A Versatile Defensive Midfielder Tightening the Blue and Red Midfield
A New Key Player in Offense and Defense Through His “Voice”MF 8 Takahiro KO
This special content introduces all the blue and red warriors taking on the 2024 season. What are the players thinking as the opening approaches, and with what determination are they preparing for the year ahead? The stories of players who hold deep club loyalty, a thirst for titles, aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill──Takahiro KO, who transferred this off-season from Albirex Niigata. Not only is he a key figure in attack through his passing and positioning, but he is also expected to be a powerful ball-winner, a “midfield enforcer.” And another major weapon of his is his voice. His coaching, which controls the entire team, may come to symbolize Tokyo in the 2024 season.
A versatile defensive midfielder has arrived from Albirex Niigata. He played for three seasons in Niigata, which emphasizes positional play, learned the basics of build-up, and established himself as a key figure in the midfield. He achieved skill improvements recognized by both himself and others, acquiring finesse in addition to his innate ball-winning ability.
Such a man will finally put on the blue and red uniform this season. After joining, he showed confusion in playing among the strong individual players of Tokyo, but as time passed, he blended into the team and quickly fit in.
A man who can be both a lubricant and a compass in the center of the pitch, he can fight in any situation. Accurate passing technique, wide field of vision, and intense pressing are all important, but what stands out even more is his high-quality voice. Looking over the entire team and timely encouraging his teammates, his voice is top-notch.
"When I was in Gamba Osaka U-23, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (current director of the Japan Football Association) told me, 'You need to communicate from the back.' That's when I realized the importance of using my voice. For me, using my voice is essential in creating the game on both offense and defense. It's necessary to move those around me in order to read the game and also to make things easier for myself. I don't have all the answers, so I want to continue seeking opinions from those around me."
The defensive midfield position is a fiercely competitive area filled with a wide array of talented players. The battle for a regular spot is intense. However, fully aware of this, he knocked on the door of the capital club.
"Honestly, I think it’s one of the most fiercely competitive positions even within the J1 League, but that’s exactly what brought me to Tokyo. Also, Tokyo has yet to win a league title. I have my own strengths, so I want to firmly showcase them, win the title as a key player of the team, and leave my name in the club’s history."
He runs and fights for the team for the full 90 minutes, and especially when things get tough, he raises his voice. Known by the nickname "Yan," he tightens up the blue and red on both offense and defense.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golazo)
