#5 Atsuto Uchida

When we kiss, I see what's in your heart.

Key dreamy characteristics:

• J-pop good looks
• Great technical ability
• Fleet-footed

Atsuto Uchida is a Japanese international footballer. He currently plays for Schalke. He is an industrious, attack-minded right-back.

Atsuto Uchida was born in 1988 in Kannami in the central region of Japan. He was educated and played for Shimizu Higashi High School. Atsuto Uchida joined the J. League giants Kashima Antlers in 2006. He made his debut, aged 17 years in the season opener against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Atsuto Uchida scored his first professional goal during his debut season in a game against Ventforet Kofu. 

Kashima Antlers won three successive J. League championship titles between 2007 and 2009 and an Emperor's Cup in 2007. Atsuto Uchida made 178 appearances for Kashima Antlers and scored 6 goals.

Schalke signed Atsuto Uchida in the summer of 2010. The transfer fee was 1.3 million euros. Questions were raised about Atsuto Uchida's suitability to play in the Bundesliga. He is small in stature. Some critics suggested he wasn't physically imposing enough. These fears were quickly allayed. His excellent positioning and fierce determination won over critics. The right-back spot for Schalke was firmly his by the end of the 2010-11 season.

Atsuto Uchida made his senior debut for Japan in 2008, aged 19 in a friendly against Chile. In the same year, he scored his only goal to date for Japan in a World Cup qualifying match in a 1-0 win over Bahrain. He was a member of the Japan squads for both the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Cup finals. He only played in the former. Atsuto Uchida tasted glory at international level when Japan won the 2011 Asian Cup. He played in 5 of the 6 games including the enthralling 1-0 extra-time victory over Australia in the final.

At Schalke, Atsuto Uchida has built-up a good rapport with the Jefferson Farfan on the right flank. Working together they have become a potent weapon for Schalke. This was exemplified against Arsenal in a Champions League game in 2012. Atsuto Uchida and Jefferson Farfan launched numerous attacks on the right flank. Schalke achieved a memorable 2-0 win.

Atsuto Uchida arguably played the best football of his career in the 2012-13 season. His impressive performances were recognised by being named in the Bundesliga.com team of the season. He beat Philipp Lahm and Daniel Carvajal to the right-back spot in a popular vote.

Atsuto Uchida's best game of the season came in a 2-1 win against Schalke's traditional rivals Borussia Dortmund. He assisted both of Schalke's goals. The first goal originated from an interchange of passes between Atsuto Uchida, Jefferson Farfan and Marco Hoger. These passes culminated with Atsuto Uchida receiving the ball after having made an overlapping run. He provided a dreamy pull-back to Julian Draxler. Julian Draxler found the net.

Atsuto Uchida's second assist came via a cross which Klaas-Jan Huntelaar powerfully headed into the goal. Klass- Jan Huntelaar acknowledged Atsuto Uchida's incisive delivery by running over to celebrate with him.