Kazunori Iio (飯尾 一慶, Iio Kazunori, born February 23, 1982) is a former Japanese football player.

Kazunori Iio
飯尾 一慶
Personal information
Full name Kazunori Iio
Date of birth (1982-02-23) February 23, 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Ninohe, Iwate, Japan
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, Forward
Youth career
1997–1999 Verdy Kawasaki
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2013 Tokyo Verdy 276 (30)
2002Kawasaki Frontale (loan) 7 (2)
2005Kawasaki Frontale (loan) 5 (0)
2006Avispa Fukuoka (loan) 17 (4)
2014–2015 Yokohama FC 10 (1)
Total 315 (37)
International career
2001 Japan U-20 3 (0)
Medal record
Tokyo Verdy
Winner Emperor's Cup 2004
Representing  Japan
AFC U-19 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2000 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Iio was born in Ninohe on February 23, 1982. He joined Verdy Kawasaki (later Tokyo Verdy) from youth team in 1999. In 2000, he played many matches as forward.

Iio made a name for himself when he scored Verdy's first goal in the final of the 2004 Emperor's Cup. The match ended in a 2-1 victory for Verdy over Júbilo Iwata. Kazuki Hiramoto netted Verdy's second, whilst Norihiro Nishi provided Júbilo's consolation. It was the first time Verdy had won the Emperor's Cup since 1996.

Upon Iio's transfer to Avispa Fukuoka in 2006, he received a relatively high squad number of 34. Despite this, he quickly established himself as a first-choice striker. During the 2006 season, Avispa would usually play with two men up front, with Iio on the left, and Takanori Nunobe to his right.

Iio's first J1 League appearance for Avispa came against FC Tokyo on 19 July 2006, when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute for fellow striker Mitsunori Yabuta. This game was held at the Hakatanomori Football Stadium, and ended in a goalless draw. Iio would not have to wait long for his first Avispa goal however, as just 10 days later, on the 29 July 2006 contest between Gamba Osaka and Avispa, Iio netted a goal in a match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.

Following Avispa's relegation, Iio returned to Verdy for the start of the 2007 season. Iio would appear regularly for Verdy in this campaign, occasionally even appearing as a right-winger in Verdy's midfield. He finished the campaign with 19 games, scoring 2 goals.

He moved to Yokohama FC in 2014. However he could hardly play in the match and he left the club end of 2015 season.

National team career edit

Iio has represented Japan U-20 national team, but has yet to be given a full international cap. Iio was selected for the 2001 World Youth Championship, along with his strike partner at Tokyo Verdy, Kazuki Hiramoto. At this tournament, he played all 3 matches.

Club statistics edit

[1]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Asia Total
1999 Verdy Kawasaki J1 League 4 0 1 1 2 0 - 7 1
2000 26 4 2 0 4 0 - 32 4
2001 Tokyo Verdy J1 League 11 0 0 0 1 1 - 12 1
2002 Kawasaki Frontale J2 League 7 2 0 0 - - 7 2
2003 Tokyo Verdy J1 League 13 2 0 0 5 0 - 18 2
2004 12 0 5 1 3 0 - 20 1
2005 Kawasaki Frontale J1 League 5 0 0 0 1 0 - 6 0
2006 Tokyo Verdy J2 League 9 1 0 0 - 2 0 11 1
2006 Avispa Fukuoka J1 League 17 4 1 0 0 0 - 18 4
2007 Tokyo Verdy J2 League 19 2 0 0 - - 19 2
2008 J1 League 26 2 1 0 4 0 - 31 2
2009 J2 League 28 1 1 0 - - 29 1
2010 31 5 1 0 - - 32 5
2011 25 4 0 0 - - 25 4
2012 35 4 1 1 - - 36 5
2013 37 5 2 0 - - 39 5
2014 Yokohama FC J2 League 9 1 0 0 - - 9 1
2015 1 0 0 0 - - 1 0
Total 315 37 15 3 20 1 2 0 352 41

References edit

  1. ^ Tokyo Verdy(in Japanese)

External links edit