Keisuke Honda
Keisuke Honda (本田 圭佑, Honda Keisuke, born 13 June 1986) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan and the Japan national football team. He plays as an attacking midfielder, but he can equally play as a second striker or a deep-lying playmaker. Honda has frequently featured as a right winger in the 2014-2015 Serie A season. He is also known for his free-kicks, dribbling and ability as a dead ball specialist.
He has earned over 60 international caps since 2008, playing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, where he was also voted Player of the Tournament.
Club career
Early career
Born and raised in Osaka, Honda had belonged to the local junior youth team at Gamba Osaka, but was not promoted to the youth team. After graduating Seiryō High School, Honda began his professional career in 2004, with J1 League side Nagoya Grampus.
VVV-Venlo
On 16 January 2008, Honda signed a two and half-year deal with Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo. In his first six months at VVV, he experienced relegation for the first time in his professional career as his new side went down to Eerste Divisie, the second division. In the 2008–09 season, he scored 16 goals in 36 league appearances to help the team back into the Eredivisie. He became known as Keizer Keisuke (meaning Emperor Keisuke) among the club's fans.
