Tatsuya Tanaka

Tatsuya Tanaka (田中 達也, born June 9, 1992) is a Japanese football retired footballer and football coach for Toko Customs United in Thai League 3. His regular playing positions are as a wide midfielder or a wing-back. Tanaka has previously played for Roasso Kumamoto, FC Gifu, Gamba Osaka, Oita Trinita, Urawa Reds, and Avispa Fukuoka.

Club career

A native of Fukuoka in northern-Kyushu, Tanaka entered Kyushu Sangyo University in 2011. While completing his university studies, he was a specially designated player for Roasso Kumamoto in the J2 League, making 4 appearances between 2011 and 2013. After graduation, he signed a full-time contract with Roasso ahead of the 2015 season. He scored once in ten appearances in his first season as a professional but struggled to secure regular playing time. As a result, he was loaned to fellow J2 side FC Gifu for the 2016 season, where he played 18 times and scored once.

Upon returning to Kumamoto in 2017, Tanaka began to play more regularly, making 21 appearances that year. He then enjoyed a career-best season in 2018, playing 40 of Roasso's 42 league matches and scoring 9 goals. Despite his personal success, his efforts were not enough to prevent his team from relegation to Japan's third tier.

Tanaka would not join Roasso in the J3 league, as his impressive performances as a wing-back caught the attention of J1 side Gamba Osaka, who added him to their squad ahead of the 2019 season.