is a Japanese

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who plays for

Matsumoto Yamaga FC or simply Matsumoto Yamaga (松本山雅FC, ''Matsumoto Yamaga Efu Shī'') is a Japanese football (soccer) club based in the city of Matsumoto, located in the Nagano Prefecture. The club currently plays in the J3 League, Japanese third tier o ...

. Mainly as a

defensive midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

Career

Júbilo Iwata

Yamamoto, who was born in

Hamamatsu is a Cities of Japan, city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. In September 2023, the city had an estimated population of 780,128 in 340,591 households, making it the prefecture's largest city, with a population density of over the t ...

Shizuoka Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Pref ...

, started his career at Seirei Junior Football Club before transferring to

Júbilo Iwata is a Japanese professional association football, football team based in Iwata, Shizuoka, Iwata, located in Shizuoka Prefecture. The club competes in J2 League following relegation from J1 League in 2024 J1 League, 2024. Etymology The team's ...

's youth academy in 2002. He won himself a contract and was promoted to the senior squad at the end of the 2007 season after progressing through the youth ranks at the club and completing his two-year apprenticeship. He made his first team debut for the Júbilo in the

J1 League The , the J.League or the for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Japan and the highest level of the Japanese football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation ...

match on 3 September 2006, when he came on as a late substitute for Robert Cullen in the 3–2 defeat to

Oita Trinita is a Japanese football club located in Ōita, Capital of Ōita Prefecture. They currently play in J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football. Name origin The club's name, ''Trinita'', is the Italian translation of the word ' ...

at Ōita Bank Dome.

Albirex Niigata

On 16 June 2014, Yamamoto completed a move to

Albirex Niigata is a professional football club based in Niigata, Japan. Formed in 1955 as Niigata Eleven SC, it was renamed Albireo Niigata FC in 1995, and Albirex Niigata in 1997. They currently play in J1 League after being promoted from J2 League as cha ...

on loan thus being reunited with former coach Masaaki Yanagishita. He made his Albirex debut on 19 July, starting against

Urawa Red Diamonds The or simply Urawa Reds (浦和レッズ, ''Urawa Rezzu''), also known as Mitsubishi Urawa Football Club from April 1992 to January 1996, are a professional association football, football club in the city of Saitama (city), Saitama, part of t ...

, before being substituted by Sho Naruoka in the 84th minute. He scored his first goal for Albirex in a 3–0 win over Kawasaki Frontale at Big Swan on 5 October 2014. Yamamoto's second league goal for Albirex came in a 3–1 win over FC Tokyo at Ajinomoto Stadium on 22 November, scoring the winning goal for the away side. Following a successful debut campaign, Yamamoto agreed to a second season on loan at Albirex Niigata.

Return to Júbilo

After a two years-loan and some good displays with Albirex, Júbilo took back Yamamoto for 2016 season.

Career statistics

Club

''Updated to 19 February 2019''.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. 107 out of 289) ¹Includes Suruga Bank Championship.

References

External links

Profile at Júbilo Iwata
* * 1989 births Living people Japanese men's footballers J1 League players J2 League players category:J3 League players Júbilo Iwata players Albirex Niigata players category:Matsumoto Yamaga FC players Men's association football midfielders Association football people from Hamamatsu 21st-century Japanese sportsmen {{Japan-footy-midfielder-1980s-stub