Kazunori Iio

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Kazunori Iio
Personal information
Full name Kazunori Iio
Date of birth February 23, 1982 (1982-02-23) (age 26)
Place of birth    Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Playing position striker
Club information
Current club Tokyo Verdy
Number 16
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1999-2001
2002
2003-2004
2005
2006
2006
2007-present
Tokyo Verdy 1969
Kawasaki Frontale
Tokyo Verdy 1969
Kawasaki Frontale
Tokyo Verdy 1969
Avispa Fukuoka
Tokyo Verdy
041 00(4)
007 00(2)
025 00(2)
005 00(0)
009 00(1)
017 00(4)
027 00(2)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 17 May 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Kazunori Iio (飯尾 一慶, Iio Kazunori, born February 23, 1982) is a Japanese football player. He is was born in Iwata, a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. He currently plays in the second division of the J. League, for Tokyo Verdy.

Iio has represented Japan at Under-20 level, but has yet to be given a full international cap. Iio was selected for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, along with his strike partner at Verdy, Kazuki Hiramoto.

Iio made a name for himself when he scored Verdy's first goal in the final of the 2004 Emperor's Cup. The match ended in a 2-1 victory for Verdy over Jubilo Iwata. Hiramoto netted Verdy's second, whilst Norihiro Nishi provided Jubilo's consolation. It was the first time Verdy had won the Emperor's Cup since 1996.

Upon Iio's transfer to Avispa in 2006, he received a relatively high squad number of 34. Despite this, he quickly established himself as a first-choice striker. During the 2006 season, Avispa would usually play with two men up front, with Iio on the left, and Takanori Nunobe to his right.

Iio's first J. League appearance for Avispa came against FC Tokyo on 19 July 2006, when he came on as a 84th minute substitute for fellow striker Mitsunori Yabuta. This game was held at the Hakata no Mori Stadium, and ended in a goalless draw. Iio would not have to wait long for his first Avispa goal however, as just 10 days later, on the 29 July 2006 contest between Gamba Osaka and Avispa, Iio netted a goal in a match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.

Following Avispa's relegation, Iio returned to Verdy for the start of the 2007 season. Iio would appear regularly for Verdy in this campaign, occiasionally even appearing as a right-winger in Verdy's midfield. He finished the campaign with 19 games under his belt, scoring 2 goals.

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