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 (1988-05-07) 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)
* 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 Cup1 League Cup2 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
Total 18410-194
Catania 2012–13 5030-80
Total 5030-80
Al-Nasr Dubai 2012–13 13631632210
Total 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 27620-296
Career total 28558311219633576

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

2Includes J.League Cup and AFC Champions League.

National team statistics

Awards and honours

Club

Tokyo Verdy

Kawasaki Frontale

Individual

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
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