Marcus Tanaka

Marcus Tulio Tanaka is a Japanese defender of Brazilian descent who currently plays for Nagoya Grampus in the J. League Division 1. He was born on 24 April 1981 in Palmeira d'Oeste, Brazil.

Marcus started to play professional football at Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2001. He spent the 2003 season on loan at Mito HollyHock, however his career really took off at Urawa Red Diamonds as he recorded the J. League Division 1 title and Japanese Super Cup in 2006, and became the AFC Champions League winner in 2007 together with the club. For his outstanding performances, Tanaka was named the J. League Most Valuable Player and the Japanese Footballer of the Year in 2006. Tanaka scored 42 goals in 210 matches in all competitions for Red Diamonds during a six-year spell. In 2010, the player joined Nagoya Grampus and plays for the team to date. He was a big asset for the club in the 2010 season as they won the J. League Division 1 title. In 2011, Tanaka helped his team to win the Japanese Super Cup.

Marcus Tanaka was awarded 43 caps to the Japan national team in between 2006 and 2010.