Jo, Shoij

Valladolid & Japan

Birthdate: June 17, 1975
Birthplace: Hokkaido, Japan
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Position: Forward
International: 26 caps, 5 goals
World Cups: 1 (1998)
Previous Clubs: JEF United Ichihara, Yokohama Marinos
Transfer Fee: -
The first Japanese footballer to play ever in the Spanish Liga Primera. He arrived to Spain in January 2000 and made his debut the 16th of that month vs Numancia. Shoji has adapted to Spain and is a major threat for the Liga's rivals. He got injured in March 2000 in a friendly match between Japan and China, and was supposed to be 6 months away, but like Jo said: "My morfology is different to all others" and he was right, miraculously he got cured with some days only. Before playing for Valladolid, he received offers from Italian Serie A, but he refused them because his dream ever was to play in Spain.