Hiroto Iwabuchi (岩渕弘人, Iwabuchi Hiroto, born 17 September 1997) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for J1 League club Fagiano Okayama.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 September 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Iwate Prefecture, Japan | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Fagiano Okayama | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2009 | Hagisho SC | ||
| 2010–2012 | Hagisho Junior High School | ||
| 2013–2016 | Tono High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Sendai University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2023 | Iwaki FC | 88 | (26) |
| 2024– | Fagiano Okayama | 34 | (13) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:23, 10 January 2025 (UTC) | |||
Youth career
editBetween 2014 and 2015, Iwabuchi represented Tono High School in the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, however his school were knocked out in the first round of both tournaments.[2][3] He then went on to represent Sendai University in the Prime Minister's Cup and the Intercollegiate in 2017 and 2018, making 8 appearances in these competitions. In 2019, Iwabuchi made his first appearance in the Emperor's Cup, scoring an 82nd-minute winner in a 3–2 victory over Iwaki FC in the first round.[4] Sendai were eventually knocked out in the second round, losing 2–1 to J.League team Yokohama FC, with Iwabuchi playing 32 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.[5]
Club career
editIwaki FC
editIn 2020, Iwabuchi moved to Japan Football League club Iwaki FC.[6] He scored on his debut for the club in July in a 2–1 league victory over Nara Club.[7] Iwabuchi additionally went on to make 15 appearances across all competitions in his first season, scoring 3 goals in total.
In 2021, he played 25 games and scored 6 goals, as Iwaki were crowned champions of the JFL and were promoted to the J3 League for the first time in their history.[8]
In 2022, Iwabuchi was a regular starter in his first season in the J3 League, scoring regularly and following a hat-trick in a 6–0 win over YSCC Yokohama was awarded the J3 Monthly MVP award.[9][10] He played 31 games and scored 10 goals, as Iwaki were crowned champions of the J3 League and were promoted to the J2 League for the first time in their history. Near the end of the 2022 season in a league game against Tegevajaro Miyazaki, Iwabuchi suffered a cruciate ligament injury which would keep him out of action for at least six months.[11] On 17 December 2022, Iwabuchi renewed his contract with club for the upcoming 2023 season.[12]
Following his injury, it wasn't until June 2023 that he was able to return to playing. After coming on as a second-half substitute, Iwabuchi scored in his first game back in a 5–1 victory for Iwaki over Omiya Ardija.[13] He then went on to score six goals in his next six games, all after coming on as a substitute. For this run of form, Iwabuchi was awarded the July Monthly MVP award.[14] He finished the season with seven goals in 20 appearances.
Fagiano Okayama
editIn December 2023, it was announced that Iwabuchi would be transferring to Fagiano Okayama ahead of the 2024 season.[15] He made his debut on the first game of the season in a 3–0 victory over Tochigi SC.[16] He scored his first goal for the club in April, in a 2–0 victory over Roasso Kumamoto.[17] He had a slow goal-scoring start at his new club, only scoring 1 goal in his first 12 games. However, his form picked up and he scored in 4 straight games in May and June. He finished the season with 13 goals in 34 league games, helping Okayama finish in the play-off places in 5th. In the promotion play-offs, Iwabuchi scored in the play-off semi-final win over Montedio Yamagata and also started the play-off final against Vegalta Sendai, which Okayama won 2–0 and gained promotion to the J1 League for the first time in their history. At the end of season awards, Iwabuchi was nominated for the Best XI award, but did not make the final XI.[18]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of end of 2024 season.[19]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J. League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| Sendai University | 2018 | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Iwaki FC | 2020 | JFL | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 3 | ||
| 2021 | JFL | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 25 | 6 | |||
| 2022 | J3 League | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2023 | J2 League | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 20 | 7 | |||
| Total | 88 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 26 | ||
| Fagiano Okayama | 2024 | J2 League | 34 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | 38 | 14 |
| Career total | 122 | 39 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 93 | 27 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the J2 promotion play-offs
Personal life
editIwabuchi has been a supporter of Vegalta Sendai since he was young.[20]
References
edit- ^ "岩渕 弘人：いわきＦＣ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2014-15 Japan Highschool Soccer Tournament Game Result". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2015-16 Japan Highschool Soccer Tournament Game Result". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/05/25 Iwaki FC - Sendai University Results, Players, Formation". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2019 Emperors Cup 19/07/10 Yokohama FC - Sendai University Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "[いわきFC OfficialSite] いわきFC 新加入選手内定のお知らせ 〜流通経済大学 山口大輝選手、仙台大学 岩渕弘人選手〜". いわきFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 28 November 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2020 Japan Football League 20/07/18 Iwaki FC - Nara Club Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Summary - Japan Football League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Mizunuma captures KONAMI Monthly MVP for captaining Marinos to perfect June | News". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 J3 League 22/06/04 Yokohama Sports & Culture Club - Iwaki FC Results, Players". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "FW岩渕が全治6か月の負傷【いわき】：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 8 November 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "[いわきFC OfficialSite] 岩渕弘人選手 契約更新のお知らせ". いわきFC OfficialSite (in Japanese). 17 December 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Omiya Ardija vs. Iwaki - 24 June 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Yuya Osako wins Konami Monthly MVP again as Vissel star takes July honors | News". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "いわきよりMF岩渕が完全移籍加入【岡山】：Ｊリーグ公式サイト（J.LEAGUE.jp）". Ｊリーグ.jp（日本プロサッカーリーグ） (in Japanese). 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "2024 J2 League 24/02/25 Fagiano Okayama - Tochigi SC Results,Players,フォーメーション". Soccer D.B. Japan. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "2024 J2 League 24/04/20 Fagiano Okayama - Roasso Kumamoto Results,Players". Soccer D.B. Japan. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Ｊ２受賞選手：2024Ｊ２リーグアウォーズ：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2022 Hiroto Iwabuchi Result by Season". Soccer D.B. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "岩渕 弘人 ＭＦ 背番号19/復活へ「リハビリ順調」". 福島民友新聞社 (in Japanese). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
External links
edit- Profile at Iwaki FC
- Profile at J.League
- Hiroto Iwabuchi at Soccerway