Takayuki Morimoto

Takayuki Morimoto (森本 貴幸, Morimoto Takayuki, born 7 May 1988) is a Japanese[2] professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Football League club AEP Karagiannia.

Takayuki Morimoto
森本 貴幸

Personal information
Full name	Takayuki Morimoto[1]
Date of birth	7 May 1988[1]
Place of birth	Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	AEP Karagiannia
Youth career
2001–2004	Tokyo Verdy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Tokyo Verdy	46	(5)
2006–2011	Catania	81	(15)
2011–2012	Novara	18	(4)
2012	Catania	5	(0)
2013	Al-Nasr Dubai	13	(6)
2013–2015	JEF United Chiba	73	(17)
2016–2017	Kawasaki Frontale	22	(5)
2018–2020	Avispa Fukuoka	27	(6)
2020	AEP Karagiannia	0	(0)
National team
2004–2005	Japan U-20	8	(2)
2008	Japan U-23	10	(1)
2009–2012	Japan	10	(3)
Honours Tokyo Verdy Winner Emperor's Cup 2004 Kawasaki Frontale Winner J1 League 2017 Runner-up J.League Cup 2017 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2016 Representing  Japan AFC U-19 Championship 2004 Malaysia
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of 2018 season

Morimoto holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J1 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.

Tokyo Verdy

On 13 March 2004, Morimoto made his J1 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 announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Catania of Serie A.[5]

Calcio Catania

Morimoto made his Serie A debut on 28 January 2007 during an away game against Atalanta.[6] He entered the game at the 83rd minute and scored the equalising goal, his first, just five minutes later.[7] On 13 March 2007, it was confirmed by Catania that Morimoto had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee and would be out for at least six months, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2006–07 season. Despite the serious injury, Catania recognised his true potential and he completed a permanent transfer deal with Catania in June 2007.

On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a three-year contract extension with Catania 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 Coppa Italia games, while also being credited with several assists. Brazilian and Milan star Alexandre Pato told Italian sports daily 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 season, Morimoto scored an additional five goals, adding a further two during the 2010–11 league campaign. His performances have often been over-shadowed by the likes of Giuseppe Mascara, Maxi López, Jorge Martínez and Gionatha Spinesi, while the signing of Argentine international Gonzalo Bergessio also limited his chances to feature.

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 four goals. At the end of the season, Novara was relegated to Serie B after placing 19th, and Morimoto officially returned to Catania on 21 June 2012.

On 7 January 2013, Morimoto was loaned to Al-Nasr Dubai, coached by former Catania manager Walter Zenga. The loan deal expired on 30 June 2013 and the player returned to Sicily.

JEF United Chiba

Morimoto signed for J2 League club JEF United Chiba on 14 August 2013, for an undisclosed fee.[11]

Kawasaki Frontale

On 24 December 2015, Morimoto signed for Kawasaki Frontale on a two-year deal, with the contract starting 1 February 2016.[12]

AEP Karagiannia

In October 2020, Morimoto signed for Greek Football League club AEP Karagiannia, for an undisclosed fee.

National team career

Morimoto has represented Japan at the Japan U-20 national team level at both the 2004 AFC Youth Championship and the 2005 World Youth Championship. In 2008, he was a member of the Japan U-23 national team for the 2008 Summer Olympics,[13] where the team was eliminated in the preliminary round, losing all three matches and only managing to score one goal.

On 10 October 2009, Morimoto made his debut for the senior national team against Scotland, coming on as a substitute for Ryoichi Maeda in a 2–0 win.[14] On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.[14]

Club statistics

As of end of 2018 season[15][16]

Club	Season	League		Cup^1		League Cup^2		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tokyo Verdy	2004	22	4	0	0	2	0	24	4
	2005	18	1	1	0	2	2	21	3
	2006	6	0	0	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 Dubai	2012–13	13	6	3	1	6	3	22	10
	Total	13	6	3	1	6	3	22	10
JEF United Chiba	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
Kawasaki Frontale	2016	11	2	2	0	1	1	14	3
	2017	11	3	3	4	8	0	22	7
	Total	22	5	5	4	9	1	36	10
Avispa Fukuoka	2018	27	6	2	0	-		29	6
Career total		285	58	31	12	19	6	335	76

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

²Includes J.League Cup and AFC Champions League.

National team statistics

National team Year Apps Goals Japan U-20 2004 4 2 2005 4 0 Total 8 2 Japan U-23 2008 10 1 Total 10 1 Japan[14] 2009 2 1 2010 7 2 2012 1 0 Total 10 3

International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition 2004 25 September 2004 Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru    Nepal U-19 3–0 0 2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19 27 September 2004 Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru  Malaysia U-19 3–0 1 2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19 29 September 2004 Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru  Vietnam U-19 1–0 1 2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19 6 October 2004 Cheras Stadium, Kuala Lumpur  South Korea U-19 2–2 0 2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19 2005 10 June 2005 Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade  Netherlands U-20 2–1 0 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20 15 June 2005 Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade  Benin U-20 1–1 0 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20 18 June 2005 Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade  Australia U-20 1–1 0 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20 21 June 2005 De Grolsch Veste, Enschede  Morocco U-20 0–1 0 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20 2008 20 May 2008 Stade Mayol, Toulon  Netherlands U-23 1–0 0 2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23 22 May 2008 Stade Perruc, Hyères  France U-23 2–1 1 2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23 24 May 2008 Stade Jean Murat, Solliès-Pont  Chile U-23 0–2 0 2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23 27 May 2008 Stade Mayol, Toulon  Italy U-23 0–0 0 2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23 29 May 2008 Stade Mayol, Toulon  Ivory Coast U-23 2–2 0 2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23 12 June 2008 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo  Cameroon U-23 0–0 0 Friendly Match / Japan U-23 24 July 2008 Home's Stadium Kobe, Kobe  Australia U-23 2–1 0 Friendly Match / Japan U-23 29 July 2008 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo  Argentina U-23 0–1 0 Friendly Match / Japan U-23 7 August 2008 Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin  United States U-23 0–1 0 2008 Summer Olympics / Japan U-23 13 August 2008 Shenyang Olympic Stadium, Shenyang  Netherlands U-23 0–1 0 2008 Summer Olympics / Japan U-23 2009 1. 10 October 2009 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama  Scotland 2–0 0 Friendly Match 2. 14 October 2009 Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi  Togo 5–0 1 Friendly Match 2010 3. 3 March 2010 Toyota Stadium, Toyota  Bahrain 2–0 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification 4. 24 May 2010 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama  South Korea 0–2 0 Friendly Match 5. 30 May 2010 UPC-Arena, Graz  England 1–2 0 Friendly Match 6. 4 June 2010 Stade Tourbillon, Sion  Ivory Coast 0–2 0 Friendly Match 7. 4 September 2010 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama  Paraguay 1–0 0 Friendly Match 8. 7 September 2010 Nagai Stadium, Osaka  Guatemala 2–1 2 Friendly Match 9. 8 October 2010 Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama  Argentina 1–0 0 Friendly Match

Awards and honours

Club

Tokyo Verdy

• Emperor's Cup: 2004
• Japanese Super Cup: 2005

Kawasaki Frontale

• J1 League: 2017

Individual

• J.League Rookie of the Year: 2004
• Manchester United Premier Cup Most Valuable Player: 2003

References

1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 January 2019.
2. Takayuki Morimoto at J.League (in Japanese)
3. "Morimoto, 15, breaks J-League record". ESPNsoccernet. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
4. "Japan – J-League Awards". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
5. "Japanese teen Morimoto seals loan move to Italy". Reuters. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
6. "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
7. Gazzetta dello Sport (27 January 2007). "Morimoto, favola di Catania" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2007.
8. "Takayuki Morimoto signs new Catania deal". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
9. "Morimoto Meglio Di Balotelli". goal.com. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
10. "Takayuki Morimoto al Novara" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
11. "Catania confirm Morimoto exit". Yahoo! Eurosport UK. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
12. "Ex-Catania striker Morimoto moving to Frontale". The Japan Times. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
13. Goal.com (14 July 2008). "Japan Name Olympic Squad". Retrieved 17 July 2008.
14. Japan National Football Team Database
15. Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 168 out of 289)
16. Japan – Takayuki Morimoto – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway

External links

• Takayuki Morimoto – FIFA competition record
• Takayuki Morimoto at National-Football-Teams.com
• Japan National Football Team Database
• Takayuki Morimoto at J.League (in Japanese)