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2 May 2018
Focus on... Ritsu Doan, the Japanese talent ready to make his mark
The Toulon Tournament is fast approaching. To wait patiently until the beginning of the 46th edition of the competition (from 26th May to 9th June), let’s take a look at the players who could shine during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018. Today, we talk about Ritsu Doan, the FC Groningen youngster.
Ritsu Doan has good taste. His admiration for Diego Maradona proves it. When he was a child, the Japanese discovered football through a DVD of the Argentinian legend that his coach in junior school gifted him. "When I watched this DVD, I was obsessed and inspired", he recalled in a interview on the FIFA website. "I just couldn't resist the temptation of dreaming of playing with great stars like him. I was aware that I could only achieve this if I became professional". A few years later, he can still dream about it.
At nineteen years-old, Doan is one of the most promising talents of the new Japanese generation. The one that brilliantly clinched the U19 AFC Championship titlle on 2016. Japan won this qualifying tournament for the U20 World Cup in South Korea on April 2017 after a wonderful run, especially thanks to Doan. Named as the best player of the competition, he was the first Japanese to win this honour since Shinji Ono... on 1999. A reward fully deserved, as the playmaker showed all his talent and his skills. He also scored in quarter finals against Tadjikistan and in final over Saudi Arabia.
However, as a meticulous man, the young player was not totally happy with himself. "Personally, I felt honoured to be named MVP but I was not satisfied with my performances. I didn’t play the way I wanted. My team winning the title made it possible for me to earn this award. I’m not sure if I am worthy of it but of course I’m happy that I contributed to the team". An impressive humility for a young man like he is.
A successful first season in Europe
If the U20 World Cup was not as triumphant as expected on the collective point for Japan, eliminated in round of sixteen by Venezuela, finalist of the competition, it was so for Doan. The Amagasaki born found the net three times in four games and made quality displays again. So, it was not surprising to see him joining FC Groningen, in Netherlands, just after the World Cup. After he played twenty-five games and scored four goals in two years for Gamba Osaka, the Japanese squad loaned him to the Dutch team. A year later, the bet is already won. On twenty-eight Eredivisie games, the young player netted nine times and offered three assists. Enough to convince Groningen directors to buy him for two millions pounds.
Ritsu Doan signed a three-year contract with the twelfth of Dutch league. Ron Jans, the club's technical director, was delighted. "It's incredibly strong to adapt and develop so quickly and so young, in a completely different culture. He became more and more important for the team". "He was regular all the season", added Hans Nijland, Groningen's managing director. "He scored nine goals, was never injured and still available. He is happy, enthusiastic, very resistant when the difficulties come. It's an attractive player". All these compliments have to be confirmed by the Japanese in club and also in national squad during Maurice Revello Tournament. In order to still dream about Maradona.
Mathieu Lauricella
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