Daniel Schmidt (footballer)

Daniel Yuji Yabuki Schmidt (矢吹シュミット・ダニエル勇二, Yabuki Shumitto Danieru Yūji, born 3 February 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Belgian Pro League club Gent. Born in the United States, he represents the Japan national team.

Daniel Schmidt
Schmidt with Vegalta Sendai in 2019
Personal information
Full nameDaniel Yuji Yabuki Schmidt
Date of birth (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthIllinois, United States
Height1.97 m (6 ft 5+12 in)
Position(s)Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Gent
Number16
Youth career
2007–2009Tohoku Gakuin High School
2010–2013Chuo University
2010–2012Kawasaki Frontale (loan)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2019Vegalta Sendai57(0)
2014Roasso Kumamoto (loan)4(0)
2015Roasso Kumamoto (loan)26(0)
2016Matsumoto Yamaga (loan)41(0)
2019–2023Sint-Truiden110(0)
2024–Gent8(0)
International career
2018–Japan14(0)
Medal record
Vegalta Sendai
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2018
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Silver medal – second place2019 United Arab Emirates
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 September 2023

Early life

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Born in the United States to a German father and Japanese mother, Schmidt moved to Sendai, Japan at the age of two. He attended Chuo University.[1][2]

Style of play

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Schmidt is known for his ability with long balls to forwards and his frequency of coming off his line in precise timing to deal with threats early. He is also credited as a good penalty saver.[citation needed]

Club career

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Schmidt played three consecutive seasons as a Designated Special Player for Kawasaki Frontale while at the Chuo University, before entering the professional ranks in 2013.[3]

He later signed for Vegalta Sendai,[4] but Schmidt played his first pro match during a one-month loan to Roasso Kumamoto in April 2014.[5] After playing his first ever game with Vegalta in J. League Cup, he was again loaned to Roasso, this time until the end of 2015 season.[6] A third loan was established in 2016, this time to Matsumoto Yamaga.[7]

On 18 July 2019, Schmidt joined Belgian side Sint-Truiden on a permanent deal.[8]

On 4 February 2023, he made his 100th appearance in the Belgian Pro League against Kortrijk.[citation needed]

On 28 December 2023, Schmidt joined fellow Belgian club Gent on a permanent deal, signing a contract until June 2027.[9][10]

International career

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On 30 August 2018, Schmidt received his first international callup from the Japan national team for the Kirin Challenge Cup 2018.[11] He made his debut appearance in a friendly match against Venezuela on 16 November 2018 and played his first competitive match for Japan on 17 January 2019 in the 2–1 win against Uzbekistan during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[12]

In September 2022, he saved the team from a desperate pinch by stopping the penalty against Ecuador and was selected as MOM of the media.[13][14] It was also the number one trend on Twitter.[15][16]

In November 2022, he was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup team for the first time.[17]

On March 24, 2023, he participated in the full starting lineup in the first match of the second Moriyasu JAPAN against Uruguay. On September 12, in the match against Turkey, he showed stable saves even in defensive situations and contributed to the victory.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 20 August 2023[19][20][21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vegalta Sendai2014J1 League001010
201500000000
20172000040240
20181803010220
20191700020190
Total5503080660
Roasso Kumamoto (loan)2014J2 League4040
201526020280
Total30020320
Matsumoto Yamaga (loan)2016J2 League41010420
Sint-Truiden2019–20Belgian Pro League20020220
2020–2124000240
2021–2231000310
2022–2331020330
2023–24400040
Total1100401140
Career total2360100802540

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[22]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan201810
201940
202020
202240
202320
Total130

Honours

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Vegalta Sendai

Japan

Individual

  • Japan Pro-Footballers Association Best XI: 2022

References

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  1. ^ "J最長身ダニエル仙台で定位置奪取だ - J1ニュース".
  2. ^ "WM 2022 - JAPAN-TORWART DANIEL SCHMIDT IM INTERVIEW: "WIR HABEN EINE CHANCE GEGEN DEUTSCHLAND"".
  3. ^ "川崎フロンターレ オフィシャルWebサイト".
  4. ^ "バックナンバー2013 | 中央大学 シュミット ダニエル選手 2014シーズン新加入内定のお知らせ".
  5. ^ "トップページ|ロアッソ熊本 公式サイト|Roasso Kumamoto Official Website".
  6. ^ "トップページ|ロアッソ熊本 公式サイト|Roasso Kumamoto Official Website".
  7. ^ "シュミット ダニエル選手 ベガルタ仙台から 期限付移籍加入のお知らせ". 24 December 2015.
  8. ^ "#WelcomeDaniel". STVV (in Flemish). 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Welkom, Daniel!". KAA Gent (in Flemish). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Football: Japan's World Cup goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt joins Belgium's Gent". Kyodo News+. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ "SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) Squad, Schedule - KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018【9/7@Hokkaido vs Chile】【9/11@Osaka vs Costa Rica】". jfa.jp. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  12. ^ "AFCS".
  13. ^ "Scoring by everyone!! Ecuador and Moriyasu J who scored a scoreless draw, the highest evaluation was..." 28 September 2022.
  14. ^ "[Japan 0-0 Ecuador | Scoring & Commentary]". 27 September 2022.
  15. ^ ""Schmidt" acclaimed as No. 1 in SNS trends!". 28 September 2022.
  16. ^ "[Japan National Team] "Schmidt" tops Twitter trend". 28 September 2022.
  17. ^ "SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) squad - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™". 8 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Schmidt Daniel's consecutive saves". X. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  19. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 96 out of 289)
  20. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 96 out of 289)
  21. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 10 February 2016, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411338 (p. 159 out of 289)
  22. ^ Daniel Schmidt at National-Football-Teams.com
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