Shinji Kagawa

SOCCER/ Work still to be done for World Cup-bound...
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, center, and his players celebrate the team's qualifying for the World Cup finals in Brazil at Saitama Stadium on June 4. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Japan once again successfully negotiated an early passage through World Cup qualifying in Asia but June 4's 1-1 draw with Australia highlighted two areas still a cause for...
SOCCER/ Honda drives Japan to World Cup
Japan's Keisuke Honda scores an injury-time penalty to claim a 1-1 draw with Australia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier at Saitama Stadium on June 4. (The Asahi Shimbun)
SAITAMA--Japan became the first side to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil when playmaker Keisuke Honda scored an injury-time penalty to claim a 1-1 draw with Australia ...
SOCCER/ Japan celebrates historic 1-0 victory over...
Japan's Shinji Kagawa celebrates the opening goal during a friendly soccer match France against Japan at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside Paris on Oct. 12. (AP Photo)
SAINT-DENIS, France--France lost 1-0 at home to Japan on Oct.12 in a lackluster performance that will give coach Didier Deschamps plenty to worry about ahead of next week's...
SOCCER: Iraq's Zico promises Japan a fight on return
Iraq's coach Zico attends a press conference on Sept. 10, a day before World Cup qualifier against Japan, in Saitama, Japan. (Yosuke Fukudome)
SAITAMA, Japan--Iraq coach Zico is bracing himself for an emotional return to Japan for his side's World Cup qualifier in Saitama on Sept. 11 but firmly believes the Asian...
SOCCER/ Kagawa seeks improvement after...
Japan's striker Shinji Kagawa, 10, tries to score in a friendly match against the United Arab Emirates in Niigata, Japan, on Sept. 6. (Yusaku Kanagawa)
NIIGATA, Japan--Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa cut a forlorn figure after being substituted at halftime during Japan's 1-0 friendly victory over the United Arab Emirates,...
SOCCER/ Germany's Bundesliga takes on Japanese...
Shinji Kagawa may have left Borussia Dortmund for English Premier League giant Manchester United this summer but his legacy lives on as an increasing number of Japanese players ...
SOCCER/ Kagawa happy to handle Man United pressure
Shinji Kagawa and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson at a press conference on July 12 (The Asahi Shimbun)
Japan international Shinji Kagawa backed his ability to handle the pressures associated with playing for Manchester United, saying on July 12 his move was the "greatest...
SOCCER/ Kagawa passes medical and seals Man United...
Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa provides some cheer to children in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, on June 19. (Tatsuya Sasaki)
Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa has signed a four-year contract with Manchester United after passing a medical, obtaining a work permit and completing his move from German...
SOCCER/ Kagawa eyes central role at Old Trafford
Shinji Kagawa meets reporters on his arrival from Australia at the Narita airport on June 13. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Manchester United-bound midfielder Shinji Kagawa wants to be the creative spark the 19-times English champions have been missing once he completes the formalities of his...
SOCCER/ Manchester United agree terms for...
Japan's Shinji Kagawa tries to score against Oman during the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Saitama, Japan, on June  3. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Manchester United have agreed terms with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of midfielder Shinji Kagawa, the English Premier League club said on June 5, with the Japan...
SOCCER/ Japan counts on Kagawa, Honda in World Cup...
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni will rely heavily on Europe-based stars Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda when his team faces Oman, Jordan and Australia in the last full round of...
SOCCER/ Japan at full strength for 2014 qualifiers
Shinji Kagawa, left, and Alberto Zaccheroni (The Asahi Shimbun)
Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were named among a full-strength Japan squad by coach Alberto Zaccheroni on May 24 for the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
SOCCER/ Dortmund's Kagawa speaks with Ferguson,...
Shinji Kagawa meets reporters on his return to Tokyo on May 16. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa has spoken to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and would like to move to an English Premier League club, the Japanese...
SOCCER/ Dortmund thrash Bayern in Cup final to win...
Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa of Japan, center left, celebrates after winning the German soccer cup final in Berlin on May 12. (AP Photo)
BERLIN -- Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund further challenged Bayern Munich's hold over German football on May 12 by crushing their rivals 5-2 with a treble by Poland's...
SOCCER/ Japan want European 18 for Azerbaijan test
Alberto Zaccheroni (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni plans to call up 18 Europe-based players for this month's World Cup qualifying warm-up at home to Azerbaijan in a bid to arrest a recent slide in ...
SOCCER/ Dortmund's Kagawa to decide on future after ...
Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
BERLIN -- Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa will decide whether to extend his contract with the German champions or sign for an English Premier League club after the...
SOCCER/ The mystery of 2 Shinji Kagawas
Shinji Kagawa in the Feb. 29 match with Uzbekistan (The Asahi Shimbun)
Cerezo Osaka coach Akio Kogiku saw a call coming in on his cellphone. It was from Shinji Kagawa, the 23-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder.
SOCCER/ Dortmund sure shooting star Kagawa will stay
Shinji Kagawa (AP Photo)
MUNICH -- Bundesliga champion Borussia Dortmund are confident sought after midfielder Shinji Kagawa will accept a new deal, club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said on April 5.
SOCCER / Kagawa out for three weeks with torn...
BERLIN -- Defending champions Borussia Dortmund will be without attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa for up to three weeks after he tore ankle ligaments in training, the club...
SOCCER/ Kagawa keeps working toward his Barca dream
Shinji Kagawa gives an interview at night in Sendai, where he spent his high school days. (Shiro Nishihata)
Small in stature but big in talent, Shinji Kagawa has become a key player for Borussia Dortmund as the club goes for a second straight Bundesliga title.