Naoya Kikuchi (菊地 直哉, Kikuchi Naoya, born November 24, 1984) is a Japanese former professional footballer he is the current assistant manager of Sagan Tosu.[1]
On June 13, 2007, Kikuchi was arrested in Hamamatsu city for the charge of a statutory rape on a 15-year-old high school student.[4] He was suspended on indictment and released some days later. On June 29, 2007, he was sacked by the club after the scandal.[5] The Japan Football Association imposed one-year suspension on him.[6] After performing voluntary community service for some months, he moved to Germany and joined FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
In summer 2009, Kikuchi left FC Carl Zeiss Jena. After trialling with another German club, FC Schalke 04, he signed for Oita Trinita on July 27, 2009. In the winter of 2010, Kikuchi transferred from Oita to Albirex Niigata. Kikuchi retired at the end of the 2019 season.[7]