Junichi Inamoto

is a Japanese former football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography
Inamoto was born in Osaka Prefecture on September 18, 1979. He joined J1 League club Gamba Osaka from their youth team in 1997. In April, at the age of 17, he made his debut in the 1997 season, which made him the youngest player to play in the J1 League at that time. He played for Gamba until summer 2001 and played 118 matches in J1 League. In summer 2001, he moved to English Premier League club Arsenal. After that, he played for many European clubs including Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt and Stade Rennais. In 2010, he returned to Japan and joined Kawasaki Frontale. He played for the club for five seasons. In 2015, he moved to J2 League club Consadole Sapporo (later Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo). Although the club were the champions in 2016 and was promoted to J1, he could not play many matches in the 2016 season. In 2019, he moved to J3 League club SC Sagamihara. The club reached second place in 2020 and was promoted to J2.

In August 1995, Inamoto was selected for the Japan U-17 national team in the [the [1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship|1995 U-17 World Championship]] and played all three matches. In April 1999, he was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 1999 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played three matches and Japan came in second place.

On February 5, 2000, Inamoto debuted for the Japan national team under manager Philippe Troussier against Mexico. After the debuted, Inamoto played 10 matches or more every year. In September 2000, Inamoto was selected Japan U-23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played full-time in all 4 matches and scored a goal against Slovakia. In 2000, Inamoto played at 2000 Asian Cup. He played four matches and Japan won the championship. In 2001, he also played at 2001 Confederations Cup. He played four matches and Japan came second place. In 2002, he was selected Japan for 2002 World Cup. He played all four matches and scored two goals against Belgium at first match and Russia at second match. Japan qualified to the knockout stage first time in Japan's history. After 2002 World Cup, Inamoto played at 2003 and 2005 Confederations Cup. In 2006, he was selected by Japan for 2006 World Cup. He played two matches while Japan was eliminated in the group stages. After the 2006 World Cup, Inamoto was not selected Japan for a year. In June 2007, he played for Japan for the first time in a year. After that, he played several matches every year. In 2010, he was selected by Japan for the 2010 World Cup. He played two matches and Japan qualified for the knockout stage. This World Cup saw his last game for Japan. He played 82 games and scored 5 goals for Japan.

Career statistics
Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGamba Osaka1997J1 League2733060–36319982861040–33619992212000–24120002842041–34520011320030–162Total1181680171–14317Arsenal (loan)2001–02Premier League0000202040Fulham (loan)2002–03Premier League19220201043362003–042222110–253Total4144130104589West Bromwich Albion2004–05Premier League300000–302005–06Premier League2202021–2612006–07Championship300000–30Total2802021–321Cardiff City (loan)2004–05Championship1402000–160Galatasaray2006–07Süper Lig25030–51331Eintracht Frankfurt2007–08Bundesliga24020––2602008–0919010––200Total43030––460Rennes2009–10Ligue 1500000–50Kawasaki Frontale2010J1 League28020405039020111221010–14220122001030–240201325030100–3602014141101030191Total99380200801353Consadole Sapporo2015J2 League31010––3202016J2 League8100––812017J1 League600000–602018201050–80Total4712050–540SC Sagamihara2019J3 League9100––9120201000––102021J2 League9020––110Nankatsu SC2022Kanto Soccer League2000––20Career total4412534149225554933

International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearJapan National Football Team DatabaseNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan20001402001111200211220031012004602005100200640200730200820200941201080Total825

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Inamoto goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Junichi InamotoNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1  4 July 2001  Ōita, Japan    1–0  Friendly match2  4 June 2002  Saitama, Japan    2–2  2002 FIFA World Cup Group Stage3  9 June 2002  Yokohama, Japan    1–0  2002 FIFA World Cup Group Stage4  28 March 2003  Tokyo, Japan    2–2  Friendly match5 9 September 2009  Utrecht, Netherlands    4–3  Friendly match

Honours
Fulham
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Hokkaido Consodale Sapporo
J2 League: 2016

Japan U17
AFC U-17 Championship: 1994

Japan U20
FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 1999

Japan
AFC Asian Cup: 2000
FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2001

Individual
J.League Best Eleven: 2000

References

Other websites

Category:1979 births
Category:Living people
Category:Bundesliga players
Category:Footballers at the 1998 Asian Games
Category:Footballers from Osaka Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:J1 League players
Category:J2 League players
Category:J3 League players
Category:Arsenal F.C. players
Category:Cardiff City F.C. players
Category:Fulham F.C. players
Category:Gamba Osaka players
Category:Kawasaki Frontale players
Category:Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo players
Category:Premier League players
Category:SC Sagamihara players
Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2001 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Category:2000 AFC Asian Cup players
Category:AFC Asian Cup-winning players