 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hirotaka Mita | ||
| Date of birth | (1990-09-14)14 September 1990 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Setagaya, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nakhon Ratchasima | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2002 | Buddy FC | ||
| 2003–2008 | FC Tokyo | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Meiji University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | FC Tokyo | 60 | (5) |
| 2016 | →Vegalta Sendai (loan) | 31 | (3) |
| 2017 | Vegalta Sendai | 33 | (5) |
| 2018–2019 | Vissel Kobe | 47 | (7) |
| 2019–2022 | FC Tokyo | 88 | (3) |
| 2023–2024 | Yokohama FC | 43 | (2) |
| 2025 | Oliveirense | 6 | (0) |
| 2025– | Nakhon Ratchasima | 7 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 May 2025, 16:27 (UTC+7) | |||
Hirotaka Mita (三田 啓貴,Mita Hirotaka, born September 14, 1990) is a Japanese professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder and currently plays forThai League 1 club,Nakhon Ratchasima. Known for his versatility and work rate, Mita has played over 300 matches in Japan's top tiers and has recently ventured into international leagues, showcasing his adaptability at age 34.
Born inSetagaya, Tokyo, Mita grew up in a vibrant urban environment that fostered his early interest in football. He began his youth career with Buddy FC from 2000 to 2002 before joining the prestigiousFC Tokyo youth academy from 2003 to 2008. Mita opted for higher education atMeiji University, a renowned institution for developing football talent in Japan, where he played university football from 2009 to 2012. During his time at Meiji, he made 4 appearances and scored 2 goals in theEmperor's Cup as a special designated player for the JFA and J.League in 2012, demonstrating his early potential. His decision to pursue university football before turning professional reflects a thoughtful approach to his career, prioritizing development over an immediate leap to professional football.
As an attacking midfielder, Mita is recognized for his versatility, technical proficiency, and high work rate. Capable of playing as a central midfielder or right midfielder, he excels in linking play between defense and attack, often serving as a creative hub with precise left-footed passes and through balls.His high/medium work rate allows him to contribute defensively by pressing opponents and tracking back, making him a well-rounded midfielder. While not a prolific goal-scorer, with 25 goals in 308 league appearances, Mita’s playmaking ability is evident in his capacity to create scoring opportunities and maintain possession. His standout performance, including a hat-trick in a 2018 J.League Cup match, demonstrates his potential to influence games decisively when given attacking freedom. His adaptability has been key to his longevity, enabling him to thrive in competitive leagues like J1, Liga Portugal 2, and Thai League 1.
Mita began his professional career withFC Tokyo in 2012, where he played 60 matches and scored 5 goals over four years. In 2016, he was loaned toVegalta Sendai, where he made 31 appearances and scored 3 goals, before signing permanently in 2017 for 33 appearances and 5 goals. In 2018, Mita joinedVissel Kobe, where he played alongside global superstarAndrés Iniesta, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain, andLukas Podolski, a German World Cup winner, contributing to Vissel Kobe’s 2019Japanese Super Cup victory. He made 47 appearances and scored 7 goals during his time at Kobe. Mita returned to FC Tokyo in 2019, achieving a milestone of 200 J1 League appearances in 2020, a testament to his durability and consistency. He played 88 matches and scored 3 goals in his second stint at FC Tokyo, also winning the 2020J.League Cup. In 2023, he joinedYokohama FC, making 43 appearances and scoring 2 goals over two seasons.
On 6 February 2025, Mita joinedLiga Portugal 2 club,Oliveirense, marking his first overseas transfer at the age of 34. He played 6 matches for the club in the 2024–25 season. 2025, Mita transferred toThai League 1 club,Nakhon Ratchasima, continuing his overseas career in Thailand’s top-tier league.
During his time atVissel Kobe in 2018–2019, Mita had the privilege of playing alongsideAndrés Iniesta, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest midfielders, known for his vision and passing ability. He also played withLukas Podolski, a prolific German striker, adding significant star power to the squad. AtFC Tokyo, Mita shared the pitch with notable Japanese internationals likeYuto Nagatomo during his early years, a prominent figure in Japanese football. These experiences highlight Mita’s exposure to high-caliber players, though he himself is not considered a superstar but rather a reliable and versatile professional.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | AFC | Total | |||||||
| FC Tokyo | 2012 | J.League Div 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 25 | 4 | |||
| 2014 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2015 | J1 League | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | – | 25 | 3 | ||
| Total | 60 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 4 | – | 81 | 10 | |||
| Vegalta Sendai (loan) | 2016 | J1 League | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 37 | 3 | |
| Vegalta Sendai | 2017 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | – | 42 | 7 | ||
| Vissel Kobe | 2018 | J1 League | 32 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 37 | 9 | |
| 2019 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 21 | 1 | |||
| Total | !47 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | – | 58 | 10 | |||
| FC Tokyo | 2019 | J1 League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 16 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | – | 44 | 2 | |||
| 2022 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 21 | 1 | |||
| Total | 88 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 114 | 5 | ||
| Yokohama FC | 2023 | J1 League | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | J2 League | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 43 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – | 51 | 3 | |||
| Oliveirense | 2025 | Liga Portugal 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | |||
| Nakhon Ratchasima | 2025 | Thai League 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 308 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 61 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 389 | 38 | ||
Vissel Kobe
FC Tokyo
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