Stefan Ishizaki
{{short description|Swedish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Stefan Ishizaki
| image = Stefan Ishizaki (2015).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Stefan Ishizaki in 2015
| fullname = Stefan Daisuke Ishizaki
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|5|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_date =
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| position = Attacking Midfielder
| clubnumber = 24
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Rågsveds
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = AIK
| years1 = 1999–2004
| clubs1 = AIK
| caps1 = 103
| goals1 = 17
| years2 = 2004
| clubs2 = → Genoa (loan)
| caps2 = 4
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2005
| clubs3 = Vålerenga
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2006–2013
| clubs4 = Elfsborg
| caps4 = 183
| goals4 = 48
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = LA Galaxy
| caps5 = 50
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2015–2017
| clubs6 = AIK
| caps6 = 59
| goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2018–2019
| clubs7 = Elfsborg
| caps7 = 47
| goals7 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 1997–1999
| nationalteam1 = Sweden U16
| nationalcaps1 = 29
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2000
| nationalteam2 = Sweden U18
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2001–2004
| nationalteam3 = Sweden U21
| nationalcaps3 = 21
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| nationalyears4 = 2001–2012
| nationalteam4 = Sweden
| nationalcaps4 = 13
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 17 May 2018
| nationalteam-update =
| totalcaps = 461
| totalgoals = 82
}}
Stefan Daisuke Ishizaki ({{langx|ja|ステファン 大輔 石崎}}; born 15 May 1982) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Starting off his career with AIK in the late 1990s, he went on to represent Genoa, Vålerenga, and LA Galaxy before retiring at Elfsborg in 2019. A full international between 2001 and 2012, he won 13 caps for the Sweden national team.
Club career
=AIK=
Born to a Swedish mother and a Japanese father, he started his career with Rågsveds and stayed with the club until 1999 when he signed a contract with major Swedish club AIK. He made his debut for the club in the same year in Svenska Cupen as he came on as a substitute in the 80th minute against Gefle, he later came on as a substitute again in the final, which AIK won 1–0 against Göteborg, making him the youngest in the country to win the Cup, being only 16 years and 364 days old.
His league debut was not until the 2000 season against his future club Elfsborg. He quickly established himself as a starting lineup player and really broke through as a player against Helsingborg, a 4–1 victory, scoring a goal and making two assists. He missed out the first game of the 2001 season due to an injury he got during the pre-season, which would continue to haunt him for the rest of the season, but he fully recovered for the 2002 season. Prior to the 2004 season, he was loaned out to Italian Serie B club Genoa over the spring part of the season, later when AIK was relegated to Superettan he signed with Norwegian club Vålerenga.{{cite web|url=http://www.aik.se/fotboll/aikindex.html?/fotboll/historik/500aikare/stefishi.html|title=STEFAN ISHIZAKI – HÖGERMITTFÄLTAREN 2000–04|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=aik.se|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927184718/http://www.aik.se/fotboll/aikindex.html?%2Ffotboll%2Fhistorik%2F500aikare%2Fstefishi.html|archive-date=27 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}
=Genoa=
During the winterbreak of the 2003–04 season Genoa signed Ishizaki on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/ishizaki-hyrs-ut-till-genoa/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802004534/http://www.dn.se/sport/fotboll/ishizaki-hyrs-ut-till-genoa-1.231113|url-status=live|archive-date=2 August 2012|title=Ishizaki hyrs ut till Genoa|work=Dagens Nyheter |date=23 December 2003|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv}} Ishizaki did not play many games for the club, before returning to AIK. Genoa also had an option to buy the player, but it was never used.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
=Vålerenga=
Instead of following AIK down into Superettan, Ishizaki decided to sign with Norwegian club Vålerenga,{{cite web|url=http://www.fotbolldirekt.com/node/15208|title=Stefan Ishizaki till Vålerenga|date=9 December 2004|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=fotbolldirekt.com|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711021556/http://www.fotbolldirekt.com/node/15208|archive-date=11 July 2011|df=dmy-all}} helping the club to break rivals Rosenborg’s 13 straight league wins, bringing the title back to the club for the first time since 1984.
=Elfsborg=
Stefan Ishizaki returned to Sweden prior to the 2006 season, signing for Elfsborg.{{cite web|url=http://www.elfsborg.se/www/live/old/newsold.aspx?TreeID=161&|title=Ishizaki valde Elfsborg – Årets värvning är klar!|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=elfsborg.se|language=sv}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Being a major signing for the coming season, he helped the club to claim the league title at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/tidigare-ar/resultat-2006/|title=Elfsborg klarade pressen och vann SM-guldet|year=2006|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}
After his successful first season, he remained with Elfsborg, taking a medal every season, gold (1st) in 2006, bronze (4th) in 2007, the Stora Silvret (2nd) in 2008, Lilla Silvret in 2009 (3rd) and bronze (4th) in 2010. Prior to the 2010 season he signed a new 5-year contract with the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.elfsborg.se/www/live/Standard.aspx?TreeID=10285|title=Glad Stefan Ishizaki förlänger med IF Elfsborg|date=15 January 2010|access-date=29 January 2010|publisher=elfsborg.se|language=sv}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=LA Galaxy=
File:Stefan Ishizaki vs Seattle Sounders 2014 cropped.jpg
Stefan Ishizaki signed with the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer before camps opened in January for the 2014 season.{{cite news|title=LA Galaxy sign Swedish midfielder Stefan Ishizaki|url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2014/01/la-galaxy-sign-swedish-midfielder-stefan-ishizaki|access-date=30 January 2014|newspaper=Los Angeles Galaxy|date=30 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101817/http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2014/01/la-galaxy-sign-swedish-midfielder-stefan-ishizaki|url-status=dead}} While at the Galaxy, he won the 2014 MLS Cup where he was a starter in the final.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Stefan+Ishizaki/2014+MLS+Cup+New+England+Revolution+v+Los/I5ta4sK_nB_|title=Stefan Ishizaki Photos Photos: 2014 MLS Cup - New England Revolution v Los Angeles Galaxy|website=Zimbio|language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}} Ishizaki was released by the club on 4 July 2015 so he could return to Sweden to finish his career to be with his expectant wife.{{cite tweet|user=ArnoldcommaJon|author=Jon Arnold|number=617554484118421504|date=5 July 2015|title=Bruce Arena announces after the match that it was Stefan Ishizaki's last with the club. Has been granted a release.}}
=Return to AIK=
On 10 July 2015, it was confirmed that Ishizaki signed a 2.5 year deal with AIK.{{cite web|url=http://aikfotboll.se/Article.aspx?contentID=9447|title=Comeback i AIK för Stefan Ishizaki|date=10 July 2015|access-date=10 July 2015|publisher=aikfotboll.se|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713170720/http://aikfotboll.se/Article.aspx?contentID=9447|archive-date=13 July 2015|df=dmy-all}} After the 2017 AIK season, Ishizaki left AIK upon the expiration of his contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/vExbp|title=Ishizaki bekräftar: Lämnar AIK i vinter|website=Aftonbladet|date=25 October 2017 |language=sv|access-date=2019-11-13}}
= Return to Elfsborg and retirement =
Ishizaki signed for Elfsborg on a free transfer ahead of the 2018 Allsvenskan season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/officiellt-stefan-ishizaki-atervander-till-elfsborg-ska-hjalpa-klubben-till-t/|title=Officiellt: Stefan Ishizaki återvänder till Elfsborg: "Ska hjälpa klubben till toppen igen"|website=fotbollskanalen|language=sv|access-date=2019-11-13}} At the end of the 2019 season, Ishizaki announced his retirement from professional football.{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/gt/sport/allsvensk-profil-lagger-skorna-pa-hyllan/|title=Ishizakis besked: Avslutar karriären|website=www.expressen.se|date=27 October 2019 |language=sv|access-date=2019-11-13}}
International career
Born to a Japanese father and a Swedish mother, Ishizaki was eligible to play internationally for both Sweden as well as Japan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/han-far-en-central-roll|title=Han får en central roll|date=2002-04-07|work=Svenska Dagbladet|access-date=2019-11-13|language=sv|issn=1101-2412}} In the early 2000s, Ishizaki turned down an offer to represent the Japan national team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/ishizaki-nobbade-det-japanska-landslaget-kanner-mig-svensk/|title=Ishizaki nobbade det japanska landslaget: "Känner mig svensk"|website=fotbollskanalen|language=sv|access-date=2019-11-13}}
He represented Sweden at the U17, U19, and U21 levels, and was a squad player for the Sweden U21 team at the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Sweden was eliminated by the Serbia and Montenegro U21 team in the semifinals after penalty kicks despite Ishizaki successfully converting his penalty kick.{{Cite web|url=https://www2.svenskfotboll.se/arkiv/tidigare/2004/06/em-sverige-utslaget-efter-straffar/|title=EM: Sverige utslaget efter straffar — svenskfotboll.se|website=www2.svenskfotboll.se|access-date=2019-11-13}}
On the senior level Ishizaki won 13 caps for the Sweden national team between 2001 and 2012 but never featured in a major tournament.{{Cite web|title=Stefan Ishizaki Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll|url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/spelarfakta/stefan-ishizaki/268804e0-6dda-499f-914f-b30a4de0f6d4/|access-date=2019-11-13|website=www.svenskfotboll.se|language=sv}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|13 November 2019}}{{cite web|title= S. ISHIZAKI
|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/stefan-ishizaki/6228/|publisher= Soccerway.com|access-date=27 May 2016}}{{cite web|title= Stefan Ishizaki
|url=http://www.elitefootball.com/player/stefan-ishizaki/481|publisher= Elitefootball.com|access-date=27 May 2016}}
| class="wikitable" style=" text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| colspan="2"|Club Performance
!colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other Cups !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club
!Season !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||
| colspan="2"|Sweden
!colspan="2"|Allsvenskan !colspan="2"|Svenska Cupen ! colspan="2" |Other Cups !colspan="2"|UEFA !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="6" valign="centre" |AIK
|2000 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |– | 21 | 3 | |
| 2001
|18 |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |– |18 |3 | |||||||||
| 2002
|25 |5 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |0 |29 |5 | |||||||||
| 2003
|24 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |0 |28 |2 | |||||||||
| 2004
|15 |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |15 |4 | |||||||||
| Total
!103 !17 !0 !0 !0 !0 !8 !0 !111 !17 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Italy
! colspan="2" |Serie B ! colspan="2" |Coppa Italia ! colspan="2" |Other Cups ! colspan="2" |UEFA ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="2" valign="centre" |Genoa (loan)
|4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
|0 | colspan="2" |– | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total
!4 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 ! colspan="2" |– !4 !0 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Norway
! colspan="2" |Tippeligaen ! colspan="2" |Norgesmesterskapet ! colspan="2" |Other Cups ! colspan="2" |UEFA ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="2" |Vålerenga
|2005 |15 |2 |0 |0 |10 |2 |4 |0 |29 |4 | |||||||||
| Total
!15 !2 !0 !0 !10 !2 !4 !0 !29 !4 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Sweden
! colspan="2" |Allsvenskan ! colspan="2" |Svenska Cupen ! colspan="2" |Other Cups ! colspan="2" |UEFA ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="9" |Elfsborg
|2006 |25 |4 |0 |0 |7 |1 | colspan="2" |– |32 |5 | |||||||||
| 2007
|25 |8 |0 |0 |1 |0 |11 |1 |37 |9 | |||||||||
| 2008
|21 |8 |0 |0 |5 |0 |2 |0 |28 |8 | |||||||||
| 2009
|22 |6 |1 |0 |0 |0 |6 |1 |29 |7 | |||||||||
| 2010
|13 |6 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |2 |18 |8 | |||||||||
| 2011
|25 |6 |3 |0 |0 |0 |5 |0 |33 |6 | |||||||||
| 2012
|25 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |0 |30 |8 | |||||||||
| 2013
|27 |2 |2 |0 |0 |0 |11 |0 |40 |2 | |||||||||
| Total
!183 !48 !6 !0 !13 !1 !45 !4 !247 !53 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |United States
! colspan="2" |MLS ! colspan="2" |US Open Cup ! colspan="2" |Other Cups ! colspan="2" |CONCACAF ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="3" |LA Galaxy
|2014 |30 |5 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– |32 |5 | |||||||||
| 2015
|20 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– |20 |1 | |||||||||
| Total
!50 !6 !2 !0 ! colspan="2" |– ! colspan="2" |– !52 !6 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Sweden
! colspan="2" |Allsvenskan ! colspan="2" |Svenska Cupen ! colspan="2" |Other Cups ! colspan="2" |UEFA ! colspan="2" |Total | |||||||||
| rowspan="4" |AIK
|2015 |9 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |– |4 |1 |13 |2 | |||||||||
| 2016
|27 |4 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |– |6 |0 |33 |4 | |||||||||
| 2017
|23 |1 |4 |0 | colspan="2" |– |6 |1 |33 |2 | |||||||||
| Total
!59 !6 !4 !0 !0 !0 !16 !2 !79 !8 | |||||||||
| rowspan="3" |Elfsborg
|2018 |26 |1 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– |28 |1 | |||||||||
| 2019
|21 |2 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– |21 |2 | |||||||||
| Total
!47 !3 !2 !0 ! colspan="2" |– ! colspan="2" |– !49 !3 | |||||||||
| colspan="2" |Career total
!461 | 83 | 10 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 73 | 6 | 571 | 91 |
= International =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |
| rowspan="12" |Sweden
|2001 |1 |0 |
| 2002
|0 |0 |
| 2003
|4 |0 |
| 2004
|0 |0 |
| 2005
|1 |0 |
| 2006
|2 |0 |
| 2007
|2 |0 |
| 2008
|1 |0 |
| 2009
|0 |0 |
| 2010
|1 |0 |
| 2011
|0 |0 |
| 2012
|1 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!13 !0 |
|---|
Honours
AIK
Vålerenga
Elfsborg
LA Galaxy
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090819090722/http://www.elfsborg.se/www/live/special/spelarpresentation.aspx?TreeID=5755&PlayerID=358&ddtids=90l IF Elfsborg profile]
- {{SvFF player |id= 268804e0-6dda-499f-914f-b30a4de0f6d4 |fid= 155437 |pid= 1625 }}
- {{NFT player}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ishizaki, Stefan}}
Category:Footballers from Stockholm
Category:Swedish people of Japanese descent
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sweden men's international footballers
Category:Sweden men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Sweden men's youth international footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway
Category:Vålerenga Fotball players
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Norway
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States