Few people, say Kagawa, would have known what to expect when the fresh-faced attacking midfielder arrived at Dortmund in the summer of 2010.
The then 21-year-old was the club’s fourth and final signing of the busy season, following the arrivals of goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak, full-back Lukasz Piszczek and some other young strikers who were on his way for the first time: Robert Lewandowski from Lech Poznan. .
Test: How do you know Shinji Kagawa?
Kagawa was highly regarded on home soil as he helped Cerezo Osaka return to the J League after scoring 27 league goals in 2009. He had also moved from the Japanese Olympic team to the senior team and Dortmund made his selection once he scored seven goals in 11 games in the Japanese elite.
At the time, the 1997 European champions were rebuilding under Jürgen Klopp, having finished fifth and sixth in the German’s first two seasons. “The first education consultation was very difficult,” Kagawa said in his presentation through the club. “I can’t say yet” how long it will take me to get used to physical play here in Germany. But I think I will adapt very temporarily and also identify myself in the team. “
The religion of the new recruit in his own talents completely justified.
Kagawa scored his first Bundesliga goal for Dortmund in his third appearance, a 2–0 home win against 2009 German champions Wolfsburg. He had scored 8 goals in 18 matches.
Watch: Kagawa’s 41 goals in the Bundesliga?
The No. 23 helped Dortmund’s winter champions, but his progress stalled after breaking a foot bone at the Asian Cup in January. When the Japanese star returned as a beaten replacement on the final day of the season, Dortmund had already been crowned German champions for the first time since 2002.
The year of Kagawa’s moment even more successful. He again finished as Die Schwarzgelben’s smartest goalscorer of the moment, with thirteen goals in what turned out to be an exciting naming run with a rejuvenated Bayern Munich.
Most of those goals came at home, further reinforcing his reputation among fans, and his vision produced nine valuable assists as Klopp’s side successfully defended their title. To cap off a remarkable campaign, Kagawa also threw himself into the opening goal and set up the third as Dortmund beat Bayern 5-2 in the DFB Cup final. It was the first time that the club achieved the domestic double.
Watch: Kagawa’s special date with his fans
But Kagawa Dortmund’s only main departure was in the summer of 2012: he joined Manchester United for a payment of around €22 million.
Although he found things to be a bit more complicated in England, the Kobe boy still helped Sir Alex Ferguson win the English Premier League name at Old Trafford. Kagawa scored six goals in 20 games in his first season with United, but saw his opportunities limited the following year. once Ferguson retired.
The mercurial midfielder had promised to return to Dortmund in the long term and in August 2014, the day of the transfer deadline, he was welcomed with open arms. “I tried to achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League,” Kagawa said. “Now I’m extremely happy to be back in Dortmund with this team, set-up and those exclusive fans.
Watch: Kagawa September Goal of the Month Winner!
“BVB is like a family. I’m proud that I wasn’t forgotten and that I can belong there again. “
He relies on him for the great opportunity to score in his first comeback match, a 3-1 win over Freiburg, and that trend continued in 2015/16. Kagawa scored in a home win against Schalke and in April came off the bench to mark his 100th Bundesliga appearance to equalise in a 3-2 win over Werder Bremen.
A week later, a surprising goal in a draw at Schalke and Kagawa finished his key season with nine league goals and seven assists. 4 The UEFA Champions League hammer objected to Legia Warsaw being an apparent highlight.
His good form continued in 2017/18, with two goals in his first five Bundesliga games of the campaign, adding a special shot against Augsburg that earned him September’s Goal award. This impressive effort was also a fitting way to triumph at a new milestone: with it he has become Japan’s most sensible goalscorer of all time in Bundesliga history.
And given that he’s only 29, there’s no explanation as to why one of Dortmund’s most productive imports can’t help write more memorable chapters in the club’s history.
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