Shoji Jo

Shoji Jo
Personal information
Full name Shoji Jo
Date of birth June 17, 1975 (1975-06-17) (age 36)
Place of birth Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 12 in)
Playing position Forward (retired)
Youth career
1991–1993 Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994-1996 JEF United Ichihara 99 (35)
1997-2001 Yokohama Marinos / Yokohama F. Marinos 106 (59)
2000 Real Valladolid (loan) 15 (2)
2002 Vissel Kobe 25 (1)
2003-2006 Yokohama 151 (44)
National team
1995–2001 Japan 35 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Shoji Jo (城 彰二 Jō Shōji?, born 17 June 1975) is a retired Japanese football (soccer) player.

He was born on the island of Hokkaidō and began his footballing career with JEF United in 1994. He quickly established himself, scoring twelve goals in his first season; he scored his first goal on his debut against Gamba Osaka on 12 March. He made his international debut the following September in a friendly match against Paraguay.

After three seasons with JEF United, Jo moved to the Yokohama Marinos in 1997. His performances in the 1998-99 season led to a loan move to the Spanish Primera División team Real Valladolid. He failed to make an impact with the club, making just 15 appearances and scoring two goals before sustaining a knee injury. After his return to Japan, Jo struggled to reestablish himself as a regular goal scorer with the Marinos and Vissel Kobe, with whom he joined in 2002. He joined Yokohama FC in 2003, where he scored 12 goals in his first season with them. He helped his club to become J2 Champions in 2006 gained and promotion to J1, but he retired from playing after that season.

Jo made 35 caps and scored 7 goals for Japan from 1995 to 2001. He made his first appearance in an international competition with the under-23 team in the 1996 Olympic Games. He later played in the 1998 World Cup and the Copa America in 1999.

He is currently working on television as a football commentator. (as of October 2008)

National team

Statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup League Cup Total
1994 JEF United Ichihara J. League Division 1 33 12 2 0 2 1 37 13
1995 43 14 0 0 - 43 14
1996 23 9 1 0 13 4 37 13
1997 Yokohama Marinos
/Yokohama F. Marinos
21 12 2 2 0 0 23 14
1998 31 25 1 0 0 0 32 25
1999 25 18 3 1 6 3 34 22
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Total
1999-00 Real Valladolid La Liga 15 2 -
Japan League Emperor's Cup League Cup Total
2000 Yokohama F. Marinos J. League Division 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 2
2001 25 2 1 0 8 4 34 6
2002 Vissel Kobe 25 1 1 0 6 2 32 3
2003 Yokohama F.C. J. League Division 2 33 12 1 4 - 34 16
2004 35 8 2 0 - 37 8
2005 40 12 1 0 - 41 12
2006 43 12 0 0 - 43 12
Total Japan 381 139 15 7 35 14 431 160
Spain 15 2 -
Career total 396 141 35 14
Japan national team
Year Apps Goals
1995 1 0
1996 3 0
1997 13 4
1998 10 1
1999 5 0
2000 2 2
2001 1 0
Total 35 7

References