Takayuki Morimoto facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Takayuki Morimoto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 7 May 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Second striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Free agent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Tsudayama FC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2004 | 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 | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Japan U-20 | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Japan U-23 | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | Japan | 10 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Takayuki Morimoto (森本 貴幸, Morimoto Takayuki, born 7 May 1988) is a Japanese professional footballer. He plays as a second striker, which is a forward player who plays just behind the main striker. Takayuki Morimoto holds a special record in Japan: he was the youngest Japanese player to ever play in a professional football match. He also became the youngest player to score a goal in the J1 League, Japan's top football league. He has played for Japan's national teams at different levels, including the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Takayuki Morimoto's Football Journey
Starting in Youth Football
Takayuki Morimoto was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. He started playing football at a young age. In 1995, he joined Tsudayama FC to begin his youth career. Later, in 1998, he moved to the youth teams of Tokyo Verdy. He played there until 2004. In May 2004, when he was still in high school, he was good enough to join Tokyo Verdy's main team.
Playing for Tokyo Verdy
On 13 March 2004, Morimoto made his first appearance in the J1 League. He played for Tokyo Verdy against Júbilo Iwata. He was only 15 years, 10 months, and 6 days old. This made him the youngest player ever to debut in the J1 League.
Just two days before his 16th birthday, on 5 May 2004, he scored his first goal. This happened in a game against JEF United Ichihara. This goal also set a new record for the youngest goal scorer in the league. For his amazing start, he won the J.League Rookie of the Year Award in 2004. In July 2006, Tokyo Verdy sent Morimoto to Catania in Italy's top league, Serie A, for a one-year loan.
Time in Italy with Catania
Morimoto played his first Serie A game on 28 January 2007. It was an away match against Atalanta. He came into the game late, in the 83rd minute. Just five minutes later, he scored his first goal for Catania, which helped his team tie the game.
However, on 13 March 2007, he got a serious injury. He tore a ligament in his left knee. This meant he would be out of action for at least six months. Even with this injury, Catania saw his great talent. They decided to sign him permanently in June 2007.
On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a new contract with Catania. This contract kept him with the club until June 2011.
The 2008–09 season was a very successful one for Morimoto at Catania. He scored ten goals in 25 games, including league and Coppa Italia matches. He also helped set up many goals for his teammates. A famous Brazilian player, Alexandre Pato, even said that he thought Morimoto was the best young player in Serie A. Pato compared him to the legendary player Ronaldo.
After this great season, Morimoto continued to play for Catania. He scored five more goals in the 2009–10 season and two more in the 2010–11 season.
On 11 July 2011, Catania sold Morimoto to Novara, another team that had just been promoted to Serie A. His time at Novara was affected by injuries. He played in 18 league games and scored four goals. At the end of the season, Novara was moved down to a lower league. Morimoto then returned to Catania on 21 June 2012.
On 7 January 2013, Morimoto was loaned to Al-Nasr Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He played there until June 2013 and then returned to Catania.
Later Years in Football
On 14 August 2013, Morimoto signed with JEF United Chiba, a club in Japan's J2 League. He played there for a few years.
Then, on 24 December 2015, he joined Kawasaki Frontale. This was a two-year deal that started in February 2016.
In October 2020, Morimoto moved to Greece. He signed with the club AEP Kozani. However, he could not play any games there. The league was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He then asked to leave the club and became a free agent.
In January 2021, a team from Paraguay, Sportivo Luqueño, announced that Morimoto would join them. He signed with the club in February 2021. He played one game for Sportivo Luqueño on 17 April 2021. He came on as a substitute in a match against Nacional Asunción. This was his only game for the club before he left.
In August 2023, an Italian club called Akragas tried to sign Morimoto. But due to some paperwork issues for non-European players, the signing could not be completed.
Playing for Japan
Takayuki Morimoto played for Japan's national youth teams. He was part of the Japan U20 national team in the 2004 AFC Youth Championship and the 2005 World Youth Championship. In 2008, he played for the Japan U23 national team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
On 10 October 2009, Morimoto played his first game for the senior national team. He came on as a substitute in a 2–0 win against Scotland. Just a few days later, on 14 October 2009, he started his first game and scored his first goal for Japan. This was in a 5–0 win against Togo. He also played for Japan in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Career Statistics
Here are Takayuki Morimoto's statistics for his club and international career.
Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | 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 | |
| Catania | 2012–13 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | |
| Al-Nasr Dubai (loan) | 2012–13 | 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 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 25 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 10 | |
| AEP Kozani | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | |
| Sportivo Luqueño | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 285 | 53 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 335 | 71 | |
International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan U20 | 2004 | 4 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 2 | |
| Japan U23 | 2008 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 1 | |
| Japan | 2009 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 3 | |
Awards and Honours
Takayuki Morimoto has won several awards and championships throughout his career:
With Tokyo Verdy
- Emperor's Cup: 2004
- Japanese Super Cup: 2005
With Kawasaki Frontale
- J1 League: 2017
Individual Awards
- J.League Rookie of the Year: 2004
- Manchester United Premier Cup Most Valuable Player: 2003
See also
In Spanish: Takayuki Morimoto para niños
