Junichi Inamoto retires, ending a trailblazing career

Junichi Inamoto, the first Japanese player to feature in the Premier League, announced his retirement at age 45 on Wednesday, concluding a remarkable career that spanned over two decades.

Inamoto joined Arsenal in 2001 but made his Premier League debut with Fulham the following year. He later played for West Bromwich Albion, earning a reputation as a dynamic midfielder.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup cemented Inamoto as a national icon when he scored twice, including Japan’s historic first tournament victory against Russia, propelling the team to the knockout stage for the first time. “Those games were the launchpad for my name to be known around the world,” Inamoto reflected.

In addition to his stints in England, Inamoto enjoyed spells in Turkey, Germany, and France before returning to Japan in 2010. His final years were spent at Nankatsu SC, a fifth-tier Japanese club founded by the creator of Captain Tsubasa. “Of course, the environment at Arsenal and Nankatsu SC is completely different, but you have one ball, and football as a sport doesn’t change,” said Inamoto, who represented Japan in three World Cups and earned 82 international caps.

Despite limited appearances for Arsenal, his World Cup heroics solidified his global reputation and left an indelible mark on Japanese football.

(Source: AFP)