Junichi Inamoto

Junichi Inamotoimage:Junichi Inamoto |Junichi Inamoto is a Japanese professional football player who plays in a midfielder position and is currently playing for Kawasaki Frontale team. Some of his major teams include Rennes, Eintracht Frankfurt, Galatasaray, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, West Bromwich Albion and many more.

This Kagoshima born player signed with the Gamba Osaka club when he was studying in his last year of high school. This one of the many high profile transfers to Europe had even signed with Arsenal of the Premier League but failed as he could not find himself a fit place in the first team. He appeared though in the Champions League and League Cup, scoring two goals for the Japanese national team at the 2002 World Cup. Inamoto made maximum appearances, that too of 105, for the Gamba Osaka and scored 14 goals during his tenure of four years with this team.

Later on, he signed with the Fulham team and settled quite well with this club playing as a tough undertaking midfielder, scoring four goals. Other notable goals which he scored for Fulham include goals against Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Sunderland and even against Everton in the FA Cup.

Due to a fractured tibia in a match against England, he had to return to Gamba Osaka. After his recovery, he joined West Bromwich Albion and in 2005-06, he became a regular player in the West Brom side. He was called up to the Japan squad for the FIFA World Cup in 2006, and became the first Albion player to play in the match for 20 years. In 2006, he signed for Galatasaray and by 2007, he signed a 2 year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt team.

=== Career Highlights ===

Individually, Junichi received J-League Best Eleven in 2000. Team wise, he received FIFA World Youth Championship runner up in 1999, Asian Cup Champions in 2000, FIFA Confederations Cup runners up in 2001 and UEFA Intertoto Cup Champions in 2002. He was nominated for Ballon d’Or in 2002.