At first, when it became off-season, I used to return to my hometown Tokyo, which took about 2 hours one way. However, when I started to feel the coldness of the snowy region and thought "This is Niigata, right?", I had come to love that city.
In 2014, Kei KOIZUMI joined Albirex Niigata from Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa High School. He had two options, either to go to university or to challenge himself as a professional player, and he decided to pursue the latter.
"It was my first time living away from my parents, so I initially felt homesick. It takes about 2 hours one way by bullet train from Niigata to Tokyo. I would go back home every time I had a day off to hang out with my friends from my hometown and high school. But as time passed, I started to like the city of Niigata more and more. Even the cold weather, towards the end, I started to feel like this is what Niigata is like. I lived in the dormitory for 2 years, and then lived alone for another 2 years, but the food was delicious and I also liked the city of Niigata."
At the age of 18, I left my parents' home for the first time and started my career from a place where I didn't know anything. Looking back at the four years I spent in Niigata, I can only laugh at my own beginning.
"Aren't you pumped up? Although I've become quite round now, when I see young people these days, I think to myself that I was pretty wild back then."
Returning the sword, he asked, "In what way?" Koizumi scratched his head and continued, "Well..."
"He was a player who would fight with his opponents every time he played a match. He was young even off the pitch. He would often swing his fists."
If I had not returned, I would have been sent somewhere else, probably not Niigata. At that time, I really think I was blessed with really good seniors and coaches.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the story of such a "remarkable player's remarkable debut match". It was the J1 League Sec. 5 match against Cerezo Osaka on March 29, 2014. Just 10 days before that, in the Sec. 1 match of the Nabisco Cup group stage against Tokushima Vortis, he made his first start in an official match and played the full game. Koizumi, who started on the bench, watched the game thinking, "It doesn't seem like I'll have a chance to play today," even after entering in the second half and the score remaining unchanged.
As I was getting carried away, my name was suddenly called. I stood on the pitch as a right-side half in place of Atsumi Tanaka in the 15th minute. A few minutes later, a Niigata player was fouled on the left side and got into an argument with the opponent player. Koizumi was too excited and lost control, his blood boiling. By the time he realized, he had run to the opposite side and was biting all the players he saw in front of him.
"After that, I was scolded by the Cerezo players. It was such an intense debut match (bitter smile). I still remember it and now I can't even imagine it. I was biting back at players of Japan national team level, saying "Who are you?" Even in my debut match. It was the complete opposite of now, I was just a clueless idiot. Tokyo now also has a lot of young players, but I think they are better than me."
Even though he was a somewhat dangerous player, Niigata's teammates, staff, and supporters warmly accepted him. He was cherished by Kenji Kawamata, who said, "He was reckless, but I was taken care of," and he lived in the dormitory with players of the same generation such as Musashi Suzuki, Ken Matsubara, Kazuki Kozuka, and Michael James Fitzgerald. "I am truly grateful." He made a smooth start by playing in 26 league matches in his first year. However, at that time, he was scolded by coach Masaaki Yanagishita almost every day.
"It may have been good that I played with my instincts without thinking about anything after graduating from high school. However, I was scolded every day. He was the person who taught me that if I couldn't fight first, I couldn't play in the game. I was told a lot of technical things, but it was about the ball and the base of the fight, and the coach said, 'If you can't do the fundamental things, you won't play in the game.' I think there are parts that are connected to my current self."
Koizumi, who has just started climbing the professional ladder, was taught the strict etiquette of the competitive world by coach Yanagishita. He also had the opportunity to meet players who would shape his future in Niigata. He was amazed when he saw Leo Silva play for the first time. He described his impression at the time as being so shocked.
"It was quite amazing. They often say 'monster' but playing next to them, I realized that they truly are monsters."
I admired number 8, who approached both offense and defense with a cool face. While keeping an eye on him, I gritted my teeth multiple times during the game, thinking "I can't show a tough face like that at 18, 19 years old."
"He was a Brazilian player with a Japanese-like personality, very serious. If there is someone like this in the same position, I can't miss this opportunity."
Thinking so, I followed behind anyway. Every day, I caught a Portuguese interpreter and asked, "I've asked everything I want to know." When talking about Koizumi's current situation, Leo Silva became an indispensable player. I was so influenced by him.
"The way of stealing the ball is very unique, even in places where ordinary Japanese people would not put their feet, they put their feet out and steal the ball. I was taught that way and consciousness. After that, I was told over and over again how to use my hands. Every time I missed the ball or didn't pick up the second ball, I was scolded."
Although a bit mischievous, while Koizumi takes soccer seriously, Leo Silva also takes care of him without making a single unpleasant face.
"I tried to steal everything I could from Leo. So, I often had meals with him and when I played next to him, I was often scolded. Leo undoubtedly raised me. If Leo was a player who only excelled in games without practicing properly, he might have thought that he only needed to play games. It was because I saw Leo working hard in practice that I realized the importance of practicing and how it leads to performing well in games. That's why I was taught once again that practice is important."
Leo Silva, who spent three years together since his debut, left the team. From the 2017 season, the player who learned everything took over the number 8. Kei Koizumi, who said he had "no particular attachment" to the jersey number, thought so only at that time, neither before nor after.
"I always wanted to wear the number 8. I don't usually think about things like that, but Leo's presence made me feel that way. He was such a big presence for me."
In the 2017 season, wearing the number 8, Terry struggled from the beginning and was relegated to the J2 league for the first time since their promotion to J1 in 2004, without waiting for the final match. For Koizumi, who had also served as vice captain since that year, he said, "There were various struggles," and continued.
"I have a desire to aim higher, and seeing players of my generation who are in the national team or playing overseas made me hesitate and struggle. That's why I decided to transfer to Kashiwa Reysol."
Even after leaving Niigata, there was a lingering feeling in my heart. Before I knew it, Koizumi was naturally checking the results of every match.
"I struggled to get back up after I made a mistake. At that time, there were also members who were doing it together, so it was complicated or rather, I felt sorry... I also played in the game as a vice captain. There were also games where I wore the captain's armband several times. There were many times when I thought I could have done better, I could have done more."
After transferring to Kashiwa, I also experienced relegation to the J2 League the following season and realized that "life is not that easy". After some time, Niigata won the J2 League in the 2022 season and achieved promotion to the J1 League for the first time in 6 years.
"Even though I had been playing in J2 after being dropped, I still felt the burden of playing in J1 somewhere. So, the feeling of relief was bigger than happiness."
Kei has built up his career and continues to play in Tokyo, which is his fifth team since Niigata. And on the 29th, he is preparing for his first match against his former team. There are only a few players left who played together at that time. However, they still know that unchanged passion.
"I still remember the impression of the Niigata supporters, and I also remember that they supported me when I was injured. The Niigata region is supporting Albirex. The players also felt their presence nearby, and I think the supporters will surely remember. I'm looking forward to showing them how hard I've been working when we meet again there. It's my responsibility to show that I'm playing properly because it's the team that gave me my debut. The members who were together at that time also often mentioned the importance of the supporters when talking about Niigata. I feel the same way."
The joy of creating my own chant for the first time, and the gratitude for those who supported me, remains the same as it was on that day. That's why the words continue.
"I honestly don't know if it's booing or applause. I fell and transferred, so I understand that there are people who don't think highly of me in this world. However, even if I have various thoughts, I think I have no choice but to play for Tokyo when I step onto the pitch. Still, I think there are supporters who are personally cheering for me in Niigata, so I want to show my gratitude to them through my play and give them a good performance. I have no choice but to step onto the pitch and do my best."
Celebrating his 10th year as a professional this season. "Looking back, it was fast," but "I also experienced relegation to J2 twice. There was also a time when I couldn't even make it to the bench or play in games, and when you calculate the number of games played, there were overwhelmingly more losses. Looking back on that, it may not have been exactly as I had envisioned." In the future, there aren't many things he hopes for.
"(Nagatomo) Yuto-san and players like Mori-kun (Masato Morishige) can play at the top level until they are 36 or 37 years old, but I am not that kind of player. After turning 30, I can't run anymore and have to change my playing style to maintain balance. I don't like that. I think it would be better to quit if that's the case. When you face reality like that, your active career ends in no time. In that case, I'd rather win the championship than achieve personal goals. If we win, I can clearly say that the period when I couldn't play in previous matches or when we were relegated was also a good experience. Right now, it's too half-hearted. I can't say it was a good experience clearly. I think I can only say those words after winning the championship."
That's why there is no obsession with winning. The words that Koizumi often says, "Honestly, I think it's okay to win," resonate with that.
"What surprised me at first was the passion of the supporters and the strong connection to the local community. It made me realize how amazing being a professional is. Niigata was the place that laid the foundation for me, when I had just graduated high school and didn't know anything."
The "dangerous player" who used to bite on the pitch is now called "Aniki" who doesn't speak. However, there is one thing that he will never give up. He will never admit that he can no longer do what he has cultivated in the first place of his career. "A Kei KOIZUMI who can't run", he says. It was in Niigata where he learned everything.
The reason he runs, which he has accumulated, still moves him. Ever-changing trends. He firmly discerns what can be changed and what cannot be changed. It is in this way of living that Kei KOIZUMI's masculinity oozes.
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
