1. Overview
Atsushi Ito (伊藤 淳嗣Itō AtsushiJapanese, born September 24, 1983) is a former Japanese footballer. Predominantly playing as a midfielder, Ito had a professional career spanning from 2006 to 2010. He is best known for his tenures with JEF United Chiba in the J1 League and Tochigi SC in the J2 League, before concluding his playing career with VONDS Ichihara. Following his retirement from playing, Ito transitioned into coaching, taking on a role at Ryutsu Keizai University.
2. Early Life and Education
Atsushi Ito was born on September 24, 1983, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. His foundational years in football began early, participating in youth teams and school clubs that shaped his development as a player.
2.1. Youth Career
Ito's youth football journey started with the Akizuki Soccer Sports Youth Team, which was affiliated with Shunan Municipal Akizuki Elementary School. He continued his development at Shunan Municipal Shuyo Junior High School. From 1999 to 2001, he attended Tataragakuen High School. His academic and athletic pursuits continued into his university years, where he played for the Meiji University football club from 2002 to 2005, notably serving as the team's captain during his time there.
3. Club Career
Atsushi Ito's professional career began in 2006, marking his entry into the J.League system. His club career spanned several teams, including JEF United Chiba, Tochigi SC, and VONDS Ichihara, where he contributed to various leagues and cup competitions.
3.1. Professional Career
Ito's professional playing career involved significant periods with two prominent Japanese clubs before he moved to an amateur team. He officially announced his retirement from professional football in late 2009.
3.1.1. JEF United Chiba
Ito joined JEF United Chiba in 2006, signing his first professional contract. While with JEF United Chiba, he also played for their reserve team, JEF United Chiba Reserves, participating in the Japan Football League (JFL). His debut in the J1 League occurred on October 14, 2006, in a match against Kashima Antlers during the 27th round of the 2006 J1 League season, played at Fukuda Denshi Arena. He scored his first professional goal on April 19, 2008, in a 2008 J1 League 7th round match against Nagoya Grampus at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya. He remained with JEF United Chiba until the end of the 2008 season.
3.1.2. Tochigi SC
In 2009, Ito transferred to Tochigi SC, where he competed in the J2 League. During his tenure with Tochigi SC, he made 11 league appearances. On December 18, 2009, while still with Tochigi SC, Ito announced his retirement from professional football.
3.1.3. VONDS Ichihara
Following his departure from professional football, Atsushi Ito continued to play at a lower level, joining S.A.I Ichihara (now known as VONDS Ichihara) in 2010. With VONDS Ichihara, he participated in the Kanto Soccer League Division 2.
3.2. Club Statistics
The following table details Atsushi Ito's comprehensive club performance statistics throughout his professional career in Japan.
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | |||||||
| 2006 | JEF R | JFL | 8 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2006 | JEF United Chiba | J1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2007 | JEF R | JFL | 2 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2007 | JEF United Chiba | J1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2008 | JEF R | JFL | 7 | 1 | - | - | 7 | 1 | |||
| 2008 | JEF United Chiba | J1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2009 | Tochigi SC | J2 | 11 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total J1 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Total J2 | 11 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Total JFL | 17 | 1 | - | - | 17 | 1 | |||||
| Career Total | 38 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |||
4. Post-Retirement Career
After concluding his playing career in 2010, Atsushi Ito transitioned into a coaching role. He joined the coaching staff of the Ryutsu Keizai University football club in the same year, contributing his experience and knowledge to the development of young players.