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Takashi Inui
Takashi Inui 2018 (cropped).jpg
Inui with Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-06-02) 2 June 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Ōmihachiman, Japan
Height 1.69 m
Playing position Winger, attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club Shimizu S-Pulse
Number 33
Youth career
1995–2004 Saison Football Club
2004–2006 Yasu High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Yokohama F. Marinos 7 (0)
2008 Cerezo Osaka (loan) 20 (6)
2009–2011 Cerezo Osaka 94 (29)
2011–2012 VfL Bochum 30 (7)
2012–2015 Eintracht Frankfurt 75 (7)
2015–2018 Eibar 89 (11)
2018–2019 Betis 8 (0)
2019 Alavés (loan) 12 (2)
2019–2021 Eibar 57 (3)
2021–2022 Cerezo Osaka 13 (4)
2022– Shimizu S-Pulse 10 (1)
National team
2006 Japan U21 2 (0)
2009–2019 Japan 36 (6)
Honours
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Silver 2019 United Arab Emirates
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 January 2023.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2019

Takashi Inui (乾 貴士, Inui Takashi, born 2 June 1988) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Shimizu S-Pulse of the J2 League.

Club career

Inui was an All Japan High School Soccer Tournament champion in 2006 when his high school, Shiga Yasu HS, won the tournament.

In 2007, Inui joined Yokohama F. Marinos of the J. League Division 1 and made his debut as a professional against Yokohama F.C. in a league match on 10 March. However, he failed to find a regular spot at Marinos and was loaned to then J. League Division 2 Cerezo Osaka in June 2008, earning himself a permanent move at the end of the season.

In July 2011, Inui made the jump to Europe, joining Germany's VfL Bochum. He made his debut in the 2. Bundesliga, when he started in a 2–1 home defeat versus FC St. Pauli on 13 August 2011.

Takashi Inui IAA September 2013
Inui signing autographs with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2013

In July 2012, Inui signed a three-year contract with newly promoted Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt after impressive performance in the 2. Bundesliga.

Eibar

On 26 August 2015, Inui was transferred to La Liga side SD Eibar for a then club record fees of 300,000, after agreeing to a three-year contract. He became the first Asian player to play for the club. On moving to Eibar, Inui said, “It was always my dream to play in the Spanish league one day. It’s been my dream since I was a child and now it’s come true”.

Takashi made his debut for Eibar on 23 September 2015, starting and providing one assist in a 2–2 draw against Levante. He scored his first league goal for Eibar on 10 January 2016 in a 2–1 win against RCD Espanyol, scoring the first goal in the 15th minute of game and also providing assist for second goal.

In April 2017, as the club was chasing a UEFA Europa League place, he was controversially called back to his homeland by Japan's prime minister to serve as a delegate for the visit of King Felipe VI of Spain to Japan. On 21 May 2017, Inui became the first Japanese footballer to score against FC Barcelona, sniping the ball via cross-bar behind Ter Stegen, twice.

Real Betis

On 1 June 2018, upon expiration of his Eibar contract, Inui joined Real Betis on a free transfer for a three-year deal. He made his debut for Betis on 17 August 2018, coming on as a substitute for William Carvalho for the last 25 minutes in 3–0 loss against Levante.

Alavés (loan)

The following 24 January, after being sparingly used, he moved to fellow league Deportivo Alavés on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for Alavés on 11 January 2019 in a 2–0 win Levante. He scored his first goal for Alavés on 2 March 2019 in a 2–1 victory against Villarreal.

Return to Eibar

On 24 July 2019, Inui returned to Eibar on a three-year deal, for a €2 million transfer fee.

Shimizu S-Pulse

On 22 July 2022, Shimizu S-Pulse announced that they have signed Inui after his contract with Cerezo Osaka was terminated.

International career

Inui made his full international debut for Japan on 20 January 2009 in a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification against Yemen. In May 2018 he was named in Japan's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. On 24 June, Inui scored his first World Cup goal in a 2–2 draw over Senegal during their second group stage match of the tournament. Inui went on to score another goal and registered an assist in the tournament.

Career statistics

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
Yokohama F. Marinos 2007 J1 League 7 0 0 0 3 0 10 0
2008 0 0 3 0 3 0
Total 7 0 0 0 6 0 13 0
Cerezo Osaka 2008 J2 League 20 6 2 0 22 6
2009 47 20 1 1 48 21
2010 J1 League 33 4 2 1 6 0 41 5
2011 14 5 7 4 21 9
Total 114 35 5 2 6 0 7 4 132 41
VfL Bochum 2011–12 2. Bundesliga 30 7 2 0 32 7
Eintracht Frankfurt 2012–13 Bundesliga 33 6 1 0 34 6
2013–14 14 0 2 1 6 1 22 2
2014–15 27 1 2 0 0 0 29 1
2015–16 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Total 75 7 6 1 6 1 87 9
Eibar 2015–16 La Liga 27 3 2 0 29 3
2016–17 28 3 2 0 30 3
2017–18 34 5 1 0 35 5
2019–20 29 2 0 0 29 2
2020–21 28 1 2 0 30 1
Total 146 14 7 0 153 14
Real Betis 2018–19 La Liga 8 0 2 0 4 0 14 0
Alavés (loan) 2018–19 La Liga 12 2 0 0 12 2
Career total 381 65 21 3 12 0 17 5 431 73

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 2009 1 0
2010 2 0
2011 0 0
2012 3 0
2013 6 0
2014 2 2
2015 5 0
2016 0 0
2017 6 0
2018 6 4
2019 5 0
Total 36 6
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Inui goal.
List of international goals scored by Takashi Inui
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 November 2014 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan  Honduras 4–0 6–0 Friendly
2 5–0
3 12 June 2018 Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria  Paraguay 1–1 4–2 Friendly
4 2–1
5 24 June 2018 Central Stadium, Yekaterinburg, Russia  Senegal 1–1 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup
6 2 July 2018 Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia  Belgium 2–0 2–3 2018 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Individual
  • J2 League Best XI: 2023

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Takashi Inui para niños

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