Arsenal's last Highbury star still plays at 44 after being 'bigger than Beckham'
Arsenal ’s former Highbury home saw a number of iconic stars strutting their stuff on its hallowed turf.
When casting their minds back, Gunners fans regularly think of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. That trio - and the majority of their former Arsenal team-mates - have long since retired from the game.
Somebody forgot to tell Junichi Inamoto that he should have hung up his boots, though. The ex-Japanese international is still playing at the grand old age of 44 and, following the retirement of fellow former Gunner Alex Song, remains the only star to have played at Highbury to still be in the game.
He is currently with Japanese fifth-tier side Nankatsu SC after returning to his home country back in 2010 from French side Rennes. Rewinding right to the start of his career, Inamoto was a shock signing for the Gunners.
The midfielder broke through at Gamba Osaka and was then snared by Arsenal in the summer of 2001 for around £3.5m. He was already one of the most exciting Asian talents in world football having earned 18 caps for the Japanese national team.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
There was plenty of intrigue around his arrival. Speaking at the time, legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "I believe Inamoto is an intelligent player, he is young and he is one of the players in Japan with the physical strengths to compete in the Premier League."
Meanwhile, Inamoto was keen to get down to action for his new employers. He said: "I have never lived abroad before so it's really exciting. It's a great challenge for me. It's a great feeling and it's a great relief to be here. I don't know a great deal about Arsenal yet but I can't wait to learn."
Arsene Wenger sealed a deal for Junichi Inamoto in the summer of 2001 (Getty Images)Who was Arsene Wenger's worst-ever signing? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Excitement was also palpable in his home country. Shinsuke Kobayashi, then-England correspondent for newspaper Kyodo, had compared the youngster to a former Three Lions captain.
"Think David Beckham, then double it," he said. "Junichi is huge. People want to know everything about Junichi. Whatever he does and wherever he goes, Kyodo follows it."
Unfortunately, it never quite worked out for Inamoto. He was afforded just four appearances for Arsenal - none of those coming in the Premier League.
Inamoto only played four times for Arsenal (Getty Images)The midfielder was allowed to depart for nothing at the end of the 2001/02 season. Explaining why he struggled at Arsenal, Wenger said: "He missed something. He had the basic quality but he missed something in the physical aspect, stamina, to be a box-to-box, up-and-down midfielder in the Premier League.
"Also at that time he lacked a little bit of belief in his qualities, because he was a very good footballer, Inamoto, but he was still in a period when the Japanese players didn't feel they were at the level of the rest of the world."
Funnily enough, Inamoto shone immediately after his Arsenal release. He was selected for the Japan squad for the 2002 World Cup - scoring two goals in four appearances for the Samurai Blue as they reached the knockout stages for the first time ever.
Inamoto scored a hat-trick for Fulham against Bologna in the Intertoto Cup final (Getty Images)Inamoto was quickly snapped up by Fulham and is still remembered fondly at Craven Cottage - a hat-trick against Bologna in the 2002 Intertoto Cup final among his highlights. He stayed in England until 2007 by going on to sign for West Brom and Cardiff.
Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster
His career then took somewhat of a journeyman turn as spells with Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt and Rennes came and went. It looked like he was ready to wind down with a move back to Japan with Kawasaki Frontale in 2010.
But 13 years later though, he is still going strong. Inamoto has since bounced around the Japanese leagues with Consadole Sapporo and Sagamihara before joining Nankatsu. While he might reflect on a failed Gunners career, he does at least have the honour of being the last star to turn out at Highbury who is still playing.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
