Koji Kumagai
Position: MF
Born:23-Oct-1975
Height/Weight:177/68
Birthplace:Aomori
Previous Teams: Sambongi Jr.HS, Sambongi Ag.HS, Kashima Antlers, Vegalta Sendai
Appearances (J1/J2):116/40	Goals: 10/0
First Appearance: 06-Apr-1994 Kashima Antlers -vs- Nagoya Grampus (at Mizuho Stadium)
First Goal :18-Nov-1995 Kashima Antlers -vs- Urawa Reds (at Komaba Stadium)

Bio

Koji Kumagai was the "hidden jewel" of the Kashima Antlers midfield, during its glory years. While he received less attention than some of his teammates, like Bismarck, Ogasawara, Motoyama or Nakata, he was a very effective and competent presence in the center of the field, whose importance is only really noticed when he isnt in the match. Kumagai played more of a defensive role in the Antlers' game plan, but was quite effective in support of the attack as well, with the ability to hold the ball in traffic and good passing skills. He helped to set the mold for later Kashima volantes, like Mitsuo Ogasawara or Gaku Shibasaki.

As the midfield maestro began to age, he took a transfer to Vegalta Sendai, which is closer to his home in Aomori Prefecture. As a player with abudant experience and a fine understanding of the game, Kumagai left the playing field at the end of 2005 to pursue a coaching career back in his home prefecture of Aomori.