player, Honda usually played as an attacking midfielder, but could also play as a winger, a false nine or as a deep-lying playmaker, and frequently featured as a right winger for Milan during the 2014–15 season.

A quick and creative player, he was also known for his accuracy from bending free-kicks, powerful striking ability from distance, dribbling skills and delivery as a set-piece specialist.

Honda officially joined the team on 4 January 2014 on a contract lasting until June 2017 and wore the number 10 jersey.

On 12 January 2014, Honda made his debut coming on as a substitute for Robinho in a 4–3 Serie A defeat to Sassuolo.

On 15 January, Honda made his full debut for Milan, scoring in the 3–1 Coppa Italia quarter-final win against Spezia.

He scored his first Serie A goal in Genoa-Milan, which was won by the Rossoneri 1–2.

On 31 August 2014, Honda scored for Milan against Lazio, netting the club's first goal of the season as the Rossoneri won 3–1 in Filippo Inzaghi's Serie A debut as manager.

Honda went on to score Milan's second goal against Parma on 14 September, helping Milan to win a nine-goal thriller, 5–4.

Honda provided an assist for Giacomo Bonaventura's opening goal and scored a bullet header to restore Milan's lead, from Ignazio Abate's cross.

In Milan's next match against Empoli, Honda drilled in a shot on the edge of the box equalizing for Milan as the sides drew 2–2.

Honda scored with a precise free kick over the Chievo wall in a 2–0 win on 4 October.

Honda scored his first brace playing for Milan in a 3–1 away win against Verona on 19 October.