Masashi Oguro

Masashi Oguro

Personal information
Full name	Masashi Oguro
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Torino
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 June 2006

Masashi Oguro (大黒 将志, Ōguro Masashi, born May 4, 1980) is a Japanese soccer player from Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. He plays the forward position.

Oguro joined the J-league in 1999, with Gamba Osaka. In 2001, he was transferred to Consadole Sapporo, only to return to Osaka the following year.

In 2004, Oguro scored the second highest number of goals in the J-league, and the highest number of all Japanese-born players.

Oguro was then chosen for the Japanese national team in 2005 for the qualification games leading up to the 2006 World Cup. During his second game for the team on February 9, Oguro scored the clinching goal in lost time to win 2-1 over North Korea in the final game of Asian qualification. In 2005, Oguro was the 5th top scorer for the Japanese national team, and the 6th top J-league scorer, helping lead Gamba Osaka to the J-league championship.

In Chinese characters, Oguro's name resembles that of the god Daikokuten, giving him that nickname. Gamba Osaka's official merchandise store has come to be called the `Shrine of Daikokuten`.

In December of 2005, Oguro signed a contract to start with the French team Grenoble Foot 38 starting in January 2006. As of May 2006, Oguro has been chosen to play for Japan in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

In August 2006, Oguro has been hired to play in italian team Torino.

Oguro owns a chihuahua named Rao. He is a fan of the manga Fist of the North Star. He loves the card game Uno, and has been appointed a "Uno Ambassador". When he is excited and wants to get attention on the field, he yells "UNO!!" He is a fan of the Hanshin Tigers.

Honors and awards

Individual Honors

• J-League Best Eleven: 2004

Team Honors

• J-League Champions: 2005