Junichi Inamoto
Scored two goals for Japan at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, including one against Belgium in the first match and one against Russia in the second match.
via Wikipedia: Junichi Inamoto · see source
Junichi Inamoto (born 18 September 1979) is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is a retired international for the Japan national team. Inamoto was born in the town of Kurino (now Yūsui) in Kagoshima Prefecture and raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, where his family moved two months after his birth. He played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during his last year of high school, signing with the club in 1997. In April of that year, at the age of 17, he made his debut in the 1997 J.League season, making him the youngest player in the J.League at that time. He played for Gamba until summer 2001 and played 118 matches in the J1 League.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 18 September 1979
- Birthplace
- Kurino, Kagoshima, Japan
- Height
- 1.81 m / 5 ft 11 in
- Position
- Midfielder
Lore & Background
Inamoto was one of many high-profile transfers of Asian players to Europe, signing with Arsenal of the English Premier League. He scored two goals for the Japan national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but had already been released by Arsenal shortly before the tournament began. He then signed with Fulham on a long-term loan deal from Gamba Osaka. Initially he settled well at the London club, garnering good notices as a tough-tackling midfielder with an eye for a spectacular goal. He became a fan favourite quickly, scoring four goals over the two legs of Fulham's 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup final win against Bologna, scoring once in the first leg and a hat trick in the second. Other notable goals he scored in his time for Fulham include goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and also in the 3–1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2003. He also scored in the FA Cup against Everton which commentator Barry Davies described as 'a Japanese peach.' Inamoto was also described as 'bigger than Beckham' by the Japanese media. However, he sustained a fractured tibia in an international friendly against England, and returned to Gamba Osaka to do promotional work.
Reader's Guide
Inamoto signed with West Bromwich Albion for a decidedly small £200,000 transfer fee, which was only to be paid once he had made an appearance for the Midlands club. However, Gary Megson departed as West Bromwich Albion manager shortly afterwards, and successor Bryan Robson was unsure of the player. Inamoto was loaned to Cardiff City for the latter part of the 2004–05 season, and impressed, being recalled to play a role in West Brom's survival campaign in the Premiership. In 2005–06 he was a regular in the West Brom side, and was called up to the Japan squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first Albion player to play in the tournament for 20 years. While at West Brom Inamoto scored once, an extra time winner in a League Cup tie against former club Fulham on 25 October 2005. On 31 August 2006, Inamoto signed for Galatasaray. On 29 May 2007, it was revealed that he signed a two-year contract with German club Eintracht Frankfurt, joining on a free transfer. Inamoto was presented in a press conference joining fellow Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara in Frankfurt and was released on 30 May 2009. On 19 June 2009, French Ligue 1 side Rennes announced that Inamoto had signed a contract with them. Inamoto signed for J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale on 11 January 2010 in a move back to his homeland after nine years away in Europe. He played for Frontale for 5 seasons. He left at the end of the 2014 season. In 2015, Inamoto then subsequently featured for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the J2 League. Consadole won the 2016 season and was promoted to J1. However he could only play single-digit matches every season from the 2016 season onward. He resigned at the end of the 2018 season. On 23 January 2019, Inamoto signed with J3 League club SC Sagamihara. On 15 June 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a league match against Gamba Osaka U23. On 18 January 2022, Inamoto signed for fifth tier Kantō Soccer League club, Nankatsu SC. On 30 July 2023, he scored his first goal for the club at the age of 43 in a league match against Toin University of Yokohama scoring a header. He retired from playing in December 2024.
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