Yūichi Komano

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)
2016	→ FC Tokyo U-23 (loan)	4	(0)
2016	→ Avispa 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 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

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

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

As of the end 2022 season

.^[10][11][12]

Club

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[lower-alpha 1]	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

1. Includes Suruga Bank Championship

International

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

Júbilo Iwata

• J.League Cup: 2010
• Suruga Bank Championship: 2011

Japan

• EAFF East Asian Cup: 2013

Individual

• J.League Best XI: 2012

References

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. 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

External links

• Yūichi Komano – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Profile at Instagram
• Yūichi Komano at National-Football-Teams.com
• Profile at Twitter
• Japan National Football Team Database
• Yūichi Komano at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
• Profile at Avispa Fukuoka (in Japanese)