Takayuki Morimoto
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 May 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker/Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | JEF United Chiba | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Tsudayama F.C. | ||
| 1998–2000 | Yomiuri | ||
| 2001–2004 | Tokyo Verdy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2006 | Tokyo Verdy | 46 | (8) |
| 2006–2011 | Catania | 83 | (16) |
| 2011–2012 | Novara | 21 | (6) |
| 2012–2013 | Catania | 14 | (4) |
| 2013 | → Al Nasr (loan) | 23 | (7) |
| 2013– | JEF United Chiba | 13 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004–2005 | Japan U-20 | 7 | (2) |
| 2008 | Japan U-23 | 5 | (1) |
| 2009–2012[1] | Japan | 17 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 July 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Takayuki Morimoto (森本 貴幸 Morimoto Takayuki, born 7 May 1988) is a Japanese footballer who plays for JEF United Chiba in the J. League Division 2.
Morimoto holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history. He has been compared to a young Ronaldo for the combination of his size, strength and speed.[2]
Club career
Youth career
Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Morimoto began his youth career with Tsudayama FC in 1995, before transferring to Verdy Junior in 1998. After three-year, Morimoto moved to Verdy Junior Youth in 2001, and remained until 2004, when he was sold to Tokyo Verdy 1969.
Tokyo Verdy
On 13 March 2004, Morimoto made his J. League debut for Tokyo Verdy against Júbilo Iwata at the age of 15 years, 10 months and 6 days, a league record for youngest player to debut. He scored his first goal against JEF United Ichihara on 5 May of the same year, two days before his 16th birthday, another league record for youngest goal scorer.[3] He captured the J. League Rookie of the Year Award for the 2004 season.[4] On 23 July 2006, Tokyo Verdy 1969 announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Calcio Catania of the Serie A.[5]
Calcio Catania
Morimoto made his Serie A debut on 28 January 2007 during an away game against Atalanta B.C..[6] He entered the game at the 83rd minute and scored the equalising goal, his first in a Serie A match, just five minutes later.[7] On 13 March 2007, it was confirmed by Catania that Morimoto had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would be out for at least six months, ruling him out for the rest of the 2006–07 season. Despite the serious injury, Catania recognised his true potential and he completed a permanent transfer deal with Catania on June 2007.
On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a contract extension with Catania, a three-year deal lasting to 2011.[8]
Morimoto had a breakthrough season for Catania during the 2008–09 season, as he scored 10 goals in 25 league and cup games, while also being credited with several assists.v Brazilian and A.C. Milan star Alexandre Pato told Corriere Dello Sport that he believes Morimoto is the best young player in Serie A and has compared him to Brazilian legend Ronaldo.[9]
Despite all the talent and all the potential, the striker has never really lived up to all the expectations following an improvement in each of his first three seasons in Sicily. During the 2009–10 Serie A season, Morimoto scored an additional 5 goals, and has 1 goal to his credit thus far during the 2010–11 campaign. His performances have often been over-shadowed by the likes of Giuseppe Mascara, Maxi Lopez, Jorge Andres Martinez, and Gionatha Spinesi throughout his time in Sicily. The newly signed Argentine International, Gonzalo Bergessio, also limited chances for the young Japanese striker.
On 11 July 2011, Catania confirmed to have sold Morimoto to newly promoted Serie A club Novara in a co-ownership bid.[10] Morimoto's season was hampered by injuries which limited the Japanese international to just 18 league appearances, producing 4 goals. At the end of the season, Novara was relegated to Serie B, placing 19th, and Morimoto officially returned to Catania on 21 June 2012.
On 7 January 2013, Morimoto was loaned to Al Nasr, coached by former Catania manager Walter Zenga. The loan deal expired on 30 June 2013 and the player returned to Sicily.
JEF United
Morimoto signed for J. League Division 2 club JEF United Chiba on 14 August 2013, for an undisclosed fee.[11]
International career
Morimoto has represented Japan at the U-20 level at both the 2004 AFC Youth Championship and the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. In 2008, he was a member of the Japanese national football team for the Beijing Olympics,[12] where the team was eliminated in the preliminary round, losing all three matches and only managing to score one goal.
On 10 October 2009, he made his debut for the senior national team against Scotland coming on as a substitute for Ryoichi Maeda in a 2–0 win.[1] On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.[1]
Career statistics
Club
- Statistics accurate as of match played 24 May 2013.[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup1 | League Cup2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tokyo Verdy 1969 | 2004 | 22 | 4 | - | 2 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 7 | |
| Catania | 2006–07 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 5 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 17 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 2 | - | 24 | 9 | ||
| 2009–10 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | 31 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 13 | 2 | ||
| Total | 81 | 15 | 9 | 5 | - | 90 | 20 | ||
| Novara | 2011–12 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | 19 | 4 | |
| Total | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | - | 19 | 4 | ||
| Catania | 2012–13 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | ||
| Al-Nasr | 2012–13 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 10 |
| Total | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 10 | |
| Career total | 163 | 30 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 190 | 41 | |
International
- As of 23 May 2012.
Awards and honours
Club
- Tokyo Verdy 1969
- Emperor's Cup (1) : 2004
- Japanese Super Cup (1) : 2005
Individual
- J. League Rookie of the Year (1) : 2004
- Manchester United Premier Cup Most Valuable Player (1) : 2003
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "MORIMOTO Takayuki". Japan National Football Team Database. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- ↑ Walker, Jeremy (8 April 2004). "A view from a Brit: Mboma gives fatherly advice to Morimoto". FC Japan. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- ↑ "Morimoto, 15, breaks J-League record". ESPNsoccernet. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- ↑ "Japan – J-League Awards". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- ↑ "Japanese teen Morimoto seals loan move to Italy". Reuters. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
- ↑ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
- ↑ Gazzetta dello Sport (27 January 2007). "Morimoto, favola di Catania" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2007.
- ↑ "Takayuki Morimoto signs new Catania deal". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ↑ "Morimoto Meglio Di Balotelli". goal.com. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
- ↑ "Takayuki Morimoto al Novara" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ↑ "Catania confirm Morimoto exit". Yahoo! Eurosport UK. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ↑ Goal.com (14 July 2008). "Japan Name Olympic Squad". Retrieved 17 July 2008.
- ↑ Japan – Takayuki Morimoto – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takayuki Morimoto. |
- Takayuki Morimoto – FIFA competition record
- Takayuki Morimoto at National-Football-Teams.com
- Takayuki Morimoto at Catania official site (Italian)
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