Lead the team on and off the pitch
Injecting fighting spirit into the blue and red!
MF 37 Kei KOIZUMI
A special content introducing all the blue and red warriors challenging the 2024 season. What are the players, who are about to start the season, thinking and what determination do they have as they face the year? The stories of the players, who hold in their hearts their love for the club, their thirst for titles, their aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill──. Kei KOIZUMI, who showed remarkable performances in multiple positions, including positional changes during the match according to the game flow. As the 2024 season approaches, he is focused solely on the two characters of "championship." He has solidified his determination to lead the team both on and off the pitch with a sense of awareness and urgency.
Kei KOIZUMI battles in his second season with determination. Last season, despite being in his first year, he played multiple positions including inside half, defensive midfielder, and right back, accumulating 2720 minutes of playing time, the highest on the team. He showed tremendous effort, but both he and the team were unable to achieve the desired results. What overflowed were feelings of regret and words of reflection.
With a strong determination, this season will see no change in the dedication to run through the full 90 minutes plus additional time, and the playing style that does not shy away from hard work for the team and teammates. However, the awareness of being a key player has become even more pronounced, and there is an intention to take the lead and actively drive the team forward.
"Last season was a personally disappointing year for me. I relied too much on the older generation, so this season I need to approach it with more awareness and a sense of urgency. Given my age, regardless of playing opportunities, I need to think about what I can do to help the team win. I may have my personality and style, but that doesn't matter anymore. This team has many young players, so I want to lead not only through my play but also by speaking up and guiding them."
What lies ahead of this firm determination is victory and titles. I am igniting my fighting spirit towards a joy I have never experienced before.
"I just want to win, anyway. There are many players who have worked hard for Tokyo for many years, so if we can repay them, it can only be through winning. I believe that is our mission. I want to find what I can do to help the team win, and I want to do everything for the team."
The number 37 for the 2024 season is sure to show a different side than before. A man’s word is his bond. "Koizumi's Aniki" will put his body on the line for victory, raise his voice, and inject fighting spirit into the blue and red.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
