Junichi Inamoto introduced his retirement aged 45 on Wednesday, ending a profession that noticed the midfielder grow to be the primary Japanese participant to look within the Premier League.
Inamoto joined Arsenal in 2001 however needed to wait till transferring to Fulham a yr later earlier than he made his debut in England’s high flight, the place he additionally performed for West Bromwich Albion.
He turned a nationwide hero when he scored twice on the 2002 World Cup on house soil, together with the winner towards Russia in Japan’s first-ever victory on the event.
He additionally performed in Turkey, Germany and France earlier than returning to his house nation in 2010.
The ultimate years of his profession had been spent taking part in for Nankatsu SC, the Japanese fifth-tier membership owned by the creator of the favored cartoon Captain Tsubasa.
“In fact the surroundings at Arsenal and Nankatsu SC is totally totally different, however you may have one ball and soccer as a sport does not change,” Inamoto, who performed at three World Cups and gained 82 caps for Japan, instructed reporters.
Inamoto managed solely a handful of cup video games throughout his one season with Arsenal, amid doubts that he might adapt to the Premier League.
However his sensational performances on the 2002 World Cup earned him one other probability with Fulham, after main Japan to the knockout spherical for the primary time.
“These video games had been the launchpad for my identify to be identified all over the world,” stated Inamoto.
“I used to be already at Arsenal by then however these objectives had an amazing influence.”
amk/pst