• No.005　2008.10　
• HASEBE Makoto
• No.004　2008.06　
• PARK Ji Sung
• No.003　2008.03　
• ZHENG Zhi
• No.002　2007.12　
• LEE Chun Soo
• No.001　2007.08　
• NAKAMURA Shunsuke

The reasons for HASEBE Makoto’s continuing success in Germany

His physicality and running ability were features of Hasebe’s play that earned him a spot in the starting line up. This season he has developed his attacking ability.
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　Surely there has been no player so appraised for his Japanese style merits in Europe so far.
　Usually in Europe it is said that the value of Japanese players is their never-ending running, and their unselfish sacrifice for the good of the team.
HASEBE Makoto transferred to German club Vfl Wolfsburg in January 2008 from the J-League side Urawa Reds as a mid-fielder who personified those Japanese traits.
　Currently Vfl Wolfsburg are led by Coach Felix Magath who at one time captained Bayern Munich to 2 consecutive league titles and appraised HASEBE as follows “I was looking for a player who would follow my guidelines as a way of shoring up the organization of the team. HASEBE was suitable for that role. I am very happy that he has lived up to my expectations and in doing so has made his mark on the Bundesliga”.
　For example, their Round 31 match of the 2007-08 season versus Bayern (0-0). Thanks to HASEBE’s endless running, his direct opponent, the German national MF player SCHWEINSTEIGER, was largely out of the game. Due to his incessant pressure SCWEINSTEIGER became discouraged and even became angry with his own teammate, van BOMMEL. This season HASEBE has played in 16 matches scoring once and providing one assist. Apart from catching a cold and missing some matches he has established himself as a regular starting member of the team in right MF and has become the instigator of Vfl Wolfsburg’s fast break attacks. The club was close to relegation in the 2006-07 season finishing 15th but made it to 5th in the 2007-08 season after HASEBE joined and earned entry into the UEFA Cup.
　The point that should be stressed here is that HASEBE has exemplified the role of “a Japanese style player”. Regarding this HASEBE said the following “After talking with Coach Magath I understood the role he wanted me to play. So I began to run more than I had before. To ensure that everyone thought of me as a player who has a lot of capacity for running.”
　After realizing that his Japanese style merits were being intentionally encouraged by the coach, HASEBE managed to take his place in the starting line up. He is a clever player.

Absorbing German football. He has been successful in adding the strength necessary not to lose out to the foreign players.
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　This season Vfl Wolfsburg added Italian national team player ZACCARDO to their team and are using FW DEJAGAH as a mid-fielder meaning the battle for right MF has become tougher. Last season’s need for HASEBE to defend is still there but this season he is now also required to attack.
　However, HASEBE is the kind of player that will deliver when called upon. In their 4th match versus Hertha BSC Berlin his rival ZACCARDO was taken out with a leg injury. HASEBE seized the opportunity to not only defend but also constantly push forward aggressively on attack. Then on September 18th in their UEFA Cup match versus Rapid Bucharest (Romania) HASEBE drew a foul in the opposition penalty area to earn his team a PK. Vfl Wolfsburg’s GRAFITE scored from the spot to give them a 1-0 victory. Afterwards HASEBE reflected on the match “The level of the match seemed lower than the Bundesliga”.
　What has changed most is his “shooting sense”. In their round 6 match versus Karlsruhe, HASEBE shot 3 times. In the 3rd minute he played a one-two with DEJAGAH to get into the box before hitting a left footed shot. In the 40th minute he reacted to a loose ball to fire in another shot. In the 65th minute he received a pass inside the box and turned to shoot with his right foot. In the end he didn't score but this kind of attacking spirit will surely see results someday soon. The TV commentator on the German sports channel DSF appraised him saying “HASEBE has had the biggest effect of any Japanese player on the Bundesliga since OKUDERA Yasuhito.”
HASEBE’s development whilst playing in the Bundesliga has not escaped the eye of Japan national team coach, OKADA Takeshi. He has established him as a regular starting member of the team since June’s FIFA World Cup 3rd Round Qualifiers. In the September 6th match versus Bahrain he was used as a volanche alongside Gamba Osaka’s ENDO Yasuhito and their victory was in large part due to their role in the game. In the end he didn't stand out dramatically but there was an unmistakable sense of comfort from having him in the team.
　At his signing ceremony for Wolfsburg HASEBE said “Having made the step up to here I want to keep moving up”. If he can continue to make his mark at Vfl Wolfsburg then some day he may indeed find himself playing in Italy or Spain.

＜Profile＞MF HASEBE Makoto
Born 18th January 1984 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from Fujieda Higashi high school his talent blossomed in 2002 at Urawa Reds. He scored 5 league goals during the 2004 season. In January 2008 he transferred to German club Vfl Wolfsburg and starred as a starting mid-fielder. For the Japan national team he earned his debut in 2006 and since then has developed into a key member of the team.

Text＝ KIZAKI Shinya