Yuichi Komano (駒野 友一, Komano Yūichi, born 25 July 1981) is a former Japanese professional footballer who last played as a defender. He last played for Japan national team until 2013.[2]

Yuichi Komano
駒野 友一
Personal information
Full name Yuichi Komano[1]
Date of birth (1981-07-25) 25 July 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Kainan, Wakayama, Japan
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1997–1999 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 191 (9)
2008–2015 Júbilo Iwata 257 (13)
2016 FC Tokyo 1 (0)
2016FC Tokyo U-23 (loan) 4 (0)
2016Avispa Fukuoka (loan) 12 (1)
2017–2018 Avispa Fukuoka 63 (2)
2019–2022 FC Imabari 92 (2)
International career
2000–2001 Japan U-20 10 (0)
2002 Japan U-23 4 (0)
2005–2013 Japan 78 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Busan Team
AFC U-19 Championship
Runner-up 2000 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 November 2022, 12:00 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 August 2013, 14:04 (UTC)

Club career

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Komano played for his local junior high school team. He was invited for trials from several clubs, including Gamba Osaka, JEF United Ichihara, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and local high school powerhouse Hatsushiba Hashimoto. He decided to join Sanfrecce Hiroshima youth team and entered Yoshida High School in Hiroshima.

Komano has been the first-choice right back for the club since 2001 when he is available. He suffered from several serious injuries and illnesses. He damaged the cruciate ligaments of his left knee in the match against Yokohama FC on 16 August 2003. While he was in hospital, he suffered from a venous thrombosis. Because of these, he was sidelined until April 2004. He broke his left collar bone in an Olympic game against Ghana in August 2004. In September of the same year, he also suffered from a uveitis problem that might have caused blindness. Komano moved to Júbilo Iwata for the 2008 season after Hiroshima was relegated to J2 League.

Komano played as regular right side-back and played all 34 matches every season until 2013 except 2010 season for injury.[2] However Júbilo was relegated to J2 League end of 2014 season. He played many matches in 2 seasons in J2, Júbilo returned to J1 end of 2015 season.

In 2016, Komano moved to FC Tokyo.[3] However he could hardly play in the match behind young player Ryoya Ogawa.

In July 2016, Komano moved to Avispa Fukuoka.[4] Although he played many matches, Avispa finished at the bottom place in 2016 season and was relegated to J2 League. Although he played as regular player in 2017, his opportunity to play decreased in 2018 and he left the club end of 2018 season.[5]

In 2019, Komano signed with Japan Football League club FC Imabari.[6]

In 2022, Komano announcement retirement from football in 2022 after 23 years play for professional football career.

International career

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In June 2001, Komano was selected Japan U20 national team for 2001 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played full-time in all 3 matches as left side midfielder and left side back. In August 2004, he represented Japan U23 national team at the 2004 Olympics and he played two matches as left side back and left side midfielder.

He made his full international debut for Japan national team on 3 August 2005 in a 2005 East Asian Football Championship match against China. He was a member of the Japan team for the 2006 World Cup finals as a backup for first-choice Akira Kaji.[7] Because of Kaji's injury, Komano played in Japan's opening game against Australia. He was also a member for the 2007 Asian Cup finals. He played all the Japan games except one for which he wasn't eligible due to suspension.

On 29 June 2010, Komano missed a penalty in a penalty shoot-out against Paraguay as Japan lost 5–3 in the 2010 World Cup second round.[8]

Komano scored his first international goal in a friendly against Tajikistan on 11 October 2011 at Nagai Stadium. He played 78 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 2013.[9]

Career statistics

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As of the end 2022 season.[10][11][12]

Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2000 J1 League 0 0 1 0 3 0 - 4 0
2001 24 1 2 0 3 0 - 29 1
2002 27 1 4 0 2 0 - 33 1
2003 J2 League 23 0 0 0 - - 23 0
2004 J1 League 18 1 1 0 3 0 - 22 1
2005 34 2 1 0 4 0 - 39 2
2006 31 2 2 0 1 0 - 34 2
2007 34 2 5 1 3 0 - 42 3
Total 191 9 16 1 19 0 - 226 10
Júbilo Iwata 2008 J1 League 34 1 0 0 1 1 - 35 2
2009 34 1 1 0 1 0 - 36 1
2010 23 0 0 0 4 0 - 27 0
2011 34 2 0 0 3 0 1[a] 0 38 2
2012 34 3 1 0 4 0 - 39 3
2013 34 2 2 0 4 1 - 40 3
2014 J2 League 35 3 2 0 - - 37 3
2015 29 1 0 0 - - 29 1
Total 257 13 6 0 17 2 1 0 281 15
FC Tokyo 2016 J1 League 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
FC Tokyo U-23 2016 J3 League 4 0 - - - 4 0
Avispa Fukuoka 2016 J1 League 12 1 0 0 0 0 - 12 1
2017 J2 League 39 1 0 0 - - 39 1
2018 24 1 1 0 - - 25 1
Total 75 3 1 0 0 0 - 76 3
FC Imabari 2019 JFL 29 1 - - - 29 1
2020 J3 League 24 1 - - - 24 1
2021 23 0 1 1 - - 24 1
2022 17 0 - - - 17 0
Career total 621 27 24 2 36 2 3 0 684 31

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[13]
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2005 5 0
2006 10 0
2007 12 0
2008 13 0
2009 9 0
2010 11 0
2011 7 1
2012 5 0
2013 6 0
Total 78 1
Score and result list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Komano goal.
International goal scored by Yūichi Komano
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 2011 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan   Tajikistan 3–0 8–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Júbilo Iwata

Japan

Individual

  • J.League Best XI: 2012

References

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  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b Yūichi Komano at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)  
  3. ^ FC Tokyo(in Japanese)
  4. ^ Avispa Fukuoka(in Japanese)
  5. ^ Avispa Fukuoka(in Japanese)
  6. ^ FC Imabari(in Japanese)
  7. ^ FIFA.com Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Fletcher, Paul (29 June 2010). "Paraguay 0–0 Japan (5–3 pens)". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  9. ^ Japan National Football Team Database
  10. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 167 out of 289)
  11. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411420 (p. 163 out of 289)
  12. ^ Avispa Fukuoka(in Japanese)
  13. ^ Yūichi Komano at National-Football-Teams.com
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