Shōgo Taniguchi

Shōgo Taniguchi (谷口 彰悟, Taniguchi Shōgo; born 15 July 1991) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Sint-Truiden and the Japan national team.

Shōgo Taniguchi
谷口 彰悟

Taniguchi in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Shōgo Taniguchi[1]
Date of birth	(1991-07-15) 15 July 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth	Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Sint-Truiden
Number	5
Youth career
0000–2006	Kumamoto United SC
2007–2009	Ohzu High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2013	University of Tsukuba
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2022	Kawasaki Frontale	289	(20)
2023–2024	Al-Rayyan	37	(1)
2024–	Sint-Truiden	14	(1)
International career‡
2015–	Japan	32	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Japan EAFF Championship Winner 2022 Japan Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 November 2024

Club career

Born in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, Taniguchi began his career with Tsukuba University.

Taniguchi began his professional career with Kawasaki Frontale in 2014.^[2][3] He lift the J1 League Trophy for four times in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively. He announced his departure from the club after nine years at Kawasaki in 2022 season making a total of 377 appearances for the club.

On 28 December 2022, Taniguchi joined Al Rayyan in Qatar.^[4] He scored his first and only goal on 24 April 2024 against Al Ahli in a 4–1 home win.

On 19 July 2024, Taniguchi signed for Belgian side Sint-Truiden. He scored his first goal for the Belgian side on 21 September 2024 in a 3–0 away win against Beerschot.

On 8 November 2024, during a home game against KV Mechelen (2–1) he was forced off due to injury at the 14th minute, being replaced by Zineddine Belaid.

International career

On 7 May 2015, Japan's coach Vahid Halilhodžić called him for a two-days training camp.^[5] On 23 July 2015, he was called again for 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup.^[6] He was called again for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.^[7]

Career statistics

As of 21 September 2024^[8][9][10]

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Kawasaki Frontale	2014	J. League Division 1	30	1	1	0	4	0	5	0	–		40	1
	2015		34	2	6	0	1	0	–		–		41	2
	2016		34	1	5	1	6	2	–		–		45	4
	2017		34	7	0	0	4	0	8	1	–		46	8
	2018		34	3	3	1	2	0	4	0	–		43	4
	2019		30	0	2	0	5	0	6	1	1[a]	0	44	1
	2020		30	3	2	0	4	0	–		–		36	3
	2021		30	0	4	0	0	0	6	0	1[a]	0	41	0
	2022		33	3	0	0	2	0	5	0	1[a]	0	41	3
	Total		289	20	23	2	28	2	34	2	3	0	377	26
Al Rayyan	2022–23	QSL	15	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	17	0
	2023–24		22	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	2[b]	0	26	1
	Total		37	1	2	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	43	1
Sint-Truiden	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	13	1	1	0	—		—		—		14	1
Career total			339	22	26	2	29	2	35	2	5	0	434	28

1. Japanese Super Cup
2. Qatar Cup

International

As of match played 15 October 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[11]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan	2015	2	0
	2016	0	0
	2017	1	0
	2018	0	0
	2019	0	0
	2020	0	0
	2021	2	0
	2022	11	0
	2023	8	1
	2024	8	1
Total		32	1

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Taniguchi goal.

List of international goals scored by Ayase Ueda

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 June 2023	Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan	El Salvador	1–0	6–0	2023 Kirin Challenge Cup

Honours

Kawasaki Frontale

• J1 League: 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
• Emperor's Cup: 2020
• J.League Cup: 2019
• Japanese Super Cup: 2019, 2021

Japan

• EAFF Championship: 2022

Individual

• J.League Best XI: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022^[12]
• EAFF Championship Best Defender: 2022