Kota Mizunuma has transformed Newcastle Jets with his quality and contagious personality. The Japanese star speaks to aleagues.com.au about why he left boyhood club Yokohama F.Marinos for the Isuzu UTE A-League.
If Kota Mizunuma had his way, he would have been in the Isuzu UTE A-League years ago.
Mizunuma has been lighting up Newcastle Jets since his January arrival from Yokohama F.Marinos but it was his relationship with an Australian coach abroad that almost saw him join Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
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Ross Aloisi had just taken the reins of the Roar after working with Mizunuma as part of Kevin Muscat’s coaching staff at the J1 League side.
However, a move to Brisbane did not materialise and the rest is history as the Japanese star fulfils a “massive dream” in the Hunter region.
“I just wanted to play abroad,” Mizunuma told aleagues.com.au about his decision to swap Japan for Australia. “I have experience in the J.League. I got all the titles back in Japan and that there was one other country Australia.
“Ross gave me an opportunity a few years ago, then I couldn’t make it.
“But I (spent) five years in Marinos, and I had Australian coaches around (in Yokohama) and that was massive to me. For me it was interesting about playing in Australia.
“When that offer officially came from the Jets, it took me one or two days to sign for an Australian team and that’s why I’m here.”
The Jets pulled off a coup when they lured Mizunuma to the Isuzu UTE A-League from Marinos in January.
For the first time in his career, the 35-year-old is playing outside of his homeland. This was a signing with a glittering CV who played under Ange Postecoglou at Yokohama F.Marinos and won the 2022 J1 League title with Kevin Muscat.
He has also proved to be a transformative signing in Newcastle, who have suddenly catapulted themselves into the finals picture, as they eye four straight league wins for the first time since 2009.
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But it was not an easy decision for Mizunuma to leave boyhood club Marinos. A club where his famous father Takashi played and coached.
After emerging from Marinos’ youth team in 2008, he made 41 appearances in his first stint up until 2010 with the Yokohama-based club before returning in 2020 and playing another 119 games, winning a maiden J1 League crown and the Super Cup.
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For a brief period before Postecoglou’s move to Celtic in 2021, Mizunuma worked with the Aussie trailblazer, who is now leaving his mark on the Premier League.
“He’s one of the strongest managers I had in my career,” the former FC Tokyo and Cerezo Osaka midfielder said.
“At training time, he doesn’t really talk much, but towards the game he is lifting the motivation of the players. It was massive. He never changed the way he works and he believes in his football style.
“That kind of person has become one of the top managers in football. That’s why he is now a Premier League manager.”
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Mizunuma soared to new heights under Muscat, with his 2022 J1 League title capped by his selection in the J.League Best XI.
“He had massive trust in me. As a manager, he’s one of the the best I had in my career,” he said.
“It wasn’t easy to make the decision, but I have my massive dream to play abroad, and that came to me, in my mind it was a priority,” said Mizunuma.
“I grew up in Marinos, and the people helped me a lot down there. The coaches and the staff and the teammates and all the club were saying when I had this offer, saying good luck with your dream, and it came true.
“I really appreciate the people saying that to me and even my dad and my family were also pushing me to go abroad and to have success in Australia.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but when I got this offer, then the people were pushing me and also helping me to go there. So I might made a decision quite quickly.”
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Mizunuma also spoke with former Melbourne Victory boss and current Marinos assistant Patrick Kisnorbo about the Jets at the start of pre-season in Yokohama.
“He said to me, ‘oh Newcastle as a city, the people and the football team are really good, I think you will enjoy it’,” the veteran winger recalled, having also received well wishes from Muscat and former Marinos assistant Shaun Ontong, who is now John Hutchinson’s right-hand man at Jubilo Iwata in Japan’s second tier.
Mizunuma is part of a growing number of Japanese players in the A-Leagues.
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The Japanese market has long been one fans and pundits have been desperate to see Isuzu UTE A-League teams invest in.
This season, there has been an influx of Japanese players gracing the A-Leagues; headlined by Samurai Blue legend and inaugural Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai, there are 10 former J.League players running around in 2024-25.
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In response to that revelation, Mizunuma said: “One of the reasons Japanese players are interested in Australia is Japanese players now are making results in Australia, especially that Hiroki is playing in the A-League from this season.
“Auckland FC are top of the table and of course he’s making good results.
“I think the image of the A-League teams having to Japanese player is starting to get valued.
“It’s about the timing. A few years ago I really wanted to go to the A-League, but didn’t really happen, and really to me, this is the first time I had an official offer from.
“I think it’s about the timing that the Japanese player are really interested in Australia, and also the A-League teams are interested in Japanese players.”
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Are some of Mizunuma’s former Marinos teammates interested in following him to the A-Leagues?
“Not only are Marinos players interested in an A-League club, but all over Japan they are starting to feel like ‘I might have a chance to play in the A-League’,” he replied.
“I think it’s about the timing and the value is right now.”
If Sakai’s move to Auckland FC made J.League sit up and take notice, Mizunuma’s impact in Newcastle will have definitely caught the eye back home.
The Jets have not lost a game since Mizunuma debuted, with the two-time Japan international supplying three assists and scoring his maiden A-Leagues goal.
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It is also his contagious personality that has galvanised a squad and fanbase at McDonald Jones Stadium, where supporters have been treated to the star import’s quality on the pitch and enthusiasm off it.
Mizunuma is regularly seen interacting with fans after games, signing autographs and posing for photos.
“For me, it’s normal,” he said. “It just comes naturally. I just want to thank all the people who come to the games.
“They’re using their money and using time to come to the game. As a football player, without the fans and supporters, we won’t be able to play.
“The stadium is so beautiful and the fans are really great to me. I just want to make that stadium full. That’s my aim.
“I want to make them interested in our team and make sure the fans when they come, I want to make them happy. After the game, I want to thank all the fans and supporters.”
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He added: “I really love playing in Australia.
“Every single day, I just want to give everything. I want to play here for the longest time possible.
“My aim is to go to the finals with my teammates, fans and supporters. Play with my heart every single day.”
