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 Italian Serie D club Akragas. He holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J1 League history. Morimoto represented Japan at the 2004 and 2008 versions of the Toulon Tournament, the 2004 AFC Youth Championship, the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[3]

Takayuki Morimoto
森本 貴幸
Personal information
Full name Takayuki Morimoto[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-07) 7 May 1988[1]
Place of birth Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Akragas
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 (loan) 13 (6)
2013–2015 JEF United Chiba 73 (17)
2016–2017 Kawasaki Frontale 22 (5)
2018–2020 Avispa Fukuoka 26 (1)
2020 AEP Kozani 0 (0)
2021 Sportivo Luqueño 1 (0)
2022–2023 Taichung Futuro 11 (0)
2023– Akragas 0 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Japan U-20 8 (2)
2008 Japan U-23 10 (1)
2009–2012 Japan 10 (3)
Medal record
Tokyo Verdy
WinnerEmperor's Cup2004
Kawasaki Frontale
WinnerJ1 League2017
Runner-upJ.League Cup2017
Runner-upEmperor's Cup2016
Representing  Japan
AFC U-19 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2004 Malaysia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of end of 2018 season

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 years, 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.[4] He captured the J.League Rookie of the Year Award for the 2004 season.[5] During the 2004 season, Morimoto was teammates with former Cerro Porteño player Nozomi Hiroyama.[6] In the 2005 season at Tokyo Verdy, Morimoto was teammates with Riki Kitawaki, who would play in Paraguay before Morimoto would do the same several years later.[7] On 23 July 2006, Tokyo Verdy announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Catania of Serie A.[8]

Catania

Morimoto made his Serie A debut on 28 January 2007 during an away game against Atalanta.[9] He entered the game in the 83rd minute and scored the equalizing goal, his first, just five minutes later.[10] 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 recognized his potential and completed a permanent transfer deal in June 2007.

On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a three-year contract extension with Catania until 30 June 2011.[11]

Morimoto had a breakthrough season for Catania during the 2008–09 season, as he scored ten 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 believed Morimoto was the best young player in Serie A and compared him to Ronaldo.[12]

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.[13] 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.

Later years

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

On 24 December 2015, Morimoto signed for Kawasaki Frontale on a two-year deal, with the contract starting on 1 February 2016.[15]

In October 2020, Morimoto signed for the Greek Football League club AEP Kozani for an undisclosed fee. Having not been able to play because of the league being indefinitely suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic he asked for his release, making him a free agent.

In January 2021, Primera División Paraguaya team Sportivo Luqueño confirmed through their president that Morimito was going to arrive to Paraguay to sign for the club.[16] In February 2021, Morimoto signed with the club.[17] He was presented by the club through Twitter.[18] He joined former Paraguay national team players Edgar Benitez, Guillermo Beltran and Luis Cabral.[19] On 17 April 2021, Morimoto debuted for Sportivo Luqueño against Nacional Asunción in a 1–0 away defeat, being substituted onto the field in the 81st for Guillermo Beltran.[20] This was his only appearance for the club, as he was released soon after.[21]

On 23 August 2023, Morimoto returned to Sicily to join Serie D club Akragas.[22]

International career

Morimoto represented Japan at the Japan U20 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 U23 national team for the 2008 Summer Olympics,[23] 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.[24] On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.[24]

Personal life

In March 2021, Morimoto was involved in a traffic collision in Paraguay after crashing his vehicle against a motorcycle.[25]

Career statistics

Club
As of end of 2018 season[26][27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tokyo Verdy 2004 2240020244
2005 1811022213
2006 6000–60
Total 4651042517
Catania 2006–07 51––51
2007–08 14131–172
2008–09 23712–249
2009–10 27541–316
2010–11 12111–132
Total 811595–9020
Novara 2011–12 18410–194
Catania 2012–13 5030–80
Al-Nasr Dubai (loan) 2012–13 13631632210
JEF United Chiba 2013 12220–142
2014 341022–3612
2015 27530–305
Total 731772–8019
Kawasaki Frontale 2016 1122011143
2017 1133480227
Total 22554913610
Avispa Fukuoka 2018 23120-251
2019 3000–30
Total 26120002810
AEP Kozani 2020 0000–00
Sportivo Luqueño 2021 1000–10
Career total 28553311219633571
  1. Includes Emperor's Cup, Coppa Italia and UAE President's Cup.
  2. Includes J.League Cup and AFC Champions League.

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan U20 200442
200540
Total82
Japan U23 2008101
Total101
Japan[24] 200921
201072
201210
Total103
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Morimoto goal.
List of international goals scored by Takayuki Morimoto
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
Japan U19 goals
127 September 2004Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Malaysia3–02004 AFC Youth Championship
229 September 2004Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia Vietnam1–02004 AFC Youth Championship
Japan U23 goals
122 May 2008Stade Perruc, Hyères, France France2–12008 Toulon Tournament
Japan goals
114 October 2009Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi, Japan Togo5–0Friendly
27 September 2010Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan Guatemala2–1Friendly
3

Honours

Tokyo Verdy

Kawasaki Frontale

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2019.
  2. Takayuki Morimoto at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
  3. "Takayuki Morimoto :: Takayuki Morimoto ::".
  4. "Morimoto, 15, breaks J-League record". ESPNsoccernet. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  5. "Japan – J-League Awards". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  6. https://www.playmakerstats.com/equipa.php?id=2533&epoca_id=133
  7. https://www.playmakerstats.com/equipa.php?id=2533&epoca_id=134
  8. "Japanese teen Morimoto seals loan move to Italy". Reuters. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2006.
  9. "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
  10. Gazzetta dello Sport (27 January 2007). "Morimoto, favola di Catania" (in Italian). Retrieved 28 January 2007.
  11. "Takayuki Morimoto signs new Catania deal". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  12. "Morimoto Meglio Di Balotelli". goal.com. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  13. "Takayuki Morimoto al Novara" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  14. "Catania confirm Morimoto exit". Yahoo! Eurosport UK. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  15. "Ex-Catania striker Morimoto moving to Frontale". The Japan Times. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  16. "Un japonés "clase A" reforzará al Sportivo Luqueño".
  17. "Diario HOY | la inspiración samuray en Luqueño". 26 April 2016.
  18. "De pie señores: Se viene el refuerzo de Sportivo Luqueño: El japonés Takayuki Morimoto". 2 February 2021.
  19. "Sportivo Luqueño (2021)".
  20. https://www.playmakerstats.com/jogo.php?id=7887168
  21. "Diario HOY | Luqueño deja ir a su exótica incorporación". Diario Hoy. 8 June 2021.
  22. "Takayuki Morimoto torna nella sua Sicilia: il giapponese ha firmato per l'Akragas" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  23. Goal.com (14 July 2008). "Japan Name Olympic Squad". Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  24. Japan National Football Team Database
  25. "Escándalo con un futbolista japonés que llegó como figura a Paraguay: Chocó una motocicleta, se fugó y dio positivo en su control de alcoholemia".
  26. 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)
  27. Japan – Takayuki Morimoto – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway
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