Okazaki's Best Goals For Leicester City
Okazaki was signed from German side FSV Mainz 05 in June 2015 and proved to be a key player for the Foxes in his four years at the Club. The Japan international brought an exciting and explosive playing style to Leicester’s frontline, going on to score 14 top-flight goals.
Happy birthday, @OkazakiOfficial! 😍 pic.twitter.com/HiKrCT6Lor
— Leicester City (@LCFC) April 16, 2021
As well as playing a key role in City's stunning 2015/16 Premier League title triumph, the Japan striker also starred in the UEFA Champions League.
On his 35th birthday, we remember some iconic strikes from our title-winning former forward...
West Ham United 1 Leicester City 2
Upton Park
Saturday 15 August, 2015
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. That may well have been Okazaki’s motto as he headed in his first-ever Leicester City goal, at Upton Park. As Jamie Vardy floated in a cross, the Japan international connected with the ball first time, but after a point-blank save from Adrián, Okazaki was up first to athletically head in at the second attempt.
That day marked the first away win in a magical season under Claudio Ranieri in which City would go on to lift the Premier League title.
Newcastle United 0 Leicester City 3
St. James’ Park
Saturday 21 November, 2015
Okazaki would have to wait three months for his next City goal, which again came away from home, this time at St. James’ Park. After some nice interplay around the Newcastle box, the substitute was able to poke the ball in after his header had been stopped on the line. It wouldn’t go on to win any Goal of the Season awards, but it did help Leicester climb to the Premier League's summit.
Everton 2 Leicester City 3
Goodison Park
Saturday 19 December, 2015
The forward developed a habit of scoring on the road with this strike coming at Goodison Park a month later. His emphatic left-footed finish in the box after being set up by Vardy meant his first three Foxes goals had come with his left foot, right foot and his head. More importantly, it kept up City’s winning run and saw them sit top of the pile at Christmas.
Leicester City 1 Newcastle United 0
King Power Stadium
Monday 14 March, 2016
Okazaki’s first goal at King Power Stadium was arguably one of the best of his Leicester career and certainly one of the most spectacular. As Vardy’s header fell behind him in the box, the Japanese forward executed an acrobatic bicycle kick to beat Rob Elliot in the Newcastle goal. It turned out to be the match-winner and would be his final goal of the title-winning season.
Leicester City 3 Crystal Palace 1
King Power Stadium
Saturday 22 October, 2016
Two months into his second season at the Club, Okazaki got off the mark for the 2016/17 campaign. The ball fell to him in the area and he made no mistake with a smart, first-time finish to beat Steve Mandanda at his near post, making it 2-0 to the Foxes and putting them in full control of the game.
Manchester City 2 Leicester City 1
Etihad Stadium
Saturday 13 May, 2017
Okazaki saved his best goal until the end of the campaign, rifling a volley it into the roof of the net, giving Willy Cabellero absolutely no chance in the City goal. Riyad Mahrez had sprayed the ball out to Marc Albrighton, whose inch-perfect cross found Okazaki waiting in the box. It proved to be a consolation, but gave Foxes fans something to cheer during the game.
Arsenal 4 Leicester City 3
Emirates Stadium
Friday 11 August, 2017
The diminutive forward once again showed his ability in the air, rising above Granit Xhaka to head in from close range and draw City level just five minutes into a pulsating game at the Emirates Stadium. Albrighton whipped in a cross to the back post, where Harry Maguire was waiting to head the ball back across for Okazaki to find the net. Arsenal went on to win a thrilling season opener 4-3, thanks to two late goals.
Leicester City 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
King Power Stadium
Saturday 19 August, 2017
Okazaki netted in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time when he scored at home to Brighton in a 2-0 win - the Foxes’ first triumph of the new season. The move started in Leicester’s own box, when Matty James made a clearance, and ended with a typical poachers finish from City’s No.20. Mahrez’s shot could only be parried by Mathew Ryan into the path of Okazaki, who did the rest, scoring his fastest-ever goal in the process, coming inside the opening minute of the game.
Swansea City 1 Leicester City 2
Liberty Stadium
Saturday 21 October, 2017
Okazaki’s next effort was very much a team goal, coming on the counter attack after Wilfred Ndidi won back possession in the middle of the pitch. Albrighton then floated in a cross to find Mahrez, and the Algerian picked out Okazaki with a first-time, cushioned pass across goal to put it on a plate for the Japanese forward, who guided the ball past Łukasz Fabiański. The effort doubled the Foxes’ advantage just after the break and it proved to be the winner as the Swans could only claw one goal back at Liberty Stadium.
Southampton 1 Leicester City 4
St. Mary’s Stadium
Wednesday 13 December, 2017
Okazaki’s final two Leicester City goals both came in the same game, the first and last time he scored a Premier League brace for the Club. He doubled City’s advantage on the South Coast in the first-half, reacting first in the box to poke home when Christian Fuchs’ low volley was saved by the legs of Fraser Forster. The ever-willing forward then made a front post run to get on the end of Vardy’s cross and divert the ball home in front of the ecstatic travelling supporters, securing a 4-1 victory.