Japanese Football Legend Junichi Inamoto Announces Retirement
Junichi Inamoto, Japan's first Premier League player, announces retirement at 45, capping off an illustrious career with 82 international caps and a historic World Cup win against Russia in 2002.
Junichi Inamoto, a trailblazing Japanese midfielder, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 45. Inamoto made history as the first Japanese player to feature in the Premier League, initially joining Arsenal in 2001, although he didn't make his debut until he moved to Fulham a year later.
Throughout his illustrious career, Inamoto played for several clubs, including West Bromwich Albion, Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Rennes, before returning to Japan in 2010. He also had stints with Kawasaki Frontale, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and SC Sagamihara, finally ending his career with Nankatsu SC, a fifth-tier Japanese club. Inamoto's international career was equally impressive, earning 82 caps for Japan and scoring five goals, including the winner in Japan's first-ever World Cup victory against Russia in 2002.
Junichi Inamoto, Japan's pioneering Premier League player, has announced his retirement at 45. After signing with Arsenal in 2001, he made his English top-flight debut with Fulham the same year, following an uneventful stint with the Gunners.
Inamoto's diverse career spanned multiple continents, with notable appearances for West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Galatasaray, and Rennes. He returned to Japan in 2010, playing for various clubs before joining Nankatsu SC, a fifth-tier Japanese side, where he currently plays. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Inamoto reflected on his fulfilling career, stating, “I have done it all... I have been so happy to be able to continue playing football until I'm satisfied with my life.”
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