is a Japanese

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player.

Playing career

A product of

Gamba Osaka is a Japanese professional association football, football club based in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The club's home stadium is Panasonic Stadium Suita. They form a ...

U-15 alongside the Japanese superstar

Keisuke Honda Keisuke Honda is a Japanese former professional footballer and manager who played as a midfielder. A versatile player, Honda usually played as an attacking midfielder, but could also play as a winger, a false nine or as a deep-lying playmak ...

, Tanaka started his professional career in Japan with

Omiya Ardija is a Japanese professional association football club based in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture. Its "hometown" (as designated by the league) is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds. The team currently play in J2 League, the ...

. He remained at the club for five seasons being selected to the Japan National Team U-21 in 2006, before joining

Yokohama FC is a Japanese professional football club based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. The club was formed by fans of Yokohama Flügels as a protest against Flügels' merger with Yokohama Marinos in 1999, becoming th ...

on loan in 2009. Following an impressive first season with Yokohama, Tanaka's contract was purchased by his new club. He began the 2010 season with Yokohama, but at the mid-way point of the season was sent on loan to

Sagan Tosu is a Japanese professional Association football, football club based in Tosu, Saga, Tosu, Saga Prefecture. The club plays in the J2 League, the second tier of Japanese football, since 2025 following relegation from the J1 League in 2024 J1 Leag ...

and remained at the club for the 2011 season. He was scouted at the Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA) Tryout in Japan, and in February 2012, he came to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

as a trialist for the

MLS Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanctioned by the United ...

club

Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Fou ...

during their preseason camp. On March 1, 2012, it was announced that Tanaka was signed by the club. Tanaka made his MLS debut as part of the Starting XI in a match against the Montreal Impact on April 4, 2012, becoming the second Japanese player in Major League Soccer (after

Kosuke Kimura (born 14 May 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer and coach. A long-time veteran of Major League Soccer, he has also played in Poland. He was the first player in MLS history who was born in Japan. Career College and amateur Kimu ...

of the

Colorado Rapids The Colorado Rapids are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Founded in ...

). On May 26 of the same year, his first assist in the MLS came on a goal by Alvaro Saborio in a match against

FC Dallas FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...

. Tanaka was released by the club following the signing of

Kenny Mansally Abdoulie Kenny Mansally (born 27 January 1989) is a Gambian professional footballer. He is featured on the Gambian national team in the official 2010 FIFA World Cup video game. Professional career New England Revolution Mansally began his car ...

. Following his departure from

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...

he first signed with

PTT Rayong F.C. Petroleum Authority of Thailand Rayong Football Club, also referred to as simply PTT Rayong (), was a Thai professional football club based in Rayong Province. They competed in Thai League 1 until 2019 after promotion as runner-up in 2007 from ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

And in 2014, instantly was acquired by

Sisaket F.C. Sisaket Football Club () is a Thai defunct professional association football, football club. The club used to play in the Thai League 1 between season 2010 to 2017. The highlight is being a local team that has a large number of football fans in ...

in the

Thai Premier League The Thai League (, pronounced as ') or Thai League 1 (, pronounced as '), often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai L ...

Club statistics

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tanaka, Terukazu 1985 births Living people Association football people from Osaka Prefecture Japanese men's footballers Sportspeople from Ibaraki, Osaka J1 League players J2 League players Major League Soccer players RB Omiya Ardija players Yokohama FC players Sagan Tosu players Real Salt Lake players Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Japanese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand Footballers at the 2006 Asian Games Men's association football defenders Asian Games footballers for Japan Men's association football midfielders