Koki Mizuno (水野 晃樹, ''Mizuno Kōki''; born 6 September 1985) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, primarily on the right wing. He is known for his pace, dribbling ability, and crossing.
Early Career
Mizuno began his youth career at JEF United Ichihara's youth academy. He progressed through their ranks, showing early promise as a dynamic wide player.Club Career
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
Mizuno made his professional debut with JEF United Ichihara (later JEF United Chiba) in 2004. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, known for his attacking flair and contributions from the right flank. During his initial stint with the club, he played a crucial role in the team's successes, including winning the J.League Cup in both 2005 and 2006. His performances in the J.League attracted attention from European clubs.Celtic
In January 2008, Mizuno moved to Scottish Premier League giants Celtic FC, signing a three-year contract. He became the third Japanese player to join Celtic, following Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno (no, this is a mistake, Nakamura was the only one before him). His time at Celtic was affected by injuries and strong competition for places. He made his debut in a Scottish Cup match against Kilmarnock and scored his first goal for the club against Falkirk in December 2008. He was part of the Celtic squad that won the Scottish Premier League title in the 2007–08 season. He departed Celtic in the summer of 2010.Return to Japan
After his spell in Scotland, Mizuno returned to Japan, joining Kashiwa Reysol in June 2010. He helped Reysol achieve promotion to the J1 League in 2010 and was part of the team that sensationally won the J1 League title in 2011, becoming the first club to win the title the year after being promoted.He subsequently played for several other Japanese clubs, including:
- Ventforet Kofu (2013–2014)
- Sagan Tosu (2015)
- JEF United Chiba (2016–2017) – a return to his original club.
- Roasso Kumamoto (2018)
- SC Sagamihara (2019)
Later Career
In 2020, Mizuno joined Hayabusa Eleven, a club in the Kanagawa Prefectural League, continuing his playing career at a regional level.International Career
Mizuno represented Japan at various youth levels, including the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005. He earned four caps for the Japan senior national team, making his debut in 2007.Honours
Club
- JEF United Ichihara Chiba
- J.League Cup: 2005, 2006
- Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: 2007–08
- Kashiwa Reysol
- J1 League: 2011
- J2 League: 2010
- Emperor's Cup: 2012
- Japanese Super Cup: 2012