INTRODUTION

Joined Kashima Antlers in 2006 after graduating from Shimizu Higashi high school.Atsuto secured a regular position from the opening match of his very first season and became a vital member of the team making tremendous contribution to the club winning three consecutive J.League titles from 2007 to 2009.
Atsuto played for Japan National team in 2008 Beijing Olympics, and became a regular member of Japan National squad.
Atsuto is technically gifted and has excellent tactical insights and decision-making ability, and creates a number of chances by making overlapping-run at right times and delivering great crosses.
He was selected for Japan National squad in 2010 South Africa World Cup, and he moved to Bundesliga’s powerhouse, FC Schalke 04 in July just after the World Cup.
He played as a starting player from the first season at the club and helped the club make history reaching to the semi-final in UEFA champions league, which made him the first Japanese player to reach to the stage in the competition, and winning DFB-Pokal title.
He became a crucial member in both FC Schalke 04 and Japan national team playing whole 90 minutes of all three games Japan played in 2014 Brazil World Cup.
In August 2017, Atsuto moved to 1.FC Union Berlin from FC Schalke 04, and then he returned to his old club, Kashima Antlers in 2018, and contributed to club’s first ever AFC champions league title in the same year.
Atsuto retired from professional football after playing home game against Cerezo Osaka as his final game on 23rd August 2020.
In September 2020, he was inaugurated as a “role model coach”, which is a new position established by JFA allowing him to work on the younger generation.