* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 November 2022, 12:00 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 August 2013, 14:04 (UTC)
Yuichi Komano (駒野 友一,Komano Yūichi; born 25 July 1981) is a former Japanese professionalfootballer who last played as adefender. He last played forJapan national team until 2013.[2]
Komano played for his local junior high school team. He was invited for trials from several clubs, includingGamba Osaka,JEF United Ichihara,Sanfrecce Hiroshima and local high school powerhouse Hatsushiba Hashimoto. He decided to join Sanfrecce Hiroshima youth team and entered Yoshida High School in Hiroshima.
Komano was the first-choice right back for the club from 2001. He suffered several serious injuries and illnesses. He damaged thecruciate ligaments of his left knee in the match againstYokohama FC on 16 August 2003. While he was in hospital, he suffered from avenous thrombosis. Because of these, he was sidelined until April 2004. He broke his leftcollar bone in an Olympic game against Ghana in August 2004. In September of the same year, he also suffered from auveitis problem that might have caused blindness. Komano moved toJúbilo Iwata for the 2008 season after Hiroshima was relegated toJ2 League.
Komano played as regular right side-back and played all 34 matches every season until 2013 except 2010 season for injury.[2] However Júbilo was relegated toJ2 League end of2014 season. He played many matches in 2 seasons in J2, Júbilo returned to J1 end of2015 season.
In 2016, Komano moved toFC Tokyo.[3] However he could hardly play behind young playerRyoya Ogawa.
In July 2016, Komano moved toAvispa Fukuoka.[4] Although he played many matches, Avispa finished at the bottom place in2016 season and was relegated toJ2 League. Although he played as regular player in 2017, his opportunity to play decreased in 2018 and he left the club end of 2018 season.[5]
He made his full international debut forJapan national team on 3 August 2005 in a2005 East Asian Football Championship match againstChina. He was a member of the Japan team for the2006 World Cup finals as a backup for first-choiceAkira Kaji.[7] Because of Kaji's injury, Komano played in Japan's opening game againstAustralia. He was also a member for the2007 Asian Cup finals. He played all the Japan games except one for which he wasn't eligible due to suspension.
On 29 June 2010, Komano missed a penalty in a penalty shoot-out againstParaguay as Japan lost 5–3 in the2010 World Cup second round.[8]
Komano scored his first international goal in a friendly againstTajikistan on 11 October 2011 atNagai Stadium. He played 78 games and scored 1 goal for Japan. His last international match was in 2013.[9]
