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10. Masashi Oguro
Torino
One of many players picked up after a World Cup year, Oguro switched to Torino in 2006. Nicknamed ‘Daikokuten’ – after a God whose Japanese symbol is similar to that for Oguro’s name – the midfielder spent two campaigns in Turin but was never really able to make as big an impact as he would have liked. When his contract expired at the end of the 2007-08 season he secured a move back home to Tokyo Verdy.
9. Hiroshi Nanami
Venezia
The Arancioneroverdi may be slumbering in Serie C now, but back in 1999-00 they were a top-flight club boasting such notable players as Bruno N’Gotty, Maurizio Ganz and Japan’s Hiroshi Nanami. A veteran of Japan's 1998 World Cup squad, Nanami played 24 games for Venezia, bagging one goal. However, the midfielder’s efforts were not enough to help them avoid the drop and his loan from Jubilo Iwata was not made permanent.
8. Ilyas Zeytulayev
Reggina, Crotone, Genoa, Vicenza, Verona, Pescara
The Uzbekistani winger began his adventure in Italy on the books of Juventus but never managed to break into the Old Lady’s first team. Sold to Reggina in 2005, he made several Serie A appearances before being sent on loan to Serie B clubs Crotone, Genoa and Vicenza. In 2007 he dropped a Division again to help Verona avoid relegation from Serie C, before switching to Pescara in 2008 – where he has become a firm fans favourite.
7. Atsushi Yanagisawa
Sampdoria, Messina
Initially arriving in Italy in 2003, Yanagisawa was taken on loan by Sampdoria. With appearances at the 2002 World Cup, and a record of reaching 50 J-League goals in a quicker time than any other player, he was expected to make a similar big impact to countryman Hidetoshi Nakata. However, despite 43 appearances for the Blucerchiati and Messina over three years he never hit the back of an Italian net. Remembered on the peninsula for his dyed red hair.
6. Ahn Jung-hwan
Perugia
A controversial figure to say the least. After the success Perugia had with Hidetoshi Nakata the club decided to take a chance on South Korean prospect Ahn Jung-hwan. The attacking midfielder spent two terms on loan at the Renato Curi, making a steady impact. However, at the 2002 World Cup Ahn struck the goal that eliminated Italy. Perugia President Luciano Gaucci initially tore up his contract, claiming he had “denigrated Italian football.”
5. Kazuyoshi Miura
Genoa
A trail-blazer for Asian football, ‘Kazu’ had already made an impact in Brazil with prestigious clubs like Palmeiras and Santos before signing for Genoa in 1994. Arriving at Marassi, he became the first Japanese player to compete in Serie A. His stay was brief – leaving for Verdy Kawasaki in 1995 – but during his year in Italy he did leave a memory the Rossoblu fans would remember him by, a goal against city rivals Sampdoria.
4. Shunsuke Nakamura
Reggina
Overlooked for Japan’s 2002 World Cup squad for being too physically frail, Nakamura tempered that disappointment by earning a contract with Reggina. The Serie A minnows were perpetual relegation candidates, but in his three years on the peninsula he always helped them avoid the drop. Wearing the No 10 shirt he became known as a talented playmaker and dead ball specialist – the impression he made in Calabria earned him a move to SPL side Celtic.
3. Rahman Rezaei
Perugia, Messina, Livorno
Nicknamed the ‘Flying Carpet’, Rezaei is another Asian player lured to Italy by Perugia. Joining them from Iranian club Zob Ahan in 2001, it was actually at Messina where he made the biggest impact. Known to the Sicilian fans as the ‘Secretary of Defence’, he was an important factor as the club reached and remained in Serie A. Gained Italian citizenship after marrying an Italian-Iranian, but his peninsula story ended in 2008 when he left Livorno for Persepolis.
2. Takayuki Morimoto
Catania
The only Asian player in Serie A for 2008-09, Morimoto has been making good progress since landing at Catania from Tokyo Verdy in 2006. The season just finished was a breakout one for the 21-year-old, netting eight goals and several assists. Catania have been so impressed with him that they have secured his services until 2011 and even Milan ace Alexandre Pato praised him as the best young player in the Division – dubbing him ‘the Japanese Ronaldo’.
1. Hidetoshi Nakata
Perugia, Roma, Parma, Bologna, Fiorentina
The Asian Footballer of the Year in 1997 and 1998, Nakata arrived in Serie A after impressing with Japan at the 1998 World Cup. His impact was immediate, with two goals for Perugia against Juventus on his debut. Performances like that alerted Roma, who paid £15m for him in 2000, and he went on to help them to the Scudetto in 2001. Parma paid £18.5m for him after that achievement and he also represented Bologna and Fiorentina. The ultimate calcio icon in Japan.
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Words: Steve Wilson
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