Kintaro Miyagi

Kintaro Miyagi

Personal information
Full name	Kintaro Miyagi
Date of birth	(1998-04-14) April 14, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Tokyo, Japan
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Cebu
Number	9
Youth career
–2015	Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2020	University of the Philippines
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Cebu	6	(1)
International career‡
2011	Philippines U14
2012	Philippines U15
2013	Philippines U16
2016	Philippines U19	?	(1)
2017–	Philippines	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 December 2017

Kintaro Miyagi (born April 14, 1998) is a Filipino footballer for Philippines Football League club Cebu. He has played for the Philippines national football team.

Amateur career

Youth

While attending Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Miyagi played for the Magis Eagles his school's varsity team which he helped win various titles. He was also represented Mandaue in local inter-city tournaments as well as Central Visayas in regional meets such as the Palarong Pambansa. ^[1]

Collegiate career

He decided to move to Metro Manila from Cebu after he graduated from high school to study at the University of the Philippines Diliman to take up a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. The university's football head coach, Anto Gonzales offered him a scholarship to study at the school so he could become part of UP's football team. ^[1] Miyagi helped lead the Maroons to two UAAP Football Championship titles in Seasons 78 and 80, as well as four Philippine University Games (Unigames) championships, before deciding to forgo his final collegiate playing year to pursue a football career professionally. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Professional career

Miyagi was signed by his hometown Philippines Football League club Cebu F.C., who are to make their debut in 2021. ^[5]

International

Miyagi became part of the youth program of the Philippine national team in 2011. He was part of the country's U13/U14 squad representing the country in youth tournaments. He played as a defender as a national youth player. As part of the U15 team which was coached by Anto Gonzales, he played at the 2013 Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)-Frenz U-15 ASEAN Champions Trophy. ^[1] In 2016, he was part of the U19 squad coached by Dan Padernal for the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers. ^[6]

His first call up to the senior national team was in 2017. He was part of a squad which participated at the 2017 CTFA International Tournament, a friendly tournament in Taiwan. ^[1] The national team is led by Marlon Maro in lieu of regular coach, Thomas Dooley since the national federation was supposed to send an under-23 team which Maro coaches.

Miyagi earned his first cap in the 3–1 win against Laos on December 1, 2017. He came in as a substitute for Phil Younghusband in the 70th minute. Playing for the senior team as a striker, ^[1] Miyagi scored the third goal for the Philippines in the 81st minute. ^[7]

References

1. Alison, Mars (2 December 2017). "Kintaro Miyagi makes Cebu proud by scoring the Azkals third goal vs Laos". Rappler. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
2. Valderrama, Aeron Paul (December 11, 2020). "Kintaro Miyagi foregoes final year in UP, to join PFL club". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
3. Terrado, Reuben (May 5, 2016). "Inspired Maroons beat Ateneo in final, complete UAAP football double for UP". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
4. Leongson, Randolph B. (May 3, 2018). "UP snares UAAP men's football title". Inquirer.net . Retrieved August 10, 2021.
5. del Carmen, Lorenzo (August 10, 2021). "UP trio to lead Cebu FC in PFL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
6. Aznar, Edri (26 September 2016). "Ex-Ateneo footballer makes PHL U19 team" . Retrieved 5 December 2017.
7. "Report: Laos 1-3 Philippines". Philippine Football Federation. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.