# Mizuho Sakaguchi

Mizuho Sakaguchi (阪口 夢穂, Sakaguchi Mizuho, born October 15, 1987) is a former Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder. She last played for Omiya Ardija Ventus in the WE League and the Japan national team.

## Club career

Sakaguchi was born in Sakai on October 15, 1987. In 2003, at the age of 15, she debuted in the L.League at Speranza FC Takatsuki. After graduating from high school, she joined Tasaki Perule FC in 2006. She was selected Best Eleven in 2007. However, the club was disbanded in 2008 due to financial strain. She went to the United States and joined USL W-League club FC Indiana in 2009. In 2010, she returned to Japan and joined Albirex Niigata. She was selected Best Eleven in 2011. In 2012, she moved to Nippon TV Beleza. She was selected MVP awards for 3 years in a row (2015-2017). She was also selected Best Eleven for 5 years in a row (2013-2017).

## National team career

In July 2006, Sakaguchi was selected to be on the Japan national team for the 2006 Asian Cup. At this competition, on July 19, she debuted and scored 2 goals against Vietnam. She played in the 2011 World Cup where Japan won the championship; Sakaguchi scored one of the penalties in the shootout against United States in the final. She also played in the 2015 World Cup where Japan came second. She was also part of the silver medal-winning 2012 Summer Olympic team. From June 2016, she was given the number 10 shirt for Japan by new manager Asako Takakura. She played 124 games and scored 29 goals for Japan until 2018.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 29 June 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | League cup | League cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Speranza FC Takatsuki | 2003 | Nadeshiko League | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Speranza FC Takatsuki | 2004 | Nadeshiko League | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 6 |
| Speranza FC Takatsuki | Total | Total | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 7 |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 2006 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 5 |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 2007 | Nadeshiko League | 20 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 7 |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 2008 | Nadeshiko League | 20 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 4 |
| Tasaki Perule FC | Total | Total | 56 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 16 |
| FC Indiana | 2009 | USL W-League | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2010 | Nadeshiko League | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 7 |
| Albirex Niigata | 2011 | Nadeshiko League | 16 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 7 |
| Albirex Niigata | Total | Total | 28 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 14 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2012 | Nadeshiko League | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 3 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2013 | Nadeshiko League | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 28 | 11 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2014 | Nadeshiko League | 28 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 13 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2015 | Nadeshiko League | 23 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 10 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2016 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 11 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2017 | Nadeshiko League | 18 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 8 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2018 | Nadeshiko League | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2019 | Nadeshiko League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 2020 | Nadeshiko League | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Nippon TV Beleza | Total | Total | 125 | 42 | 25 | 5 | 27 | 10 | 177 | 57 |
| Omiya Ardija Ventus | 2021–22 | WE League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 236 | 75 | 43 | 7 | 31 | 13 | 310 | 95 |

### International

    As of match played 21 April 2018
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | 2006 | 7 | 10 |
| Japan | 2007 | 5 | 3 |
| Japan | 2008 | 17 | 1 |
| Japan | 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 2010 | 4 | 1 |
| Japan | 2011 | 14 | 1 |
| Japan | 2012 | 14 | 1 |
| Japan | 2013 | 7 | 1 |
| Japan | 2014 | 17 | 8 |
| Japan | 2015 | 12 | 2 |
| Japan | 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| Japan | 2017 | 13 | 0 |
| Japan | 2018 | 8 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 124 | 29 |
    Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sakaguchi goal.
List of international goals scored by Mizuho Sakaguchi :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | July 19, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Vietnam | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 2 | July 19, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Vietnam | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 3 | July 21, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Chinese Taipei | 6–1 | 11–1 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 4 | July 21, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium | Chinese Taipei | 10–1 | 11–1 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 5 | November 30, 2006 | Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha | Jordan | 5–0 | 13–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 6 | November 30, 2006 | Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha | Jordan | 6–0 | 13–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 7 | November 30, 2006 | Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha | Jordan | 7–0 | 13–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 8 | November 30, 2006 | Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha | Jordan | 9–0 | 13–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 9 | November 30, 2006 | Al-Arabi Stadium, Doha | Jordan | 11–0 | 13–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 10 | December 4, 2006 | Al-Gharafa Stadium, Al-Rayyan | Thailand | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2006 Asian Games |
| 11 | February 14, 2007 | Cyprus | Scotland | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 12 | February 14, 2007 | Cyprus | Scotland | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | August 12, 2007 | National Olympic Stadium (Tokyo) | Thailand | 5–0 | 5–0 | Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification |
| 14 | March 10, 2008 | Dasaki Stadium | Russia | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2008 Cyprus Cup |
| 15 | November 14, 2010 | Huangpu Sports Center, Guangzhou | Thailand | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2010 Asian Games |
| 16 | September 3, 2011 | Jinan Olympic Sports Center | South Korea | 1–0 | 2–1 | Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's Asian Qualifiers |
| 17 | August 6, 2012 | Wembley Stadium | France | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2012 Summer Olympics |
| 18 | September 26, 2013 | Chiba Soga Football Stadium | Nigeria | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 19 | May 18, 2014 | Gò Đậu Stadium | Jordan | 3–0 | 7–0 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 20 | May 18, 2014 | Gò Đậu Stadium | Jordan | 6–0 | 7–0 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 21 | September 13, 2014 | Yamagata Park Stadium | Ghana | 2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 22 | September 18, 2014 | Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon | Jordan | 3–0 | 12–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 23 | September 18, 2014 | Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon | Jordan | 4–0 | 12–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 24 | September 18, 2014 | Namdong Asiad Rugby Field, Incheon | Jordan | 11–0 | 12–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 25 | September 22, 2014 | Munhak Stadium, Incheon | Chinese Taipei | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 26 | September 29, 2014 | Football Stadium, Incheon | Vietnam | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 Asian Games |
| 27 | June 23, 2015 | BC Place | Netherlands | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup |
| 28 | November 29, 2015 | Kras Stadion | Netherlands | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 29 | April 13, 2018 | Amman International Stadium, Amman | Australia | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup |

## Honours

Tasaki Perule FC
* Empress's Cup: 2007

### Japan

* FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011; Runner-up: 2015
* Asian Games: 2010; Silver Medal 2006
* EAFF Women's Football Championship: 2008
* AFC Women's Asian Cup
    Champion: 2014

### Individual

* L.League Best Eleven: 2007, 2011, 2013