is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is a retired international for the Japan national team.
Club career
Gamba Osaka Inamoto was born in the town of Kurino (now Yūsui) in Kagoshima Prefecture and raised in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, where his family moved two months after his birth. He played for Japanese club Gamba Osaka during his last year of high school, signing with the club in 1997. In April of that year, at the age of 17, he made his debut in the 1997 J.League season, making him the youngest player in the J.League (at that time).goal.com He played for Gamba until summer 2001 and played 118 matches in the J1 League.
Loan to Arsenal Inamoto was then one of many high-profile transfers of Asian players to Europe, signing with Arsenal of the English Premier League. Inamoto scored two goals for the Japan national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but had already been released by Arsenal shortly before the tournament began.
Loan to Fulham Inamoto 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. He became a fan favourite quickly, scoring four goals over the two legs of Fulham's 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup final win against Bologna, scoring once in the first leg and a hat trick in the second. Other notable goals he scored in his time for Fulham include goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and also in the 3–1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2003. He also scored in the FA Cup against Everton which commentator Barry Davies described as "a Japanese peach". Inamoto was also described as "bigger than Beckham" by the Japanese media. 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.
West Bromwich Albion Inamoto signed 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. However, Gary Megson departed as West Bromwich Albion manager shortly afterwards, and successor Bryan Robson was unsure of the player.
Loan to Cardiff City Inamoto was loaned to Cardiff City for the latter part of the 2004–05 season, and impressed, being recalled to play a role in West Brom's survival campaign in the Premiership. 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. While at West Brom Inamoto scored once, an extra time winner in a League Cup tie against former club Fulham on 25 October 2005.
Galatasaray On 31 August 2006, Inamoto signed for Galatasaray.
Eintracht Frankfurt On 29 May 2007, it was revealed that he signed a two-year contract with German club Eintracht Frankfurt, joining on a free transfer. Inamoto was presented in a press conference joining fellow Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara in Frankfurt and was released on 30 May 2009.
Rennes On 19 June 2009, French Ligue 1 side Rennes announced that Inamoto had signed a contract with them.
Kawasaki Frontale Inamoto signed for J1 League club Kawasaki Frontale on 11 January 2010 in a move back to his homeland after nine years away in Europe. He played for Frontale for 5 seasons. He left at the end of the 2014 season.Kawasaki Frontale
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo In 2015, Inamoto then subsequently featured for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (later Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo) in the J2 League. Consadole won the 2016 season and was promoted to J1.J.League However he could only play single-digit matches every season from the 2016 season onward. He resigned at the end of the 2018 season.Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
SC Sagamihara On 23 January 2019, Inamoto signed with J3 League club SC Sagamihara.SC Sagamihara On 15 June 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a league match against Gamba Osaka U23.
Nankatsu SC On 18 January 2022, Inamoto signed for fifth tier Kantō Soccer League club, Nankatsu SC. On 30 July 2023, he scored his first goal for the club at the age of 43 in a league match against Toin University of Yokohama scoring a header.
He retired from playing in December 2024.
International career In August 1995, Inamoto was selected for Japan U17 for the 1995 U-17 World Championship. He played all three matches. In April 1999, he was selected for Japan U20 for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played three matches as Japan finished second.
On 5 February 2000, Inamoto debuted for the senior Japan national team under manager Philippe Troussier against Mexico.Japan National Football Team Database After his debut, Inamoto played ten matches or more every year under Troussier.
In September 2000, Inamoto was selected for Japan U23 for 2000 Summer Olympics. He played the full game in all four matches and scored a goal against Slovakia.
In 2000, Inamoto played at the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. He played four matches as Japan won the championship. In 2001, he also played at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played four matches as Japan finished second. In 2002, he was selected by Japan for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played all four matches and scored two goals against Belgium in the first match and Russia in the second match. Japan qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Inamoto played at the 2003 and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. In 2006, he was selected by Japan for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played two matches as Japan was eliminated at the group stage.
After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, due to generational change, Inamoto was not selected for Japan again until June 2007. After that, he played several matches every year. In 2010, he was selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played two matches as Japan qualified for the knockout stage. This World Cup would mark Inamoto's last game for Japan. In total, he played 82 games and scored 5 goals for the national side.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGamba Osaka1997J1 League2733060–36319982861040–33619992212000–24120002842041–34520011320030–162Total1181680171–14317Arsenal (loan)2001–02Premier League0000202040Fulham (loan)2002–03Premier League19220201043362003–042222110–253Total4144130104589West Bromwich Albion2004–05Premier League300000–302005–06Premier League2202021–2612006–07Championship300000–30Total2802021–321Cardiff City (loan)2004–05Championship1402000–160Galatasaray2006–07Süper Lig25030–51331Eintracht Frankfurt2007–08Bundesliga24020––2602008–0919010––200Total43030––460Rennes2009–10Ligue 1500000–50Kawasaki Frontale2010J1 League28020405039020111221010–14220122001030–240201325030100–3602014141101030191Total99380200801353Consadole Sapporo2015J2 League31010––3202016J2 League8100––812017J1 League600000–602018201050–80Total4712050–540SC Sagamihara2019J3 League9100––9120201000––102021J2 League9020––110Nankatsu SC2022Kanto Soccer League2000––20Career total4412534149225554933
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan20001402001111200211220031012004602005100200640200730200820200941201080Total825
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Inamoto goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Junichi InamotoNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 4 July 2001 Ōita, Japan 1–0 Friendly match2 4 June 2002 Saitama, Japan 2–2 2002 FIFA World Cup Group Stage3 9 June 2002 Yokohama, Japan 1–0 2002 FIFA World Cup Group Stage4 28 March 2003 Tokyo, Japan 2–2 Friendly match5 9 September 2009 Utrecht, Netherlands 4–3 Friendly match
Honours Fulham UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002
Hokkaido Consodale Sapporo J2 League: 2016
Japan U17 AFC U-17 Championship: 1994
Japan U20 FIFA World Youth Championship runner-up: 1999
Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2000 FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2001
Individual J.League Best Eleven: 2000
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database