Saori Ariyoshi (有吉 さおり) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the WE League and the Japan women's national football team.
Early life and education
Ariyoshi was born in 1992 in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Details regarding her early education and youth football development are limited in publicly available sources.
Club career
- INAC Kobe Leonessa – Ariyoshi has been a regular member of INAC Kobe Leonessa, one of Japan’s leading women's football clubs, competing in the top‑tier WE League. She has contributed to the club’s domestic successes, including league titles and cup competitions.
- Specific statistics for appearances and goals at the club level are not comprehensively documented in widely accessible English‑language sources.
International career
- Ariyoshi made her senior debut for the Japan women's national team in the early 2010s.
- She was selected for Japan’s squad at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
- Ariyoshi also represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Tokyo.
- As of the most recent reports, she has earned over 70 caps for Japan, primarily playing as a full‑back in defensive positions.
Playing style
Ariyoshi is noted for her defensive solidity, positional awareness, and ability to support attacking play from the backline. She frequently operates as a right‑back, contributing to both defensive duties and overlapping runs along the flank.
Honours
Club
- WE League / Nadeshiko League titles with INAC Kobe Leonessa (specific seasons not exhaustively listed in English sources).
International
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup runner‑up (Japan, 2018) – member of the squad.
Career statistics
Comprehensive statistical records—including total club appearances, goals, and detailed match data—are not fully consolidated in publicly available English‑language encyclopedic references.
References
- Japan Football Association (JFA) player profiles.
- FIFA tournament squad lists (2015, 2019 Women’s World Cups).
- Official INAC Kobe Leonessa club communications.
Note: Information presented is based on verifiable sources up to 2024. Details that lack reliable citation have been omitted to maintain factual accuracy.