Kazunori Iio Explained

Kazunori Iio
飯尾 一慶
Fullname:Kazunori Iio
Birth Date:23 February 1982
Birth Place:Ninohe, Iwate, Japan
Position:Midfielder, Forward
Youthyears1:1997–1999
Youthclubs1:Verdy Kawasaki
Years1:1999–2013
Clubs1:Tokyo Verdy
Caps1:276
Goals1:30
Years2:2002
Clubs2:Kawasaki Frontale (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:2
Years3:2005
Clubs3:Kawasaki Frontale (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2006
Clubs4:Avispa Fukuoka (loan)
Caps4:17
Goals4:4
Years5:2014–2015
Clubs5:Yokohama FC
Caps5:10
Goals5:1
Totalcaps:315
Totalgoals:37
Nationalyears1:2001
Nationalteam1:Japan U-20
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0

is a former Japanese football player.

Club career

Iio was born in Ninohe on February 23, 1982. He joined Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) from youth team in 1999. In 2000, he played many matches as forward.

Iio made a name for himself when he scored Verdy's first goal in the final of the 2004 Emperor's Cup. The match ended in a 2-1 victory for Verdy over Júbilo Iwata. Kazuki Hiramoto netted Verdy's second, whilst Norihiro Nishi provided Júbilo's consolation. It was the first time Verdy had won the Emperor's Cup since 1996.

Upon Iio's transfer to Avispa Fukuoka in 2006, he received a relatively high squad number of 34. Despite this, he quickly established himself as a first-choice striker. During the 2006 season, Avispa would usually play with two men up front, with Iio on the left, and Takanori Nunobe to his right.

Iio's first J1 League appearance for Avispa came against FC Tokyo on 19 July 2006, when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute for fellow striker Mitsunori Yabuta. This game was held at the Hakatanomori Football Stadium, and ended in a goalless draw. Iio would not have to wait long for his first Avispa goal however, as just 10 days later, on the 29 July 2006 contest between Gamba Osaka and Avispa, Iio netted a goal in a match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.

Following Avispa's relegation, Iio returned to Verdy for the start of the 2007 season. Iio would appear regularly for Verdy in this campaign, occasionally even appearing as a right-winger in Verdy's midfield. He finished the campaign with 19 games, scoring 2 goals.

He moved to Yokohama FC in 2014. However he could hardly play in the match and he left the club end of 2015 season.

National team career

Iio has represented Japan U-20 national team, but has yet to be given a full international cap. Iio was selected for the 2001 World Youth Championship, along with his strike partner at Tokyo Verdy, Kazuki Hiramoto. At this tournament, he played all 3 matches.

Club statistics

[1]

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupAsiaTotal
1999Verdy KawasakiJ1 League401120colspan="2"-71
20002642040colspan="2"-324
2001Tokyo VerdyJ1 League1100011colspan="2"-121
2002Kawasaki FrontaleJ2 League7200colspan="2"-colspan="2"-72
2003Tokyo VerdyJ1 League1320050colspan="2"-182
20041205130colspan="2"-201
2005Kawasaki FrontaleJ1 League500010colspan="2"-60
2006Tokyo VerdyJ2 League9100colspan="2"-20111
2006Avispa FukuokaJ1 League1741000colspan="2"-184
2007Tokyo VerdyJ2 League19200colspan="2"-colspan="2"-192
2008J1 League2621040colspan="2"-312
2009J2 League28110colspan="2"-colspan="2"-291
201031510colspan="2"-colspan="2"-325
201125400colspan="2"-colspan="2"-254
201235411colspan="2"-colspan="2"-365
201337520colspan="2"-colspan="2"-395
2014Yokohama FCJ2 League9100colspan="2"-colspan="2"-91
20151000colspan="2"-colspan="2"-10
Total315371532012035241

Notes and References

  1. http://www.verdy.co.jp/lancelot/cms/siteuser/newsdetail/user_id/f98c078b5e46cce02fd686fadbff9929/id/10f434ba840f6c05ec16743a561b4958 Tokyo Verdy