Takayuki Morimoto
{{Short description|Japanese footballer (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Takayuki Morimoto
森本 貴幸
| image = Morimoto UDI-CAT 4-2.jpg
| upright = 0.5
| caption = Morimoto in 2009
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1988|5|7}}
| birth_place = Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| height = 1.80 m
| position = Second striker
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1995–1997
| youthclubs1 = Tsudayama FC
| youthyears2 = 1998–2004
| youthclubs2 = Tokyo Verdy
| years1 = 2004–2006
| clubs1 = Tokyo Verdy
| caps1 = 46
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2006–2011
| clubs2 = Catania
| caps2 = 81
| goals2 = 15
| years3 = 2011–2012
| clubs3 = Novara
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2012
| clubs4 = Catania
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2013
| clubs5 = → Al-Nasr Dubai (loan)
| caps5 = 13
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2013–2015
| clubs6 = JEF United Chiba
| caps6 = 73
| goals6 = 17
| years7 = 2016–2017
| clubs7 = Kawasaki Frontale
| caps7 = 22
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2018–2020
| clubs8 = Avispa Fukuoka
| caps8 = 26
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2020
| clubs9 = AEP Kozani
| caps9 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2021
| clubs10 = Sportivo Luqueño
| caps10 = 1
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2022–2023
| clubs11 = Taichung Futuro
| caps11 = 15
| goals11 = 1
| totalcaps = 300
| totalgoals = 54
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam1 = Japan U-20
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2008
| nationalteam2 = Japan U-23
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2009–2012
| nationalteam3 = Japan
| nationalcaps3 = 10
| nationalgoals3 = 3
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Team|Tokyo Verdy}}
{{Medal|W|Emperor's Cup|2004}}
{{Medal|Team|Kawasaki Frontale}}
{{Medal|RU|J.League Cup|2017}}
{{Medal|RU|Emperor's Cup|2016}}
{{Medal|Country|{{Fb|JPN}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|AFC U-19 Championship}}
{{Medal|B|2004 Malaysia|}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Takayuki Morimoto|森本 貴幸|Morimoto Takayuki|born 7 May 1988}} is a Japanese{{J.League player}} former professional footballer who plays as a second striker. 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Club career
=Youth career=
Born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Morimoto began his youth career with Tsudayama FC in 1995. He joined Tokyo Verdy's, then known as Yomiuri SC's youth set-ups on 1998. He was eventually promoted to Verdy's first-team in May 2004, when he was a first grader at high school.
=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 former league record for youngest player to debut (since passed by Maki Kitahara on 1 March 2025).{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/japan/jl/20250301/1993123.html|title=J1史上最年少デビューMF北原槙「素直に楽しかった」 中学3年で"光栄"な初出場も「満足せずに高いところを目指す」|first=livedoor|last=Co.,Ltd|date=1 March 2025|website=サッカーキング}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=299412 |title=Morimoto, 15, breaks J-League record |publisher=ESPNsoccernet |date=5 May 2004 |access-date=20 July 2006 |archive-date=25 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525131955/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=299412 |url-status=dead }} He captured the J.League Rookie of the Year Award for the 2004 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/jap-poy.html |title=Japan – J-League Awards |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=20 July 2006}}
During the 2004 season, Morimoto was teammates with former Cerro Porteño player Nozomi Hiroyama.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} On 23 July 2006, Tokyo Verdy announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Catania of Serie A.
{{cite news |url = http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=2006-07-23T141404Z_01_T17714_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-MORIMOTO.XML |title = Japanese teen Morimoto seals loan move to Italy |publisher = Reuters |date = 23 July 2006 |access-date = 23 July 2006}} {{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
=Catania=
Morimoto made his Serie A debut on 28 January 2007 during an away game against Atalanta.{{cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
|url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3611.php | access-date=1 February 2007}} He entered the game in the 83rd minute and scored the equalizing goal, his first, just five minutes later.{{cite web |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Atalanta/Primo_Piano/2007/01_Gennaio/28/atalanta-catania.shtml |title=Morimoto, favola di Catania |access-date=28 January 2007 |date= 27 January 2007 |author=Gazzetta dello Sport |author-link=Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it}} 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
On 14 December 2008, Morimoto signed a three-year contract extension with Catania until 30 June 2011.{{cite web|title=Takayuki Morimoto signs new Catania deal|work=tribalfootball.com
|url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/takayuki-morimoto-signs-new-catania-deal-216269 | access-date=21 December 2008}}
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.{{cite web|title=Morimoto Meglio Di Balotelli|work=goal.com
|url=http://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2009/05/21/1277700/pato-morimoto-meglio-di-questo-balotelli-io-voglio-essere-il-mal | access-date=20 May 2009}}
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.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
On 11 July 2011, Catania confirmed to have sold Morimoto to newly promoted Serie A club Novara in a co-ownership bid.{{cite news |language=it |access-date=11 July 2011 |date=11 July 2011 |publisher=Calcio Catania |url=http://www.calciocatania.net/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=23235 |title=Takayuki Morimoto al Novara |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928111824/http://www.calciocatania.net/comunicati/comunicati.php?id=23235 |archive-date=28 September 2011}} 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
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.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
=Later years=
On 14 August 2013, Morimoto signed for J2 League club JEF United Chiba for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|title=Catania confirm Morimoto exit|work=Yahoo! Eurosport UK
|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/serie-catania-confirm-morimoto-exit-112719011.html | access-date=14 August 2013}}
On 24 December 2015, Morimoto signed for Kawasaki Frontale on a two-year deal, with the contract starting on 1 February 2016.{{cite web|title=Ex-Catania striker Morimoto moving to Frontale|work=The Japan Times |date=24 December 2015 |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/12/24/soccer/j-league/ex-catania-striker-morimoto-moving-frontale/#.V-FO9ogrJQI | access-date=24 December 2015}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tigosports.com.py/futbol/luqueno-se-reforzara-con-un-japones|title = Un japonés "clase A" reforzará al Sportivo Luqueño}} In February 2021, Morimoto signed with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hoy.com.py/deportes/la-inspiracion-samuray-en-luqueno/amp|title=Diario HOY | la inspiración samuray en Luqueño|date=26 April 2016}} He was presented by the club through Twitter.{{Cite web|url=https://nowparaguay.com/de-pie-senores-se-viene-el-refuerzo-de-sportivo-luqueno-el-japones-takayuki-morimoto/|title = De pie señores: Se viene el refuerzo de Sportivo Luqueño: El japonés Takayuki Morimoto|date = 2 February 2021}} He joined former Paraguay national team players Edgar Benitez, Guillermo Beltran and Luis Cabral.{{Cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/club/1847/2021_2/Sportivo_Luqueno.html|title=Sportivo Luqueño (2021)|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=www.national-football-teams.com|accessdate=2 December 2023}} 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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} This was his only appearance for the club, as he was released soon after.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hoy.com.py/deportes/luqueno-deja-ir-a-su-exotica-incorporacion|title = Diario HOY | Luqueño deja ir a su exótica incorporación| newspaper=Diario Hoy |date = 8 June 2021}}
On 23 August 2023, Serie D club Akragas announced the signing of Morimoto.{{cite web |language=it |date=23 August 2023 |accessdate=23 August 2023 |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-d/ufficiale-takayuki-morimoto-torno-nella-sua-sicilia-il-giapponese-ha-firmato-per-l-akragas-1867374 |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |title=Takayuki Morimoto torna nella sua Sicilia: il giapponese ha firmato per l'Akragas}} However, the formal acquisition of the player was blocked by a number of bureaucratic issues related to his status as a non-EU citizen, which turned out to be insurmountable and led to the club announcing in January 2024 that the signing could not be completed at last.{{cite web |language=it |date=12 January 2024 |accessdate=12 January 2024 |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-d/l-ex-serie-a-morimoto-non-vestira-la-maglia-dell-akragas-dg-strano-mi-assumo-tutte-le-colpe-1921976 |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |title=L'ex Serie A Morimoto non vestirà la maglia dell'Akragas. Dg Strano: "Mi assumo tutte le colpe"}}
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,{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=776891 |title= Japan Name Olympic Squad|access-date=17 July 2008 |date= 14 July 2008 |author=Goal.com}} 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.[http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/morimoto_takayuki.html Japan National Football Team Database] On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.
Personal life
In March 2021, Morimoto was involved in a traffic collision in Paraguay after crashing his vehicle against a motorcycle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/deportes/2021/03/17/escandalo-con-un-futbolista-japones-que-llego-como-figura-a-paraguay-choco-una-motocicleta-se-fugo-y-dio-positivo-en-su-control-de-alcoholemia/|title=Escándalo con un futbolista japonés que llegó como figura a Paraguay: chocó una motocicleta, se fugó y dio positivo en su control de alcoholemia|date=17 March 2021|website=infobae|accessdate=2 December 2023}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{Updated|end of 2018 season}}Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, [https://www.amazon.co.jp/J1-J3%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B%E5%90%8D%E9%91%91%E3%83%8F%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E7%89%88-2018-NSK-MOOK/dp/4905411521 "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){{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/takayuki-morimoto/4430/|title=Japan - T. Morimoto - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com|accessdate=2 December 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Emperor's Cup, Coppa Italia and UAE President's Cup.}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes J.League Cup and AFC Champions League.}} !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps
!Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||
| rowspan="4"|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 | colspan="2"|– | 6 | 0 | |
| colspan="1"|Total
!46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 7 |
| rowspan="6"|Catania
|5 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08
|14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 2 | |
| 2008–09
|23 | 7 | 1 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 9 | |
| 2009–10
|27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 6 | |
| 2010–11
|12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 2 | |
| colspan="1"|Total
!81 | 15 | 9 | 5 | colspan="2"|– | 90 | 20 | |
| Novara
|18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 19 | 4 | |
| Catania
|5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | |
| Al-Nasr Dubai (loan)
|13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 10 |
| rowspan="4"|JEF United Chiba
|2013 |12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 14 | 2 | |
| 2014
|34 | 10 | 2 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 36 | 12 | |
| 2015
|27 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 30 | 5 | |
| colspan="1"|Total
!73 | 17 | 7 | 2 | colspan="2"|– | 80 | 19 | |
| rowspan="3"|Kawasaki Frontale
|2016 |11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 3 |
| 2017
|11 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 7 |
| colspan="1"|Total
!22 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 36 | 10 |
| rowspan="3"|Avispa Fukuoka
|2018 |23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" | |||
| |25 | 1 | ||||||
| 2019
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="1"|Total
!26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 10 |
| AEP Kozani
|2020 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |
| Sportivo Luqueño
|2021 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Career total
!285 | 53 | 31 | 12 | 19 | 6 | 335 | 71 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|Japan U20
|2004 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 8||2 | ||
| Japan U23
|2008 | 10 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 10||1 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Japan
|2009 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 10||3 |
:Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Morimoto goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Takayuki Morimoto | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="7"|Japan U19 goals | ||||||
| align="center"|1 | 27 September 2004 | Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia | {{fbu|20|MAS}} | align="center"|3–0 | 2004 AFC Youth Championship | |
| align="center"|2 | 29 September 2004 | Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia | {{fbu|20|VIE}} | align="center"|1–0 | 2004 AFC Youth Championship | |
| colspan="7"|Japan U23 goals | ||||||
| align="center"|1 | 22 May 2008 | Stade Perruc, Hyères, France | {{fbu|21|FRA}} | align="center"|2–1 | 2008 Toulon Tournament | |
| colspan="7"|Japan goals | ||||||
| align="center"|1 | 14 October 2009 | Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi, Japan | {{fb|TGO}} | align="center"|5–0 | Friendly | |
| align="center"|2 | rowspan="2"|7 September 2010 | rowspan="2"|Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan | rowspan="2"|{{fb|Guatemala}} | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1 | rowspan="2"|Friendly | |
| align="center"|3 |
Honours
Tokyo Verdy
Kawasaki Frontale
Individual
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{FIFA player|214612}}
- {{NFT player|33883}}
- [http://www.jfootball-db.com/en/players/morimoto_takayuki.html Takayuki Morimoto] at Japan National Football Team Database
- {{J.League player|7725}}
{{J.League Rookie of the Year}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title= Japan squads
|bg= #0202FF
|fg= #FFFFFF
|list1=
{{Japan men's football squad 2008 Summer Olympics}}
{{Japan squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morimoto, Takayuki}}
Category:Association football people from Tokyo
Category:Japanese men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Japan men's international footballers
Category:Japan men's youth international footballers
Category:21st-century Japanese sportsmen
Category:UAE Pro League players
Category:Al-Nasr SC (Dubai) players
Category:JEF United Chiba players
Category:Kawasaki Frontale players
Category:Avispa Fukuoka players
Category:AEP Kozani F.C. players
Category:Olympic footballers for Japan
Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Japanese expatriate men's footballers
Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Japanese expatriate sportspeople in Paraguay
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Paraguay
Category:Association football people from Kawasaki, Kanagawa