Ryuji Izumi Explained

Ryuji Izumi
Fullname:Ryuji Izumi
Birth Date:6 November 1993
Birth Place:Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
Height:1.73 m
Currentclub:Nagoya Grampus
Clubnumber:7
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:FC Yokkaichi
Youthyears2:2009–2011
Youthclubs2:Ichiritsu Funabashi High School
Collegeyears1:2012–2015
College1:Meiji University
Years1:2016–2019
Clubs1:Nagoya Grampus
Caps1:116
Goals1:10
Years2:2020–2022
Clubs2:Kashima Antlers
Caps2:80
Goals2:5
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Nagoya Grampus
Caps3:36
Goals3:3
Pcupdate:22:20, 9 November 2022 (UTC)

is a Japanese footballer who plays as a winger for club Nagoya Grampus.[1]

Youth career

Ichiritsu Funabashi High School

Representing Ichiritsu Funabashi High School, Izumi captained the side that won the 2011 All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, scoring two goals in the final itself[2] and was voted the MVP of the tournament.[3] After the tournament, it was said that Izumi had "beautiful technique and superb judgement", with expectations high for his future career.[4] Playing as a forward, he scored 13 goals in 15 games for his school.

Meiji University

Izumi then went on to play for Meiji University, where he played a number of different positions in his four years.[5] He was the team's top scorer in both his second and fourth years, ending with an impressive 41 goals in 83 appearances for his university overall.[6] He also was chosen as part of the Best XI in the JUFA Kanto League 1 in his final year.[7] In 2015, he represented Japan at University level at the FISU Summer Universiade in Gwangju[8] – where he played 5 games and scored one goal.[9]

Club career

Nagoya Grampus

In September 2015, Izumi was chosen as a designated special player by Nagoya Grampus for the season from Meiji University, although he did not end up making an appearance for the team.[10] After graduation, Izumi received offers from a number of clubs but chose to go to continue with Nagoya Grampus due to its proximity to his hometown. Izumi was handed the number 29 shirt for his first professional season. He made his debut in March 2016, playing 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Omiya Ardija in the J.League Cup.[11] He also scored his first professional goal in his debut season, scoring in a 3-1 league win over Yokohama F. Marinos.[12] Unfortunately it was not a successful season for Nagoya, as they were relegated to the J2 League.

In the 2017 season, Izumi played in almost every match for Nagoya, playing over 3000 minutes across the season. He was used as a utility player, being played in a number of different positions throughout the season including centre back, left back, wing back, left midfield and attacking midfield.[13] Nagoya bounced straight back to the J1 League, after finishing in 3rd position and being promoted via the playoffs after a 0-0 draw with Avispa Fukuoka[14] – Nagoya were promoted due to their higher league position.[15]

For the next two seasons, Izumi continued to be used as a utility player but was still making many appearances, playing 32 league games in 2018 as Nagoya narrowly avoided relegation with 5 teams finishing on the same number of points.[16] He played a further 37 games in the 2019 season, where he contributed 6 goals, including a brace in their 3-0 league win over Kawasaki Frontale.[17] [18]

Kashima Antlers

In January 2020, it was announced that Izumi would be joining Kashima Antlers and would take the number 11 shirt.[19] Kashima had been interested in Izumi since his time at Meiji University, with Kashima's chief scout Kuniichi Shiimoto appreciating his versatility by describing him as a 'player who can do anything'. Izumi himself stated his desire to become a central figure in the team.[20] He made his debut for the club in the same month, starting on the left-wing in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs, where Kashima fell to a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory.[21] He went on to make 30 appearances across all competitions in his debut season for Kashima, as they achieved a 5th place league finish.

Izumi made 99 appearances over three seasons for Kashima as he helped them to two fourth-placed league finishes in 2021 and 2022. He scored seven goals in his time at the club.

Return to Nagoya Grampus

In December 2022, it was announced that Izumi would be rejoining Nagoya Grampus for the 2023 season.[22]

Career statistics

[23] [24]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JapanLeagueEmperor's CupJ. League CupOtherTotal
Nagoya Grampus2016J1 League1411020colspan="2"-171
2017J2 League39120colspan="2"-2[25] 0431
2018J1 League3222030colspan="2"-372
20193160060colspan="2"-376
Total11610501102013410
Kashima Antlers2020J1 League27300201[26] 0303
20212313031colspan="2"-292
20223013170colspan="2"-402
Total8056112110997
Career total196151112313023317
Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 和泉 竜司:鹿島アントラーズ:Jリーグ.jp . Jリーグ.jp(日本プロサッカーリーグ) . 8 January 2023 . ja.
  2. Web site: Funabashi caps stunning comeback to win All Japan High School Soccer Tournament Goal.com . www.goal.com . 11 April 2021.
  3. Web site: co., Ltd . FromOne . 高校サッカーファン2600人が選ぶ選手権MVPは市立船橋の和泉竜司 . サッカーキング . 10 January 2012 . 11 April 2021 . ja.
  4. Web site: The next Ryo Miyaichi: Five standouts from the All-Japan High School Soccer Tournament Goal.com . www.goal.com . 11 April 2021.
  5. Web site: co., Ltd . FromOne . 選手権優勝から4年、明治大不動のエースが名古屋へ。スター街道を歩む和泉竜司「4つのクラブからグランパスを選んだ」 . サッカーキング . 21 December 2015 . 11 April 2021 . ja.
  6. Web site: Soccer D.B. : Ryuji Izumi All-Time Record . Soccer D.B. . 11 April 2021 . en.
  7. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2015 JUFA Kanto League 1 . Soccer D.B. . 8 May 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: Japan Universiade national team squad, schedule - 28th Summer Universiade 2015 Gwangju (6/28 - 7/14) . JFA|公益財団法人日本サッカー協会 . 11 April 2021 . ja.
  9. Web site: Unversiade Gwangju 2015 – Individual Statistics . 11 April 2021.
  10. Web site: 特別指定選手制度選手育成|JFA|日本サッカー協会 . www.jfa.jp . 21 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Omiya Ardija vs. Nagoya Grampus . 23 March 2016 . uk.soccerway.com . 5 May 2021.
  12. Web site: Nagoya Grampus vs. Yokohama F. Marinos . 4 May 2016 . uk.soccerway.com . 5 May 2021.
  13. Web site: Soccer D.B. : Nagoya Grampus Formation . Soccer D.B. . 5 May 2021 . en.
  14. Web site: Nagoya Grampus vs. Avispa Fukuoka . 3 December 2017. uk.soccerway.com . 8 May 2021.
  15. Web site: Grampus come through playoff to seal return to J. League top flight . The Japan Times . 8 May 2021 . 3 December 2017.
  16. Web site: Summary - J1 League - Japan - Results, fixtures, tables and news. uk.soccerway.com . 8 May 2021.
  17. Web site: 名古屋11戦ぶりの勝利へ、MF和泉竜司の2発で川崎に2点リードで後半へ! サッカーダイジェストWeb . www.soccerdigestweb.com . 8 May 2021 . ja.
  18. Web site: 【公式】ハイライト:名古屋グランパスvs川崎フロンターレ 明治安田生命J1リーグ 第22節 2019/8/10 . . 8 May 2021 . en.
  19. Web site: 和泉選手の加入について 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト . 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト Kashima Antlers . 8 May 2021 . ja.
  20. Web site: 鹿島がどうしても欲しかった男。MF和泉竜司「中核を担わないと」(安藤隆人) . Number Web - ナンバー . 8 May 2021 . ja.
  21. Web site: Kashima Antlers vs. Melbourne Victory . 28 January 2020 . uk.soccerway.com . 27 April 2021.
  22. Web site: 和泉 竜司選手、移籍加入のお知らせ|ニュース|名古屋グランパス公式サイト . 名古屋グランパス公式サイト . 8 January 2023 . ja.
  23. Web site: R.Izumi. Soccerway. 5 May 2016.
  24. Web site: Soccer D.B. : 2022 Ryuji Izumi Result by Season . Soccer D.B. . 9 November 2022 . en.
  25. Appearances in the J1 League Promotion Playoffs
  26. Appearances in the AFC Champions League