Akihiro Ienaga

Akihiro Ienaga (家長 昭博, Ienaga Akihiro; born 13 June 1986) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Kawasaki Frontale.^[1] He also formerly played for the Japan national team.

Akihiro Ienaga
家長 昭博

Akihiro Ienaga playing for Kawasaki Frontale in 2023.
Personal information
Full name	Akihiro Ienaga
Date of birth	(1986-06-13) June 13, 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Nagaokakyō, Kyoto, Japan
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Kawasaki Frontale
Number	41
Youth career
1993–1998	Nagaokakyo SS
1999–2004	Gamba Osaka
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2007	Gamba Osaka	87	(5)
2008–2009	Oita Trinita	30	(1)
2010	Cerezo Osaka	31	(4)
2011–2013	Mallorca	25	(2)
2012	→ Ulsan Hyundai (loan)	12	(1)
2012–2013	→ Gamba Osaka (loan)	29	(6)
2014–2016	Omiya Ardija	92	(28)
2017–	Kawasaki Frontale	226	(42)
International career
2005	Japan U-20	4	(0)
2006–2007	Japan U-23	10	(1)
2007–2011	Japan	3	(0)
Medal record Gamba Osaka Winner J1 League 2005 Winner J.League Cup 2007 Runner-up J.League Cup 2005 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2006 Runner-up Emperor's Cup 2012 Oita Trinita Winner J.League Cup 2008 Kawasaki Frontale Winner J1 League 2017 Winner J1 League 2018 Runner-up J.League Cup 2017
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 March 2023

Club career

Born in Hyogo Prefecture,^[2] Ienaga began his career as a trainee with Gamba Osaka, one of the leading clubs in Japan's J1 League. He broke into the senior squad in 2004 and helped the club to their first J1 League title the following year. Ienaga joined J1 League rivals Oita Trinita on a season-long loan in 2007. In December 2008, Ienaga joined English club, Plymouth Argyle, on trial.^[3] Plymouth attempted to sign the player in January 2009 but he was denied a work permit so they were forced to withdraw from talks.^[4] In December 2010, he signed with Spanish Primera Division club RCD Mallorca in a five-year deal.^[5] And scored his first goal for the club in home game against Sevilla on 9 April 2011.^[6]

International career

In June 2005, Ienaga was selected Japan U-20 national team for 2005 World Youth Championship. At this tournament, he played all 4 matches as left midfielder.

Ienaga made his international debut as a substitute in Japan's 2–0 win against Peru in March 2007.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 March 2023^[7][8][9]

Club	Season	League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other1		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gamba Osaka	2004	8	1	2	0	3	0	-		-		13	1
	2005	24	0	3	0	5	1	-		-		32	1
	2006	28	2	4	2	2	0	6	1	3	0	43	5
	2007	27	2	3	0	7	1	-		-		37	3
	Total	87	5	12	2	17	2	6	1	3	0	125	10
Oita Trinita	2008	4	0	1	0	0	0	-		-		5	0
	2009	26	1	1	0	6	2	-		3	0	36	3
	Total	30	1	2	0	6	2	-		3	0	41	3
Cerezo Osaka	2010	31	4	3	0	6	0	-		-		40	4
	Total	31	4	3	0	6	0	-		-		40	4
Mallorca	2010–11	14	2	-		-		-		-		14	2
	2011–12	4	0	1	0	-		-		-		5	0
	2013–14	7	0	1	0	-		-		-		8	0
	Total	25	2	2	0	-		-		-		27	2
Ulsan Hyundai	2012	12	1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	18	1
	Total	12	1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	18	1
Gamba Osaka	2012	12	5	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	16	6
	2013	17	1	0	0	-		-		-		17	1
	Total	29	6	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	33	7
Omiya Ardija	2014	33	6	5	0	1	0	-		-		39	6
	2015	33	11	0	0	-		-		-		33	11
	2016	26	11	3	1	2	1	-		-		31	13
	Total	92	28	8	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	103	30
Kawasaki Frontale	2017	21	2	3	1	5	2	6	0	-		35	5
	2018	32	6	3	1	1	0	4	1	1	0	41	8
	2019	26	0	1	1	5	0	4	0	1	0	37	1
	2020	29	11	2	0	3	1	-		-		34	12
	2021	37	8	5	1	2	1	6	0	1	0	51	10
	2022	34	12	1	0	2	0	4	0	1	0	42	12
	2023	5	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
	Total	185	40	15	4	13	4	24	1	1	0	247	49
Career total		491	87	46	8	52	9	35	2	10	0	634	106

¹Includes other competitive competitions, including the Japanese Super Cup, A3 Champions Cup, Suruga Bank Championship and Pan-Pacific Championship.

International

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Japan U-20
	2005	4	0
	Total	4	0
Japan U-23
	2006	1	0
	2007	9	1
	Total	10	1
Japan
	2007	1	0
	2008	0	0
	2009	0	0
	2010	0	0
	2011	2	0
	Total	3	0

International goals

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first.

Under-23

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	28 March 2007	National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Syria	1–0	3–0	2008 Summer Olympics qualification

Appearances in major competitions

Team	Competition	Category	Appearances		Goals	Team Result
			Start	Sub
Japan U-20	2005 FIFA World Youth Championship	U-20	4	0	0	Round of 16
Japan U-23	2008 Summer Olympics qualification	U-22	6	3	1	Qualified

Awards and honours

Club

Gamba Osaka

• J1 League: 2005
• J.League Cup: 2007
• Japanese Super Cup: 2007

Oita Trinita

• J.League Cup: 2008

Kawasaki Frontale

• J1 League: 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021
• Emperor's Cup: 2020, 2023^[10]
• J.League Cup: 2019
• Japanese Super Cup: 2019, 2021

International

Japan

• Kirin Cup: 2011

Individual

• J.League MVP Award: 2018
• J.League Best XI: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022^[11]