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.
Club career
JEF United Chiba Born in Ichikawa, Chiba, Abe, then a member of the JEF United Ichihara (now JEF United Chiba) youth side, made his debut with the senior club at the age of 16 years and 333 days on 5 August 1998, at the time a record for the youngest Japanese professional player and J1 League. He went on to become JEF United's captain, and led the club to the 2005 and 2006 J.League Cup titles while being named to the league's Best Eleven during the span.
Urawa Reds
On 22 January 2007, Abe joined Urawa Reds, the defending J1 League and Emperor's Cup champions, for a transfer fee of around ¥360 million (around $3 million), a record amount for a Japanese player in a domestic deal.
Abe helped Urawa Reds to win the 2007 AFC Champions League. He scored once in the second leg of the final against Iran's Sepahan FC. Reds rule Asia / Sink Sepahan to become 1st J.League club to win ACL, earn Club World Cup berth Abe participated in the 2007 Club World Cup playing for Urawa who eventually lost to AC Milan. Urawa finished in third place.
Leicester City
On 26 August 2010, Abe was signed by English Championship club Leicester City, signing a three-year contract. He made his debut in a 2-1 league win over Cardiff City on 14 September, scoring his first goal for the club in a 4–2 win over Ipswich Town on 7 May 2011. His last league goal for the club was in a 1–0 win over Brighton on 17 September 2011. Suffering from homesickness, Abe's contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 22 January 2012 and he returned to Japan to re-join former club Urawa Reds.
Urawa Reds In 2012, Abe returned to Urawa Reds. He played all matches in J1 League except for one match in 2013 season until 2016 season.J.League In 2016, Reds won the champions in J.League Cup and the 2nd place in J1 League. He was also selected Best Eleven award.J.League In 2017, Reds won the champions in AFC Champions League for the first time in 10 years. In 2018, Reds won the Emperor's Cup.
On 14 November 2021, Abe announced that he would retire from football at the end of the 2021 season.
International career Abe made his senior national team debut on 29 January 2005, in a friendly match against Kazakhstan and scored his first national team goal on 6 September 2006 against Yemen in a 2007 Asian Cup qualification match. He was not selected to Japan's 2006 World Cup team, but he has become a regular under his former JEF United coach Ivica Osim, who took over as the national team head coach after the World Cup. He had previously represented Japan at the Under-20 and Under-23 levels, appearing in all three first round matches at the 2004 Olympics and scoring a goal against Italy. He appeared in all of Japan's games at the 2010 World Cup. Despite missing out on Japan's 2011 Asian Cup victory, on 29 March 2011 he played 45 minutes against the J-League All Stars. On 4 August 2011 Abe was announced in the Japan squad to play South Korea. He played 53 games and scored 3 goals for Japan until 2011.Japan National Football Team Database
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionNippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, (p. 59 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 19 out of 289)ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJEF United Ichihara1998J1 League100000––1019993011020––33120002503230––31220011732020––21320022412030––29120032734030––34320042451051––306JEF United Chiba2005331210105––4417200633111082–314514Total21436152368–3126847Urawa Reds2007J1 League3331000123605262008336101040–39620093420040––38220102030021––224Total1201420711636015118Leicester City2010/11Championship3612020––4012011/121611020––191Total5223040––592Urawa Reds2012J1 League3443040––4142013336005061–44720143441171––4262015343412250204772016341104160–473201733300101104139320182715050––371201911010106010200202030000000003020219300400000133Total252251523343411134133Career total638773548013504162819100
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan2005502006812007111200890200981201090201130Total533
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Abe goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Yuki AbeNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 16 August 2006 Niigata Stadium, Niigata, Japan 2–0 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification2 25 July 2007 Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam 2–3 2007 AFC Asian Cup Semifinals3 27 May 2009 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan 4–0 Kirin Cup 2009
Honours JEF United Chiba J.League Cup: 2005, 2006
Urawa Red Diamonds AFC Champions League: 2007, 2017 J.League Cup: 2016 Suruga Bank Championship: 2017 Emperor's Cup: 2018
Individual J.League Best Eleven: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2016 J.League Cup New Hero Award: 2005
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database