Tomokazu Myojin Explained

Tomokazu Myojin
明神 智和
Full Name:Tomokazu Myojin[1]
Birth Date:1978 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Height:1.74 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1993–1995
Youthclubs1:Kashiwa Reysol
Years1:1996–2005
Clubs1:Kashiwa Reysol
Caps1:252
Goals1:12
Years2:2006–2015
Clubs2:Gamba Osaka
Caps2:250
Goals2:14
Years3:2016
Clubs3:Nagoya Grampus
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2019
Clubs4:Nagano Parceiro
Caps4:38
Goals4:0
Totalcaps:538
Totalgoals:26
Nationalyears1:1997
Nationalteam1:Japan U-20
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2000
Nationalteam2:Japan U-23
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2000–2002
Nationalteam3:Japan
Nationalcaps3:26
Nationalgoals3:3

is a Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the Japan national team.

Club career

Myojin was born in Kobe on 24 January 1978. He joined J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol from youth team in 1996. He played many matches as defensive midfielder from first season. He became a regular player under manager Akira Nishino in 1998. In 1999, Reysol won the champions in J.League Cup and the 3rd place in J1 League. In 2000, Reysol won the 3rd place in J1 League for two years in a row and he was selected Best Eleven award. However the club results were sluggish from 2002 and was relegated to J2 League end of 2005 season.

In 2006, Myojin moved to Gamba Osaka which was managed by Akira Nishino. He played as regular player with many Japan national team player and Gamba won the many title, 2007 J.League Cup, 2008 and 2009 Emperor's Cup. In Asia, Gamba also won the champions in 2008 AFC Champions League and the 3rd place in 2008 Club World Cup. This is the golden era in the club history and he was one of the central player under manager Nishino. However manager Nishino left Gamba end of 2011 season and the club performance deteriorated soon. In 2012, Gamba finished at the 17th place of 18 clubs and was relegated to J2 League. Although his opportunity to play decreased from 2013, Gamba won the champions in 2013 J2 League and was returned to J1. In 2014, Gamba won all three major title in Japan, J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. He resigned end of 2015 season.

In 2016, Myojin moved to Nagoya Grampus.[2] However he could not play many matches. Grampus also finished at the 16th place and was relegated to J2. In 2017, Myojin moved to J3 League club Nagano Parceiro; after three seasons, he opted to retire at the end of 2019.[3]

International career

In June 1997, Myojin was selected Japan U20 national team for 1997 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played full time in all 5 matches as defensive midfielder. In September 2000, he was selected Japan U23 national team for 2000 Summer Olympics. At this tournament, he played full time in all four matches as defensive midfielder with Junichi Inamoto.

He was capped 26 times and scored 3 goals for the Japan national team between 2000 and 2002. He played three games at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[4] [5]
ClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupAsiaOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kashiwa Reysol1996J1 League1100020130
19971311060201
19982802041341
19993013040371
20002922020332
20012901040340
20022710010281
20032912140352
20042850060345
20052811040331
Total2521212137130114
Gamba Osaka2006J1 League25050203010360
20073322010010462
2008323504014130584
200931252215010445
2010294301060394
2011272100050332
2012311512050432
2013J2 League200100000210
2014J1 League1204050210
201510010304020200
Total250143232914218036119
Nagoya Grampus2016J1 League1500030180
Nagano Parceiro2017J3 League16010170
201814000140
20198020100
Total38030410
Career total538264746924217070333

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan200092
200170
2002101
Total263

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Myojin goal.

List of international goals scored by Tomokazu Myojin[6]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 24 October 2000 Beirut, Lebanon 4–1 4–1 2000 AFC Asian Cup
2 26 October 2000 Beirut, Lebanon 3–2 3–2 2000 AFC Asian Cup
3 17 April 2002 Yokohama, Japan 1–0 1–1 Friendly

Honors

Kashiwa Reysol

Gamba Osaka

Japan

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA – List Of Players . FIFA . 5 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081209121359/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/95/12/84/fcwc2008_2008_squadlists_1205.pdf . 9 December 2008 . dead .
  2. https://www.gamba-osaka.net/news/index/no/3820/ Gamba Osaka
  3. Web site: 【長野】日韓W杯代表の明神智和が引退 . hochi.news . The Hochi Shimbun . 23 December 2019 . Minato . ja . 3 December 2019.
  4. 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, (p. 255 out of 289)
  5. 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, (p. 251 out of 289)
  6. http://www.japannationalfootballteam.com/en/players/myojin_tomokazu.html MYOJIN Tomokazu