New Wanderers import Takahagi not another Ono

Japan midfielder Yojiro Takahagi emphasises he's no duplicate of Shinji Ono but he did get a rundown on his new club Western Sydney Wanderers from the superstar.

Yojiro Takahagi Shinji Ono Western Sydney Wanderers

Yojiro Takahagi (right) in action for Sanfrecce Hiroshima against then Western Sydney Wanderers star Shinji Ono last year (AAP)

Takahagi, 28, arrived in Sydney on Monday to begin a short-term AFC Champions League contract with the Wanderers, who start their defence of that trophy next month.

Takahagi, who won two caps for Japan in 2013, has signed on for the Wanderers' ACL group stage games and potential round-of-16 matches, along with compatriot and defender Yusuke Tanaka.

Ono played for the Wanderers in their first two hugely-successful A-League campaigns, but left the club before they won the ACL.

Takahagi said he had spoken to Ono about what to expect.

"He said they are a good team and Sydney is a good city and I think so too," said Takahagi, who started both legs of Sanfrecce Hiroshima's round-of-16 ACL tie against the Wanderers last year.

"I think they are a very nice team with good supporters and I like the city of Sydney."

Asked what Wanderers fans can expect to see from him, Takahagi stressed he wasn't a copy of Ono, though he appears to have some similar attributes.

"My style is pass and moving and a little bit of goals," said Takahagi, who is not a prolific goalscorer.

He has won several trophies with Sanfrecce and started all three of its 2012 FIFA Club World Cup matches.

Takhagi, Tanaka and two Australians, striker Kerem Bulut and defender Sam Gallaway, have all been added to the Wanderers' ACL squad this month, though none of them have yet been signed on for the A-League, where the club is winless and bottom of the ladder.


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2 min read
Published 19 January 2015 11:53am
Updated 19 January 2015 3:49pm

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