| Kou Gotou | |
| Birth Date: | 12 April 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Height: | 1.69 m |
| Currentclub: | Khaan Khuns-Erchim |
| Clubnumber: | 22 |
| Position: | Winger |
| Youthyears1: | –2011 |
| Youthclubs1: | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| Youthyears2: | 2012–2015 |
| Youthclubs2: | Teikyo Daisan HS |
| Youthyears3: | 2015–2016 |
| Youthclubs3: | Argentinos Juniors |
| Youthyears4: | 2016–2017 |
| Youthclubs4: | Deportivo Riestra |
| Years1: | 2017 |
| Clubs1: | Defensores San Antonio de Litín |
| Years2: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs2: | Racing General Madariaga |
| Years3: | 2018–2019 |
| Caps3: | 6 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2019 |
| Clubs4: | Deportivo Merlo |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2022 |
| Caps5: | 10 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | Khaan Khuns-Erchim |
| Caps6: | 8 |
| Goals6: | 16 |
| Club-Update: | 15:04, 24 September 2024 (UTC) |
is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Khaan Khuns-Erchim of the Mongolian Premier League.
Born in Kamakura in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan, Gotou first got into football through his father, Yasuiuki, a fan of Argentinian side Boca Juniors who would show Gotou videos of the club, as well as playing with his elder brother.[1] He was in the academy of Yokohama F. Marinos before enrolling at the Teikyo Daisan High School.[2] Upon his graduation he moved to Argentina, later stating that it had been his dream since he was a child to play football in Argentina, and citing Diego Maradona as his footballing idol.[3] [4]
Initially training with professional side Argentinos Juniors for ten months, he was unable to play for the club due to issues with his documentation.[5] During his time in Argentina, he was asked to pay to play for Estudiantes, which he declined, and slept on a park bench in, where his bag was stolen.[6]
He dropped down to Deportivo Riestra in the Argentine fourth division, but after suffering an injury he returned to Japan for six months, working as a postman in order to raise money to return to Argentina.[7] On his return to Argentina he played briefly for Liga Bellvillense side Defensores San Antonio de Litín.[5]
He first played semi-professional football with Racing General Madariaga of the, where he played alongside compatriot Hiroyuki Koyama.[5] On his debut for the club, he scored a goal and notched two assists in a 4–1 win against San Lorenzo de Villa Gesell, and in celebrating he referenced Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z.[3] [5] During his time with Racing he was spotted by Alberto Papaianni, the director of professional club Almirante Brown, who invited him to trial with the club.[5]
After two weeks of trials Gotou signed a one-year deal with Almirante Brown, becoming the first Japanese player to join the club.[8] [9] He marked his debut with Almirante Brown with a goal in a 2–2 draw with Tristán Suárez, having previously scored in the reserve league.[10] After a further five appearances, he dropped down to Deportivo Merlo in the Primera C Metropolitana in 2019[11] [12] - though he did not make any appearances for the club before leaving at the end of the year.[13]
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, Gotou returned to Japan, where he again began to save money to return to South America.[6] In January 2020 he trialled with Colombian side Boyacá Chicó, but after failing to join the club he returned to his hometown of Kamakura, where the COVID-19 pandemic had not yet taken hold.[6] He was linked with a move to Club Nuevo Amanecer in Ostende, Buenos Aires, but this failed to materialise.[14]
In February 2022, two years after leaving Argentina, Gotou returned to the country to join Primera C Metropolitana side Liniers.[15] However, by the end of the year and after ten appearances with no goals, Liniers announced that Gotou would not continue with the team in 2023.[16]
Gotou signed for Khaan Khuns-Erchim of the Mongolian Premier League during the summer 2024 transfer window, marking the first time he would play for a club in Asia outside of Japan.[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Almirante Brown | 2018–19 | Primera B Metropolitana | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| Deportivo Merlo | 2019–20 | Primera C Metropolitana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Liniers | 2022 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |||