Takayuki Morimoto

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Takayuki Morimoto
Morimoto UDI-CAT 4-2.jpg
Personal information
Full name Takayuki Morimoto[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-07) 7 May 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
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Position(s) Striker/Winger
Team information
Current team
JEF United Chiba
Number 9
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) 13 (6)
2013– JEF United Chiba 73 (17)
International career
2004–2005 Japan U-20 7 (2)
2008 Japan U-23 5 (1)
2009–2012[2] Japan 17 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 May 2012

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.


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. 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.[2] On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.[2]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 1 January 2015.[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
JEF United 2013 12 2 2 0 - 14 2
2014 34 10 2 2 - 36 12
2015 27 5 3 0 - 30 5
Total 73 17 7 2 - 80 19
Career total 236 47 24 8 10 5 270 60

1Includes Emperor's Cup and Coppa Italia and UAE President's Cup.

2Includes J. League Cup and AFC Champions League.

International

As of 23 May 2012.

Awards and honours

Club

Tokyo Verdy 1969

Individual

References

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  13. Japan – Takayuki Morimoto – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway

External links

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