Jun Endo (遠藤 純, Endō Jun, born 24 May 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Japan national team.[2] She previously played for Nippon TV Beleza of the Japanese Nadeshiko League and won the 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship.[3]

Jun Endo
Endo in 2024
Personal information
Full name Jun Endo[1]
Date of birth (2000-05-24) 24 May 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Shirakawa, Fukushima, Japan
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Forward, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Angel City
Number 18
Youth career
2013–2018 JFA Academy Fukushima LSC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Tokyo Verdy Beleza 41 (13)
2022– Angel City 40 (4)
International career
2016 Japan U-17 4 (3)
2018 Japan U-20 6 (2)
2019– Japan 42 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 France
AFC U-19 Women's Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 China
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2016 Jordan
AFC U-16 Women's Championship
Silver medal – second place 2015 China
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:30, 1 November 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02:06, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

Early life

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Endo was born in Fukushima Prefecture on 24 May 2000. Endo is the youngest of four children. Her father is a football coach, and her mother is a teacher, and her family lived next door to her grandparents in her hometown of Shirakawa in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan.[4]

The April 2011 Fukushima earthquake struck while Endo, then 10 years old, was in class and heavily damaged her school. Her family and their homes survived, and they were not required to evacuate from the subsequent release of radiation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; as she wasn't allowed to go outside, she continued to practice football inside her home, which contributed to her ability to handle the ball in confined spaces.[5] In a 2023 interview, Endo said that at the time she had been bullied by youth players who would often act like players from Fukushima were "contaminated" by radioactivity. Despite this, the subsequent Japanese victory at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup inspired Endo to continue her football career.[5]

Club career

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Tokyo Verdy Beleza, 2018–2021

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In 2018, she joined L.League club Nippon TV Beleza from JFA Academy Fukushima LSC. In 2019, Endo won the 2019 AFC Women's Club Championship with Nippon TV Beleza.[3]

Angel City FC, 2022–

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Endo playing for Angel City in 2022

On 20 December 2021, Endo signed with NWSL club Angel City FC for the club's inaugural season.[3] On 29 April 2022, she assisted the first goal and scored the second in Angel City's first-ever regular season game, a win over North Carolina Courage,[6] and was awarded Player of the Match.[7] In her first season with Angel City, Endo played 22 games and racked up 1,925 minutes.[8] The club finished their first season in eighth place with a 8–9–5 record.[9]

Endo returned to Angel City for the 2023 season and started in 10 of the 18 games she played in addition to playing in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[10] She notched her first goal and assist of the season in a 3-2 win over Kansas City Current in May.[11]

During a 2-2 draw against Chicago Red Stars on 17 September, she scored the club's second goal.[12] She scored Angel City's last goal in a 5-1 rout against Portland Thorns FC on 15 October.[13] Angel City finished in fifth place during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time[14] where they were eliminated by Seattle Reign FC in the quarter final match.[15]

On 29 November 2023, Angel City announced they would exercise their one-year option to extend Endo's contract through 2024.[16] In February 2024, Endo suffered a season-ending ACL injury to her left-knee during a preseason training camp in Melbourne, Florida.[17] On 5 September 2024, Angel City announced Endo would be signing a new contract with Angel City beginning in 2025, keeping her at the club through 2027.[18]

International career

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Youth

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In 2016, Endo was selected for the Japan U-17 national team for the 2016 U-17 World Cup.[19] She played in four matches and scored three goals, helping Japan win second place.

In 2018, Endo was selected for the Japan U-20 national team for the 2018 U-20 World Cup.[20] She played in all six matches and scored two goals, and Japan won the championship.

Senior

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In February 2019, Endo was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup. She earned her first cap for the senior nation al team on 27 February during the match against the United States.[21]

In 2019, Endo was the youngest member of the 2019 Japanese World Cup team and played in three of Japan's four games.[22][23]

In February 2023, Endo was selected for the Japan national team for the SheBelieves Cup.[22] She scored in Japan's 3-0 win over Canada. On 13 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[24]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tokyo Verdy Beleza 2018 Nadeshiko League 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2019 18 5 5 1 4 0 3[c] 0 27 6
2020 15 8 5 5 20 13
2021–22 WE League 8 0 2 0 10 0
Total 41 13 12 6 5 0 3 0 61 19
Angel City 2022 NWSL 22 1 6 0 28 1
2023 18 3 1 0 19 3
2024 0 0 0 0
Total 40 4 7 0 47 4
Career total 81 17 12 6 12 0 3 0 108 23

International

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As of match played 30 November 2023[25]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National Team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2019 12 0
2020 2 0
2021 7 1
2022 7 1
2023 14 3
Total 42 5
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Endo goal.
List of international goals scored by Jun Endo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 13 June 2021 Kanseki Stadium Tochigi, Utsunomiya, Japan   Mexico 5–1 5–1 Friendly [26]
2 27 June 2022 Veritas Stadion, Turku, Finland   Finland 2–1 5–1 [27]
3 22 February 2023 Toyota Stadium, Frisco, United States   Canada 3–0 3–0 2023 SheBelieves Cup [28]
4 22 July 2023 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand   Zambia 4–0 5–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup [29]
5 30 November 2023 Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil   Brazil 2–3 3–4 Friendly [30]

Honours

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Tokyo Verdy Beleza

Japan U20

Japan

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ Baxter, Kevin (25 July 2023). "Angel City's irrepressible Jun Endo finds ways to stand out for Japan in World Cup". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Jun Endo". Angel City FC. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. ^ "How Angel City's irrepressible Jun Endo stands out for Japan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b Oxenham, Gwendolyn (5 April 2023). "How an earthquake, nuclear fallout and family made Jun Endo one of the world's most electrifying players". ESPN. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Angel City FC win inaugural NWSL regular season game in front of star-studded and festive crowd in Los Angeles". 30 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Angel City FC on Instagram: "A well deserved Player of the Match title goes to Jun Endo! @jun_soccer524 #Volemos | #NWSL | #LAvNC | #AngelCityFC"".
  8. ^ Yang, Steph. "Jun Endo talks growing up in Japan, finding style on and off the field with Angel City". The Athletic. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  9. ^ "2022 Angel City FC". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jun Endo". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Alyssa Thompson helps power Angel City to win over Kansas City". Los Angeles Times. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Ali Riley and Jun Endo score as Angel City plays Chicago to draw". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Portland Thorns squander NWSL shield, lose 5-1 on road at Angel City FC". The Oregonian. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Angel City FC season preview: Aiming to become contenders". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Reign edge Angel City in NWSL quarterfinals as Rose Lavelle returns in Megan Rapinoe's final home game". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Angel City and Jun Endo Exercise One-Year Option". Angel City. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Angel City FC's Jun Endo to miss season with ACL injury". Daily News. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Angel City Football Club Signs Forward Jun Endo to a New Contract". OurSports Central. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  19. ^ FIFA
  20. ^ FIFA
  21. ^ Japan Football Association
  22. ^ a b "How an earthquake and nuclear disaster led one player to the World Cup and NWSL". ESPN.com. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  23. ^ MCKIRDY, Andrew (12 July 2023). "Fukushima-born Jun Endo ready to run free for Japan at World Cup". The Japan Times. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Iwabuchi left out of Japan's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Jun Endo|JFA|Japan Football Association".
  26. ^ "Japan vs. Mexico - 13 June 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Finland vs. Japan - 27 June 2022 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Canada vs. Japan - 22 February 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Zambia vs. Japan - 22 July 2023 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  30. ^ "Fixtures/Results | International Friendly Match | Nadeshiko Japan | Japan National Team | Japan Football Association | JFA". www.jfa.jp. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
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