Biography
Who is Ryoichi Maeda?
Early life and education
Ryoichi Maeda was born in Kobe, Japan, on October 9, 1981. He spent his early childhood living in the United States before returning for his schooling. Ryoichi attended Gyosei Junior and Senior High School located in Tokyo.
While studying at the high school, he earned selection as a Designated Player for Development. This status allowed him to register with Verdy Kawasaki while remaining eligible to play for his school team, although he did not appear in any official matches for Verdy.
Club career highlights
After finishing high school in 2000, Ryoichi Maeda joined the club Jubilo Iwata. His first official appearance as a professional player took place on May 3, 2000, in a league match against Kawasaki Frontale. He scored his first professional goal on August 28, 2001, during a cup game against JEF United Ichihara.
Ryoichi became a regular starter for Jubilo Iwata by the 2003 season. During the 2009 season, he led the league with twenty goals and earned the top scorer award. He repeated this feat in 2010 by netting seventeen goals, while also helping his team win the league cup and earning the tournament MVP award.
International career
Ryoichi Maeda represented Japan at youth levels, playing for the under-20 team at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Argentina. He also featured in qualification matches for the 2004 Summer Olympics with the under-23 squad.
He made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Cameroon on August 22, 2007. His first senior international goal came on October 17, 2007, against Egypt in Osaka. Ryoichi participated in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, helping Japan win the tournament by starting all six games, and later played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup before finishing his international career with thirty three appearances and ten goals.
Coaching and height
Standing at a height of 184 centimeters, Ryoichi Maeda used his stature effectively as a forward during his playing days. Following his retirement as an active player, he transitioned into coaching roles within Japanese football.
Ryoichi currently shares his experience by working as an assistant coach for the Japan national team, contributing to the development of the next generation of players.
Birthday and age
Ryoichi Maeda was born on October 9, 1981, which makes Ryoichi 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Ryoichi shares the date with 29 other famous people.
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