Shoji Jo

Shoji Jo

Personal information
Date of birth	(1975-06-17) 17 June 1975
Place of birth	Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan
Height
Position(s)	Striker (retired)
Youth career
1991–1993	Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1996	JEF United Ichihara	99	(35)
1997–2001	Yokohama F. Marinos	106	(59)
2000	→ Real Valladolid (loan)	15	(2)
2002	Vissel Kobe	25	(1)
2003–2006	Yokohama	151	(44)
International career
1995–2001	Japan	35	(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Shoji Jo (城 彰二, Jō Shōji, born 17 June 1975) is a retired Japanese association football player.

Career

He was born on the island of Hokkaidō and began his footballing career with JEF United in 1994. He quickly established himself, scoring twelve goals in his first season; he scored his first goal on his debut against Gamba Osaka on 12 March. He made his international debut the following September in a friendly match against Paraguay.

After three seasons with JEF United, Jo moved to the Yokohama Marinos in 1997. His performances in the 1998-99 season led to a loan move to the Spanish Primera División team Real Valladolid. He failed to make an impact with the club, making just 15 appearances and scoring two goals before sustaining a knee injury. After his return to Japan, Jo struggled to reestablish himself as a regular goal scorer with the Marinos and Vissel Kobe, with whom he joined in 2002. He joined Yokohama FC in 2003, where he scored 12 goals in his first season with them. He helped his club to become J2 Champions in 2006 gained and promotion to J1, but he retired from playing after that season.

Jo made 35 caps and scored 7 goals for Japan from 1995 to 2001. He made his first appearance in an international competition with the under-23 team in the 1996 Olympic Games. He later played in the 1998 World Cup and the Copa America in 1999.

He is currently working on television as a football commentator. (as of October 2008)

National team

• 1996 Asian Cup
• 1998 FIFA World Cup

Statistics

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		League Cup		Total
1994	JEF United Ichihara	J. League Division 1	33	12	2	0	2	1	37	13
1995			43	14	0	0	-		43	14
1996			23	9	1	0	13	4	37	13
1997	Yokohama Marinos /Yokohama F. Marinos		21	12	2	2	0	0	23	14
1998			31	25	1	0	0	0	32	25
1999			25	18	3	1	6	3	34	22
Spain			League		Copa del Rey		-		Total
1999-00	Real Valladolid	La Liga	15	2			-
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		League Cup		Total
2000	Yokohama F. Marinos	J. League Division 1	4	2	0	0	0	0	4	2
2001			25	2	1	0	8	4	34	6
2002	Vissel Kobe		25	1	1	0	6	2	32	3
2003	Yokohama F.C.	J. League Division 2	33	12	1	4	-		34	16
2004			35	8	2	0	-		37	8
2005			40	12	1	0	-		41	12
2006			43	12	0	0	-		43	12
Total	Japan		381	139	15	7	35	14	431	160
	Spain		15	2			-
Career total			396	141			35	14

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
1995	1	0
1996	3	0
1997	13	4
1998	10	1
1999	5	0
2000	2	2
2001	1	0
Total	35	7

External links

• Soccer in Japan, Retrieved 11 October 2005
• FootballDatabase, Retrieved 11 October 2005