Junichi Inamoto

Football player infobox
playername = Junichi Inamoto


fullname = Junichi Inamoto
height = height|m=1.81
nickname = Ina
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|9|18
cityofbirth = Yusui, Kagoshima
countryofbirth = Japan
currentclub = Eintracht Frankfurt
clubnumber = 20
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1985-?
1992-1997
youthclubs = Seiei Gakuen SC
Gamba Osaka
years = 1997–2004
2001–2002
2002–2004
2004–2006
2004–2005
2006–2007
2007–
clubs = Gamba Osaka
→ Arsenal (loan)
→ Fulham (loan)
West Bromwich Albion
→ Cardiff City (loan)
Galatasaray
Eintracht Frankfurt
caps(goals) = 118 (16)
000 0(0)
041 0(4)
028 0(0)
012 0(0)
025 0(0)
026 0(0)
nationalyears = 1998-1999
1998-2000
2000–
nationalteam = Japan U-20
Japan U-23
Japan
nationalcaps(goals) = 011 0(4)
015 0(5)
069 0(4)
pcupdate = September 14 2008
ntupdate = October 11 2008

nihongo|Junichi Inamoto|稲本 潤一|Inamoto Jun'ichi|extra=born September 18, 1979 is a Japanese football player who plays in midfield for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Playing career

Inamoto played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during his last year of high school, signing with the club in 1998. He was then one of many high profile transfers of Asian players to Europe, signing with Arsenal of the FA Premier League, though he failed to break into the first team, only ever appearing in the Carling Cup. Inamoto scored two goals for the Japanese National Team at the 2002 World Cup, but had already been released by Arsenal shortly before the tournament began. [cite news
date=2002-06-10
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/matches_wallchart/japan_v_russia/newsid_2036000/2036312.stm
title=Arsenal release Inamoto
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-30] He was then signed by Fulham on a long-term loan deal from Gamba Osaka. Initially he settled well at the London club, garnering good notices as a tough-tackling midfielder with an eye for a spectacular goal. Notable goals he scored in his time for Fulham include goals against Tottenham Hotspur and also in the win against Manchester United. He also scored a great goal in the FA Cup against Everton which commentator Barry Davies described as "a Japanese peach". However, he sustained a fractured tibia in an international friendly against England, and returned to Gamba Osaka to do promotional work. Fulham were interested in signing him once more, but concerns remained over his recovery from injury. [cite news
date=2004-07-29
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/3924771.stm
title=Inamoto to leave Fulham
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-30]

Inamoto ended up signing with West Bromwich Albion for a decidedly small £200,000 transfer fee, which was only to be paid once he had made an appearance for the Midlands club. [cite news
date=2004-08-31
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3613890.stm
title=Inamoto signs for West Brom
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-30] However, Gary Megson departed as West Bromwich Albion manager shortly afterwards, and successor Bryan Robson was unsure of the Japanese's talent. Inamoto was loaned to Cardiff City F.C. for the latter part of the 2004-05 season, [cite news
date=2004-12-23
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/4115495.stm
title=Cardiff snap up Inamoto on loan
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-30] and impressed, being recalled to play a role in WBA's survival campaign in the Premiership. During his time with the Baggies his most impressive moment came when he scored a 35 yard winner in the Carling Cup against old team Fulham. In 2005-06 he was a regular in the West Brom side, and was called up to the Japan squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the first Albion player to play in the tournament for 20 years.

On August 31, 2006, he signed for Galatasaray. [cite news
date=2006-09-01
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/5304420.stm
title=Inamoto leaves Baggies for Turkey
publisher=BBC Sport
accessdate=2007-04-30] Inamoto scored a superb individual goal in a Champions League clash against Girondins Bordeaux, but could not prevent a 3-1 loss, with the team finishing at the bottom of group with four points.

On 29 May, 2007 it was revealed that he signed a two-year contract with German club Eintracht Frankfurt, joining on a free transfer. [cite news
date=2007-05-29
url=http://www.kicker.de/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/366304/
title=Inamoto kommt
publisher=Kicker
language=German
accessdate=2007-05-29] Inamoto was presented in a press conference joining fellow Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara in Frankfurt.

Career statistics

"(correct as of May 11, 2008)"

Honours and awards

Individual honours

* J-League Best Eleven: 2000

Team honours

*FIFA Confederations Cup Runner-up: 2001
*FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 1999
*Asian Cup Champions: 2000

Notes

External links

* [http://campo.jp/inamoto/index.html Junichi Inamoto Official Website]
* [http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/PlayersDetail/0,,10366~16053,00.html Profile at West Bromwich Albion's official site]
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=20824 Statistics] at soccerbase.com
*FIFA player|177771|Junichi Inamoto