Junnosuke Suzuki #25

Profile

In his third professional season Suzuki transitioned from a defensive midfielder to a centre-back, and the decision paid off. Last year he made the move from J1 side Shonan Bellmare to FC Copenhagen, and has earned plenty of praise in Denmark for his precise passing with both feet and his ability to read the game. A first call-up soon followed and, in the international friendly against Brazil last October, he played the full match, looking strong and assured against some of the world’s top attackers. His experience as a midfielder gives him a wide field of vision and composure on the ball. A former high school coach describes him as someone who is “never influenced by his emotions” and “always listens carefully, even when the feedback isn’t directed at him”.

Key stats