Yuto Nagatomo
Nagatomo with Galatasaray in 2018
Personal information
Full name Yuto Nagatomo[1]
Date of birth (1986-09-12) 12 September 1986[1]
Place of birth Saijō, Ehime, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s) Full back
Team information
Current team
 FC Tokyo
Number 5
Youth career
2002–2004 Higashi Fukuoka High School
2005–2007 Meiji University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 FC Tokyo 72 (5)
2010–2011 → Cesena (loan) 16 (0)
2011–2018 Inter Milan 170 (9)
2018 → Galatasaray (loan) 15 (0)
2018–2020 Galatasaray 32 (2)
2020–2021 Marseille 25 (0)
2021– FC Tokyo 67 (0)
International career‡
2008 Japan U-23 2 (0)
2008– Japan 142 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Winner2011 Qatar
Runner-up2019 United Arab Emirates
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 November 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 December 2022

Yuto Nagatomo (長友 佑都, Nagatomo Yūto, born 12 September 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a full back for Japanese club FC Tokyo and the Japan national team.

A graduate from the Meiji University, Nagatomo started his professional career with FC Tokyo in 2007,[3] quickly establishing himself as a first choice both within the team and the Japan national team. He would go on to play in Europe for over a decade, first joining Cesena in 2010, and then enjoying stints with Inter Milan (where he played for seven years, making more than 200 total appearances and even captaining the team for a brief period of time),[4] Galatasaray and Olympique Marseille. He would then go back to his boyhood club FC Tokyo in September 2021.[5]

During his club career, he won a J.League Cup in 2009 (with Tokyo), a Coppa Italia in 2011 (with Inter Milan), two back-to-back Turkish titles in 2018 and 2019, both a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019 (all with Galatasaray). He also won an individual award as AFC's Asian International Player of the Year in 2013.[6]

With 142 caps (as well as four goals), Nagatomo is Japan's second-most capped player of all time, behind only Yasuhito Endō.[7] Having won his first cap for the Samurai Blue in 2008, just some months after making his professional debut with FC Tokyo, the full-back has represented Japan at one edition of the Olympic Games (in 2008), four consecutive World Cups (in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022), three consecutive Asian Cups (in 2011, 2015 and 2019) and one Confederations Cup (in 2013). He was part both of the squad that won the Asian Cup in 2011 and the one that finished as runners-up in the same competition in 2019.

Club career

FC Tokyo

Nagatomo officially signed with FC Tokyo in 2008,[3] while at Meiji. But he made an appearance at J.League Cup as Special Designated Youth Player in 2007. Nagatomo made 84 appearances in his four years at FC Tokyo.

Cesena

In July 2010, Nagatomo was signed on loan by the newly promoted Serie A side Cesena, where he played the first half of the season as Cesena's starting left back.[8][9] Before moving to Italy, Nagatomo gave a speech to 25,000 supporters just after the match involving F.C. Tokyo and Vissel Kobe on 17 July 2010. After being signed on a permanent deal, Nagatomo was then sold to Inter Milan.

Inter Milan

Nagatomo playing for Cesena in 2010
Nagatomo with Inter in 2011

Due to his impressive performances for both Cesena and Japan in the 2011 Asian Cup, he was fully signed by Cesena in January 2011.[10] But before making any league appearances he was sent straight out on loan to Inter Milan in exchange for Davide Santon also on loan, becoming the first East Asian player to sign with Inter Milan.[11][12]

Nagatomo, wearing number 55, made his debut for Nerazzurri on 6 February 2011, replacing Wesley Sneijder in the Serie A match against Roma, won by Inter 5–3.[13] In the following game, Nagatomo came on as a late substitute against Juventus, before starting in both of the following games against Fiorentina and Cagliari. Nagatomo showed his versatility by playing right back against Sampdoria on 27 February, and finishing the whole 90 minutes.[14][15] On 6 March 2011, Nagatomo scored his first goal for Inter in the 5–2 trashing of Genoa on a Kharja assist with a swivel and a finish into the roof of the net.[16]

On 15 March, to show solidarity with his home country in light of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami which took place the previous week he paraded the Japanese flag (with the writing "You'll Never Walk Alone", a chant of his former team in Tokyo) around the pitch during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich.[17] Inter had drawn German club side Schalke 04 in the quarter-finals of Champions League. Nagatomo, along with international teammate Atsuto Uchida, who played for Schalke, became the second and third Japanese footballer to play in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions league. (Keisuke Honda was the first, playing for CSKA Moscow during 2009–10 season).

After the Serie A season was over, Inter Milan made an agreement with Cesena of making Yuto's move permanent in a cash plus player exchange deal. Nagatomo was valued at €10.95 million,[18] however part of the fee was paid via half of the registration rights of Luca Garritano (€700,000)[18] and Luca Caldirola (€2.5 million).

Nagatomo started his second Inter Milan season by playing 62 minutes in the opening Serie A match against Palermo, which ended in a 4–3 away defeat.[19] On 27 September 2011, Nagatomo provided an assist for Giampaolo Pazzini by nutmegging Aleksei Berezutski before driving the ball across goal during the 3–2 away win against CSKA Moscow in the second Champions League group stage.[20] He scored his first goal of the season on 10 December, during the 2–0 home win against Fiorentina in 15th league matchday.[21] He was again on the scoresheet three days later as he headed home a Ricky Álvarez cross in the 1–0 win against Genoa.[22] In the last match of 2011 against Lecce at home, Nagatomo produced a "man of the match" performance by providing two assists in an eventual 4–1 win.[23]

Nagatomo enjoyed his most productive season under Walter Mazzarri, scoring five goals, along with six assists during the 2013–14 season.[24][25]

Nagatomo lost his place in the starting lineup in the 2014–15 season, making only 14 league appearances. He captained Inter for the first time on 28 September 2014 in the 2014–15 Serie A matchday 5 versus Cagliari, leaving the field in the 27th minute after receiving two yellow cards in 120 seconds as Inter was defeated 1–4 at San Siro.[26] Nagatomo said that he had turned down a January 2016 offer from Premier League outfit Manchester United, stating that his intentions were to renew with Inter.[27]

On 8 April 2016, Nagatomo agreed a contract extension with the club, signing until June 2019.[28] During the 2016–17 season, he played 20 matches in all competitions, including 16 in league, 11 of them as starter, as Inter finished 7th in championship, was eliminated in the quarter-final of Coppa Italia by Lazio, and finished bottom in Europa League Group K.[29]

Nagatomo improved his game at the start of 2017–18 season under new manager Luciano Spalletti, winning his place once again.[30] His 200th official appearance for Inter occurred on 16 September 2017 in the matchday 3 match at Crotone, winning a free kick that lead to the first goal in an eventual 0–2 win.[31] Later on 12 December, Nagatomo played 120 minutes in the 2017–18 Coppa Italia round of 16 fixture against underdogs of Pordenone.[32] The match went to penalty shootouts where he netted the winning penalty in the 5–4 penalty shootout that led Inter Milan to the victory and progression to quarter-finals.[33]

Galatasaray

On 31 January 2018, Nagatomo joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.[34] On 30 June 2018 the deal was made permanent.[35] On 20 April 2019, Nagotomo scored his first goal for the club in a league match against Kayserispor. In his time with the Galatasaray, Nagatomo won two back-to-back Süper Lig titles in 2018 and 2019, a Turkish Cup and a Turkish Super Cup in 2019

Marseille

On 31 August 2020, Nagatomo signed with Ligue 1 club Marseille on a free transfer.[36] He made his first appearance for the club in a 1–1 league draw against Lille on 20 September 2020.[37]

FC Tokyo

Upon the expiry of his Marseille contract, On 12 September 2021, he rejoined his boyhood club, FC Tokyo. On 18 September 2021, Nagatomo make his first appearances for the club against Yokohama FC for the time since leaving for Europe 10 years ago.


International career

Nagatomo during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Belgium and Japan on 2 July 2018.

Nagatomo earned his first international cap for Japan on 24 May 2008 in a friendly against Ivory Coast. His first international goal was scored in a friendly against Syria held on 13 November 2008. Nagatomo was also a member of the Japan U-21 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

2010 FIFA World Cup

He was called up to Japan for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting all three group games and the round of 16 match against Paraguay, where Japan were eliminated in penalties.

2011 AFC Asian Cup

Nagatomo was selected as part of the Japan squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by coach Alberto Zaccheroni. He featured in every game Japan played in the competition and helped them defeat Australia in the final, thus earning his first international honour.

2013 FIFA Confederations Cup

Nagatomo playing in the famous 2–1 victory against Germany in the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He was included in Alberto Zaccheroni's 23-man Japan squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup where he featured in the three games before they were eliminated in the group stage.[38]

2014 FIFA World Cup and later

Nagatomo was part of Japan's national squad to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He started in all three group matches but Japan was eliminated in the group stage.

Nagatomo earned his 100th international cap on 10 November 2017 by captaining his side in the 1–3 friendly loss to Brazil at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille.[39] This made him only the 7th Japan player to achieve the feat.[40][41]

Nagatomo in action against Iran at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

He was later selected for the 2018 World Cup, 2019 Asian Cup and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Currently with 142 caps, he is Japan's second highest capped player behind Yasuhito Endo who holds 152 caps for Japan.

Personal life

Nagatomo is married to Japanese actress Airi Taira. The couple had maintained a long-distance relationship for several years as Taira was based in Japan.[42] Nagatomo proposed to her on the San Siro pitch in February 2016[43] and they registered their marriage in January 2017.[44] They have three sons. Both of them appeared in the Captain Tsubasa Olympics special which, aired as part of the annual Jikan Terebi Nihon no Sport wa Tsuyo in November 2019.[45]

He pursued a degree in Political Economy at the Meiji University, where he graduated in 2007.[46]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 November 2023[47][48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental[lower-alpha 3] Other[lower-alpha 4] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Tokyo 2007 J.League Division 1 00—10——10
2008 J.League Division 1 2933030——353
2009 J.League Division 1 3111041——362
2010 J.League Division 1 121—10——131
Total 72540910000856
Cesena (loan) 2010–11 Serie A 16000———160
Inter Milan (on loan) 2010–11 Serie A 13230—30—192
Inter Milan 2011–12 Serie A 35210—70—432
2012–13 Serie A 25020—82—352
2013–14 Serie A 34520———365
2014–15 Serie A 14010—30—180
2015–16 Serie A 22040———260
2016–17 Serie A 16000—40—200
2017–18 Serie A 11020———130
Total Inter 1709150002520021011
Galatasaray (loan) 2017–18 Süper Lig 15010———160
Galatasaray 2018–19 Süper Lig 17100—7010251
2019–20 Süper Lig 15121—6010242
Total 472310013020653
Marseille 2020–21 Ligue 1 25010—2010290
FC Tokyo 2021 J1 League 100————100
2022 J1 League 30010———310
2023 J1 League 2702060——350
Career total 397162611514023048120

International

As of match played 5 December 2022[49]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan 200871
2009112
2010160
2011100
2012100
2013120
2014100
2015100
201650
2017100
201890
2019121
202010
202180
2022110
Total1424
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nagatomo goal.
List of international goals scored by Yuto Nagatomo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
113 November 2008Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan Syria1–03–1Friendly
231 May 2009National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan Belgium1–04–0 Friendly
38 October 2009Outsourcing Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan Hong Kong2–06–02011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
410 October 2019Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan Mongolia3–06–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

FC Tokyo[48]

Inter Milan

Galatasaray

Japan

Individual

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "National Team Squad". jfa.or.jp. Japan Football Association. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 長友佑都選手(明治大学) 来季新加入内定のお知らせ [Nagatomo Yuto player (Meiji University) (is) next season's new signing]. FC Tokyo (in Japanese). 19 December 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Il filo di Roma-Inter: Yuto Nagatomo". Voce Giallorossa (in Italian). Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "ニュース｜FC東京オフィシャルホームページ" (in Japanese). FC Tokyo. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "AFC Asian International Player of the Year: Yuto Nagatomo". AFC. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Japan - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Il difensore giapponese Yuto Nagatomo al Cesena". AC Cesena (in Italian). 14 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  9. ↑ 長友佑都選手 チェゼーナへ期限付き移籍決定のお知らせ [Player Nagatomo Yuto to Cesena in period confirmed]. FC Tokyo (in Japanese). 14 July 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  10. ↑ Emanuele Melfi (28 January 2011). "Cesena, Nagatomo è tutto bianconero". tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Davide Santon è del Cesena, Nagatomo all'Inter" [Davide Santon to Cesena, Nagatomo to Inter]. AC Cesena (in Italian). 31 January 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo joins Inter". F.C. Internazionale Milano. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  13. ↑ Andrew McLean (6 February 2011). "Inter 5-3 Roma: Samuel Eto'o And The Nerazzurri Hold Off A Spirited Roman Comeback". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  14. ↑ "Nagatomo playing at right full back". WhoScored.com.
  15. ↑ "Sampdoria 0-2 Inter: Sneijder and Eto'o". inter.it. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Internazionale vs. Genoa 2 – 0". Soccerway. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "長友が日の丸に「心は一つ」、欧州CLで被災地へメッセージ". Reuters (in Japanese). 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  18. 1 2 FC Internazionale Milano Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 (in Italian)
  19. ↑ "Palermo vs. Internazionale 4 – 3". Soccerway. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Zárate winner gets Inter going at CSKA". UEFA. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  21. ↑ Kris Voakes (10 December 2011). "Inter 2-0 Fiorentina: Pazzini and Nagatomo lead Ranieri's side back to winning ways". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  22. ↑ "Genoa vs. Internazionale 0 – 1". Soccerway. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  23. ↑ Adam Wheeler (21 December 2011). "Inter 4-1 Lecce: Nerazzurri recover from early setback to record confident victory". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  24. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo Career Statistics". whoscored.com.
  25. ↑ "Nagatomo Career Statistics". LegaSerieA.it.
  26. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo sent off and Inter Milan crushed 4-1 by lowly Cagliari". The National. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  27. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo claims he turned down Manchester United".
  28. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo signs new Inter Milan contract until 2019". ESPN FC. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  29. ↑ "Group stage". UEFA. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  30. ↑ Richard Hall (29 October 2017). "Yuto Nagatomo Looks A Different Player At Inter Milan Under Luciano Spalletti". The Sportsman. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  31. ↑ "Crotone 0-2 Inter: Semua yang perlu kamu ketahui".
  32. ↑ "Coppa: Inter scrape past heroic Pordenone". Football Italia. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "Nagatomo rescues Inter in Italian Cup". Pulse News Agency International. Pulse.com. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  34. ↑ "Inter, Nagatomo in Turchia: visite con il Galatasaray". Corriere dello Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  35. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo joins Galatasaray". inter.it. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  36. ↑ "Transferts : Yuto Nagatomo à l'OM, c'est officiel". L'Équipe. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  37. ↑ Rault, Mathieu (20 September 2020). "OM-LOSC : les compositions officielles !". Foot Mercato (in French). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  38. ↑ "Nagatomo in Japan squad for Confederations Cup". Inter.it.
  39. ↑ "NAGATOMO MAKES 100TH INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCE". inter.it. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  40. ↑ Yoon Hyung-Jin. "Japan International Match – List of Full International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  41. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto. "Japan – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  42. ↑ "Taira Airi & Nagatomo Yuto register their marriage". tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  43. ↑ "Nagatomo, actress Taira confirm wedding plans". The Japan Times. 24 December 2016.
  44. ↑ 長友佑都＆平愛梨がゴールイン 結婚報告「家族となりました！」 (in Japanese). Oricon News. 29 January 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  45. ↑ "Footballer Yuto Nagatomo Stars in Captain Tsubasa Special Anime". 21 October 2019.
  46. ↑ Gozzini, Alessandra (12 December 2012). "I laureati della Serie A". Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  47. ↑ Yuto Nagatomo > Club matches worldfootball.net
  48. 1 2 "Y. Nagatomo". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  49. ↑ "Yuto Nagatomo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  50. ↑ "AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Technical Report and Statistics". AFC. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  51. ↑ "The best Asian team at the FIFA World Cup announced!". Asian Football Confederation. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  52. ↑ "#AsianCup2023 five-month countdown: Fan-voted all-time AFC Asian Cup™ Dream XI revealed". Asian Football Confederation. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
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