Junichi Inamoto

Date of birth18 September 1979
Place of birthKagashima
NationalityJapanese
Weight75 kg
Height1.81 m
PositionMidfielder

After a disappointing season on loan at Arsenal from Gamba Osaka in 2001-02, Junichi Inamoto was a revelation in Japan's 2002 World Cup team.

A hard-working, solid midfield player, Junichi began his career at Seie Gakuen SC before moving to the J-League with Gamba Osaka making his debut in April 1997.

He played in the 2000 Olympic Games prior to joining Arsenal in the summer of 2001.

However, he has could not settle in to his new club and the Gunners released from his contract prior to the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan.

Junichi had been a regular squad member for Japan since the Olympics and formed an excellent defensive midfield partnership with Kazuyuki Toda allowing the more flamboyant members of the team to shine.

Having already scored against Belgium, Junichi had another superb effort disallowed as he came close to giving Japan a dramatic late winner in their 2-2 drawn opener.

He then became a national hero with the only goal of the game against Russia as Japan recorded their first-ever win in the World Cup finals.

He returned to Japan after the finals rejoining Gamba Osaka, but his performances in the finals persuaded Fulham to sign him on a year long loan deal for the 2002-03 season.

This deal was later extended to also cover the 2003-04 campaign.

Junichi joined West Bromwich Albion in August 2004 with a contract to January 2007.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Gamba Osaka 01 Mar 1996 31 Aug 2004
Arsenal 23 Jul 2001 30 Jun 2002 L
Fulham 15 Jul 2002 31 May 2004 L
West Bromwich Albion 31 Aug 2004 31 Aug 2006
Cardiff City 23 Dec 2004 23 Mar 2005 L
Galatasaray 31 Aug 2006

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2001-02 Arsenal League Cup 2
2001-02 Arsenal UEFA Champions League
2
2002-03 Fulham FA Cup 1
1
2002-03 Fulham League Cup 2
1
2002-03 Fulham Premier League 9
10
2
2002-03 Fulham UEFA Cup 2
4
1
2002-03 Fulham UEFA Intertoto Cup 1
3
4
2003-04 Fulham FA Cup 2
1
2003-04 Fulham League Cup 1
2003-04 Fulham Premier League 15
7
2
8
2004-05 Cardiff City FA Cup 2
1
2004-05 Cardiff City League Championship 13
1
2
2004-05 West Bromwich Albion Premier League
3
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion FA Cup 2
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion League Cup 2
1
2005-06 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 16
6
2006-07 Galatasaray UEFA Champions League 1
1
2006-07 West Bromwich Albion League Championship
3
2007-08 Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga 17
2
4


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
19 Sep 2001 Arsenal v Schalke 04 W 3-2 UEFA Champions League Group C
27 Nov 2001 Arsenal v Grimsby Town W 2-0 League Cup 4th round
11 Dec 2001 Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal L 4-0 League Cup Quarter-final
27 Feb 2002 Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen W 4-1 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group D


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1997-98 Japan Asian Games 5
2
1998-99 Japan World Youth Cup
3
1999-00 Japan AFC Asian Cup 4
2
1999-00 Japan Annual Match 1
1999-00 Japan Chinese New Year Tournament 2
1999-00 Japan Hassan II Tournament 1
1999-00 Japan International Friendly 1
1999-00 Japan Kirin Cup 3
1999-00 Japan Olympics 1
1
2000-01 Japan FIFA Confederations Cup 4
1
2000-01 Japan International Friendly 4
2000-01 Japan Olympics 4
1
2000-01 Japan OT 1
1
2001-02 Japan FIFA World Cup 4
2
1
2001-02 Japan International Friendly 5
2
2001-02 Japan Kirin Cup 4
1
2002-03 Japan FIFA Confederations Cup 2
1
2002-03 Japan International Friendly 2
1
2002-03 Japan Kirin Cup 2
2003-04 Japan FIFA World Cup 2
1
2003-04 Japan International Friendly 5
2003-04 Japan Kirin Cup 1
2003-04 Japan Summer Tournament 2
2004-05 Japan FIFA Confederations Cup
1
2004-05 Japan FIFA World Cup 1
2
1
2004-05 Japan International Friendly 1
2004-05 Japan Kirin Cup
2
2005-06 Japan FIFA World Cup 1
1
2005-06 Japan International Friendly 4
2
2006-07 Japan Kirin Cup 1
2007-08 Japan Four Nation Tournament 2
2008-09 Japan AFC Asian Cup 1
2008-09 Japan FIFA World Cup
1
2009-10 Japan EAFF East Asian Cup 2
1
1
2009-10 Japan FIFA World Cup
2
2009-10 Japan International Friendly 4
2
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
01 Dec 1998 Japan v Nepal W 5-0 Asian Games Group C
03 Dec 1998 Japan v India W 1-0 Asian Games Group C
07 Dec 1998 Korea Republic v Japan L 2-0 Asian Games Group 2 2nd round
09 Dec 1998 Japan v Kuwait W 2-1 Asian Games Group 2 2nd round
11 Dec 1998 United Arab Emirates v Japan L 1-0 Asian Games Group 2 2nd round
15 Apr 1999 Japan v Portugal W 1-1 (5-4) World Youth Cup 2nd round
21 Apr 1999 Japan v Uruguay W 2-1 World Youth Cup Semi-final
24 Apr 1999 Spain v Japan L 4-0 World Youth Cup Final
09 Oct 1999 Kazakhstan v Japan W 0-2 Olympics Asia group C
05 Feb 2000 Mexico v Japan L 1-0 CHINESE NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT
08 Feb 2000 Hong Kong v Japan D 0-0 CHINESE NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT
15 Mar 2000 Japan v China PR D 0-0 International Friendly
26 Apr 2000 Korea Republic v Japan L 1-0 ANNUAL MATCH
04 Jun 2000 France v Japan D 2-2 Hassan II Tournament
11 Jun 2000 Japan v Slovakia D 1-1 KIRIN CUP
18 Jun 2000 Japan v Bolivia W 2-0 KIRIN CUP
19 Jun 2000 Japan v Bolivia W 2-0 KIRIN CUP
16 Aug 2000 Japan v United Arab Emirates W 3-1 International Friendly
02 Sep 2000 Japan v Kuwait W 6-0 OT
14 Sep 2000 South Africa v Japan W 1-2 Olympics Finals Group D
17 Sep 2000 Slovakia v Japan W 1-2 Olympics Finals Group D
20 Sep 2000 Brazil v Japan L 1-0 Olympics Finals Group D
23 Sep 2000 USA v Japan L 2-2 (4-5) Olympics Quarter-final
04 Oct 2000 Japan v J LEAGUE FOREIGNERS W 2-0 International Friendly
14 Oct 2000 Japan v Saudi Arabia W 4-1 AFC Asian Cup Group C
17 Oct 2000 Japan v Uzbekistan W 8-1 AFC Asian Cup Group C
24 Oct 2000 Japan v Iraq W 4-1 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-final
26 Oct 2000 China PR v Japan W 2-3 AFC Asian Cup Semi-final
24 Mar 2001 France v Japan L 5-0 International Friendly
25 Apr 2001 Spain v Japan L 1-0 International Friendly
31 May 2001 Japan v Canada W 3-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
02 Jun 2001 Japan v Cameroon W 2-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
07 Jun 2001 Japan v Australia W 1-0 FIFA Confederations Cup Semi-final
10 Jun 2001 Japan v France L 0-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Final
01 Jul 2001 Japan v Paraguay W 2-0 Kirin Cup
04 Jul 2001 Japan v Yugoslavia W 1-0 KIRIN CUP
04 Oct 2001 Senegal v Japan L 2-0 International Friendly
07 Nov 2001 Japan v Italy D 1-1 International Friendly
27 Mar 2002 Poland v Japan W 0-2 International Friendly
29 Apr 2002 Japan v Slovakia D 3-3 KIRIN CUP
02 May 2002 Japan v Honduras D 3-3 KIRIN CUP
14 May 2002 Norway v Japan L 3-0 International Friendly
25 May 2002 Japan v Sweden D 1-1 International Friendly
04 Jun 2002 Japan v Belgium D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
09 Jun 2002 Japan v Russia W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
14 Jun 2002 Tunisia v Japan W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
18 Jun 2002 Japan v Turkey L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
16 Oct 2002 Japan v Jamaica D 1-1 KIRIN CUP
28 Mar 2003 Japan v Uruguay D 2-2 International Friendly
31 May 2003 Japan v Korea Republic L 0-1 International Friendly
08 Jun 2003 Japan v Argentina L 1-4 KIRIN CUP
18 Jun 2003 New Zealand v Japan W 0-3 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
20 Jun 2003 France v Japan L 2-1 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A
20 Aug 2003 Japan v Nigeria W 3-0 International Friendly
10 Sep 2003 Japan v Senegal L 0-1 International Friendly
08 Oct 2003 Tunisia v Japan W 0-1 International Friendly
11 Oct 2003 Romania v Japan D 1-1 International Friendly
19 Nov 2003 Japan v Cameroon D 0-0 KIRIN CUP
18 Feb 2004 Japan v Oman W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 3
31 Mar 2004 Singapore v Japan W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 3
28 Apr 2004 Czech Republic v Japan W 0-1 International Friendly
30 May 2004 Iceland v Japan W 2-3 SUMMER TOURNAMENT
01 Jun 2004 England v Japan D 1-1 Summer Tournament
16 Dec 2004 Japan v Germany L 0-3 International Friendly
30 Mar 2005 Japan v Bahrain W 1-0 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
22 May 2005 Japan v Peru L 0-1 KIRIN CUP
27 May 2005 Japan v United Arab Emirates L 0-1 KIRIN CUP
03 Jun 2005 Bahrain v Japan W 0-1 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
08 Jun 2005 Korea DPR v Japan W 0-2 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
16 Jun 2005 Japan v Mexico L 1-2 FIFA Confederations Cup Group B
07 Sep 2005 Japan v Honduras W 5-4 International Friendly
08 Oct 2005 Latvia v Japan D 2-2 International Friendly
12 Oct 2005 Ukraine v Japan L 1-0 International Friendly
16 Nov 2005 Japan v Angola W 1-0 International Friendly
28 Feb 2006 Bosnia and Herzegovina v Japan D 2-2 International Friendly
04 Jun 2006 Japan v Malta W 1-0 International Friendly
18 Jun 2006 Japan v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
22 Jun 2006 Japan v Brazil L 1-4 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
05 Jun 2007 Japan v Colombia D 0-0 Kirin Cup
07 Sep 2007 Austria v Japan L 0-0 (3-4) FOUR NATION TOURNAMENT
11 Sep 2007 Switzerland v Japan W 3-4 FOUR NATION TOURNAMENT
15 Oct 2008 Japan v Uzbekistan D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 4th round group 1
28 Jan 2009 Bahrain v Japan L 1-0 AFC Asian Cup
09 Sep 2009 Japan v Ghana W 4-3 International Friendly
10 Oct 2009 Japan v Scotland W 2-0 International Friendly
14 Nov 2009 South Africa v Japan D 0-0 International Friendly
02 Feb 2010 Japan v Venezuela D 0-0 International Friendly
06 Feb 2010 Japan v China PR D 0-0 EAFF East Asian Cup Final group
11 Feb 2010 Japan v Hong Kong W 3-0 EAFF East Asian Cup Final group
14 Feb 2010 Japan v Korea Republic L 1-3 EAFF East Asian Cup Final group
07 Apr 2010 Japan v Serbia L 0-3 International Friendly
04 Jun 2010 Japan v Ivory Coast L 0-2 International Friendly
14 Jun 2010 Japan v Cameroon W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group E
24 Jun 2010 Denmark v Japan W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Finals group E


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.