Former Gunner Junichi Inamoto has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing to an end a 27-year career in senior football.
11 Dec 2001: Tugay and Jeff Kenna of Blackburn clash with Junichi Inamoto of Arsenal during the Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal Worthington Cup Quarter Final match at Ewood Park, Blackburn. Photo: Michael Steele/ALLSPORT
11 Dec 2001: Tugay and Jeff Kenna of Blackburn clash with Junichi Inamoto of Arsenal during the Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal Worthington Cup Quarter …
Posting on Instagram, former Arsenal midfielder Junichi Inamoto confirmed his retirement from professional football on Wednesday morning.
“I have decided to retire from my active career at the end of this season,” Inamoto said. “I’ve done everything I can! That’s how I honestly feel right now.
“I’ve had the happiest active career, being able to continue playing football until I was satisfied with it!
“I’ve been able to get this far thanks to the clubs I’ve been a part of, the managers, coaches, players, front office staff, sponsors, and the supporters who always pushed me! I owe it all to everyone I’ve been involved with.
“Thank you so much! I can’t find words other than gratitude! I’d like to hug each and every one of you if I could.
“From now on, I’ll be starting my second life, but I’ll do it in my own way and have fun!”
25 Jul 2001: Junichi Inamoto of Arsenal in action during the pre-season friendly match against Kocaelispor played at the Alpenstadion, in Wattens, Austria. Photo: Shaun Botterill /Allsport
25 Jul 2001: Junichi Inamoto of Arsenal in action during the pre-season friendly match against Kocaelispor played at the Alpenstadion, in Wattens, …
The Japanese leagues operate on a calendar-year basis, and Nankatsu SC’s season is already at an end. Inamoto’s last appearance in their squad was back in June, so perhaps the writing has been on the wall for the 45-year-old for a while now.
Inamoto was still playing games in 2023, even scoring in a Kanto Soccer League match last July. But the league is Japan’s fifth tier, a long way off the player’s peak.
The Japan international made 82 appearances for his country between the years 2000 and 2010, and he played for Premier League sides Arsenal, Fulham, and West Bromwich Albion.
He then moved on to play for Galatasaray in the Super Lig, Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, and Stade Rennais in Ligue 1, before ultimately returning to domestic football in his native Japan.
LONDON: Junichi Inamoto (right) of Fulham shakes hands with Gilberto (centre) of Arsenal during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Fulham and Arsenal on November 3, 2002. (Photo By Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Photo By Ben Radford/Getty Images
Inamoto was part of the Arsenal squad that won the 2001/02 Premier League, albeit that he didn’t make an appearance in the competition. He also won the Intertoto Cup with Fulham, and the Asian Cup with Japan.
More recently, he helped Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo to win the Japanese second division in 2016. But his cruciate ligament tear that season effectively brought his career to a slow end, and he never made 10+ appearances in another league campaign.
Even so, the player kept going and undoubtedly brought invaluable experience to his teammates up until this week’s announcement. Now perhaps he’ll continue to do the same in a coaching capacity.
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