Takayuki Morimoto

Takayuki Morimoto

Personal information
Full name	Takayuki Morimoto
Date of birth	May 7, 1988 (1988-05-07)
Place of birth	Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Novara
Number	11
Youth career
1995–1997	Tsudayama F.C.
1998–2000	Yomiuri S.C.
2001–2004	Tokyo Verdy 1969
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2006	Tokyo Verdy 1969	46	(5)
2006–2011	Catania	81	(15)
2011–	Novara	11	(3)
National team‡
2004–2005	Japan U-20	8	(2)
2008	Japan U-23	10	(1)
2009–	Japan	9	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 May 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 May 2011

Takayuki Morimoto (森本 貴幸, Morimoto Takayuki, born 7 May 1988 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa) is a Japanese footballer who plays for Novara in the Serie A, in a co-ownership bid with Catania.

Morimoto holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history. He has been compared to a young Ronaldo for the combination of his size, strength and speed.

Club career

Youth career

Morimoto began his youth career with Tsudayama FC in 1995, before transferring to Verdy Junior in 1998. After three year, Morimoto moved to Verdy Junior Youth in 2001, and remained until 2004, when he was sold to Tokyo Verdy 1969.

Tokyo Verdy 1969

On 13 March 2004, Morimoto made his J. League debut for Tokyo Verdy 1969 against Júbilo Iwata at the age of 15 years, 10 months and 6 days, a league record for youngest player to debut. He scored his first goal against JEF United Ichihara on May 5 of the same year, two days before his 16th birthday, another league record for youngest goal scorer. He captured the J. League Rookie of the Year Award for the 2004 season. On July 23, 2006, Tokyo Verdy 1969 announced a one-year loan deal sending Morimoto to Calcio Catania of the Serie A.

Calcio Catania

Morimoto made his Serie A debut on January 28, 2007 during an away game against Atalanta B.C.. He entered the game at the 83rd minute and scored the equalising goal, his first in a Serie A match, just five minutes later. On March 13, 2007, it was confirmed by Catania that Morimoto had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would be out for at least six months, ruling him out for the rest of the 2006–07 season. Despite the serious injury, Catania recognised his true potential and he completed a permanent transfer deal with Catania on June 2007.

On December 14, 2008, Morimoto signed a contract extension with Catania, a three-year deal lasting to 2011.

Morimoto had a breakthrough season for Catania during the 2008–09 season, as he scored 10 goals in 25 league and cup games, while also being credited with several assists.v Brazilian and A.C. Milan star Alexandre Pato told Corriere Dello Sport that he believes Morimoto is the best young player in Serie A and has compared him to Brazilian legend Ronaldo.

Despite all the talent and all the potential, the striker has never really lived up to all the expectations following an improvement in each of his first three seasons in Sicily. During the 2009-10 Serie A season, Morimoto scored an additional 5 goals, and has 1 goal to his credit thus far during the 2010-11 campaign. His performances have often been over-shadowed by the likes of Giuseppe Mascara, Maxi Lopez, Jorge Andres Martinez, and Gionatha Spinesi throughout his time in Sicily. The newly signed Argentine International, Gonzalo Bergessio, is also likely to limit chances for the young Japanese striker.

Novara Calcio

On 11 July 2011, Catania confirmed to have sold Morimoto to newly-promoted Serie A club Novara in a co-ownership bid.

International career

Morimoto has represented Japan at the U-20 level at both the 2004 AFC Youth Championship and the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. In 2008, he was a member of the Japanese national football team for the Beijing Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the preliminary round, losing all three matches and only managing to score one goal.

On 10 October 2009, he made his debut for the senior national team against Scotland coming on as a substitute for Ryoichi Maeda in a 2–0 win. On 14 October 2009, he made his first start and scored his first goal against Togo in a 5–0 win.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 12 April 2011

Club	Season	League		Cup1		League Cup2		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tokyo Verdy 1969	2004	22	4	-		2	0	24	4
	2005	18	1	1	0	2	2	21	3
	2006	6	0	-		-		6	0
	Total	46	5	1	0	4	2	51	7
Catania	2006–07	5	1	-		-		5	1
	2007–08	14	1	3	1	-		17	2
	2008–09	23	7	1	2	-		24	9
	2009–10	27	5	4	1	-		31	6
	2010–11	12	1	1	1	-		13	2
	Total	81	15	9	5	-		90	20
Novara	2011–12	11	3	1	0	-		12	3
	Total	11	3	1	0	-		12	3
Career total		138	23	11	5	4	2	153	30

¹Includes Emperor's Cup and Coppa Italia.

²Includes J. League Cup.

International

As of 8 October 2010

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan U-20
	2004	4	2
	2005	4	0
	Total	8	2
Japan U-23
	2008	10	1
	Total	10	1
Japan
	2009	2	1
	2010	7	2
	Total	9	3

International appearances and goals
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Goal	Competition
2004
	25 September 2004	Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru	Nepal U-19	3–0	0	2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19
	27 September 2004	Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru	Malaysia U-19	3–0	1	2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19
	29 September 2004	Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru	Vietnam U-19	1–0	1	2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19
	6 October 2004	Cheras Stadium, Kuala Lumpur	South Korea U-19	2–2	0	2004 AFC Youth Championship / Japan U-19
2005
	10 June 2005	Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade	Netherlands U-20	2–1	0	2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20
	15 June 2005	Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade	Benin U-20	1–1	0	2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20
	18 June 2005	Parkstad Limburg Stadion, Kerkrade	Australia U-20	1–1	0	2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20
	21 June 2005	De Grolsch Veste, Enschede	Morocco U-20	0–1	0	2005 FIFA World Youth Championship / Japan U-20
2008
	20 May 2008	Stade Mayol, Toulon	Netherlands U-23	1–0	0	2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23
	22 May 2008	Stade Perruc, Hyères	France U-23	2–1	1	2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23
	24 May 2008	Stade Jean Murat, Solliès-Pont	Chile U-23	0–2	0	2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23
	27 May 2008	Stade Mayol, Toulon	Italy U-23	0–0	0	2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23
	29 May 2008	Stade Mayol, Toulon	Côte d'Ivoire U-23	2–2	0	2008 Toulon Tournament / Japan U-23
	12 June 2008	National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo	Cameroon U-23	0–0	0	Friendly Match / Japan U-23
	24 July 2008	Home's Stadium Kobe, Kobe	Australia U-23	2–1	0	Friendly Match / Japan U-23
	29 July 2008	National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo	Argentina U-23	0–1	0	Friendly Match / Japan U-23
	7 August 2008	Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin	United States U-23	0–1	0	2008 Summer Olympics / Japan U-23
	13 August 2008	Shenyang Olympic Stadium, Shenyang	Netherlands U-23	0–1	0	2008 Summer Olympics / Japan U-23
2009
1.	10 October 2009	International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama	Scotland	2–0	0	Friendly Match
2.	14 October 2009	Miyagi Stadium, Miyagi	Togo	5–0	1	Friendly Match
2010
3.	3 March 2010	Toyota Stadium, Toyota	Bahrain	2–0	0	2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4.	24 May 2010	Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama	South Korea	0–2	0	Friendly Match
5.	30 May 2010	UPC-Arena, Graz	England	1–2	0	Friendly Match
6.	4 June 2010	Stade Tourbillon, Sion	Côte d'Ivoire	0–2	0	Friendly Match
7.	4 September 2010	International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama	Paraguay	1–0	0	Friendly Match
8.	7 September 2010	Nagai Stadium, Osaka	Guatemala	2–1	2	Friendly Match
9.	8 October 2010	Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama	Argentina	1–0	0	Friendly Match

Awards and honours

Club

Tokyo Verdy 1969

• Emperor's Cup: 1

2004

• Japanese Super Cup: 1

2005

Individual

• J. League Rookie of the Year: 1

2004

• Manchester United Premier Cup Most Valuable Player: 1

2003

External links

• Takayuki Morimoto – FIFA competition record
• Takayuki Morimoto at National-Football-Teams.com
• Takayuki Morimoto at Catania official site (Italian)