Height 1.79 m Name Shoji Jo | 1994–1996 JEF United Ichihara Years Team Position Forward | |
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Date of birth (1975-06-17) 17 June 1975 (age 40) Place of birth Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan 1991–1993 Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School Role Association football player | ||
Playing position | ||
Shoji Jo (城 彰二, Jō Shōji, born June 17, 1975) is a former Japanese football player. He played for Japan national team.
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Career
He was born on the island of Hokkaido and began his footballing career with JEF United Ichihara 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 Ichihara, 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 national team 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)