Jun Kanakubo

2.1. Birth and Upbringing

Jun Kanakubo (金久保 順_{Kanakubo Jun}^Japanese) was born on July 26, 1987, in Sakai-machi, Sashima District, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He began playing football at the age of 10, quickly demonstrating his skill by being able to juggle a football over 200 times. He attended Sakai First Junior High School before enrolling in Mito Keimei High School. His football journey continued at Ryutsu Keizai University, where he was known by the nickname かなく_Kanaku^Japanese. During his third year at the university, Yuji Nakano, the general manager of Ryutsu Keizai University, recognized Kanakubo's potential, stating that he would be the team's number 10 the following year, a role he indeed fulfilled in his fourth and final year.

2.2. Physical Information

As a midfielder, Kanakubo's physical attributes include a height of 67 in ^{(171 cm)} and a weight of 146 lb ^{(66 kg)}. He is right-footed.

3.1. Youth and Amateur Career

Kanakubo's early football journey began in 1996, when he joined the Sakai Town Football Youth Team, where he played until 1999. From 2000 to 2002, he played for Sakai First Junior High School. He then progressed to Mito Keimei High School, playing there from 2003 to 2005. His amateur career continued at Ryutsu Keizai University from 2006 to 2009, where he was a prominent player. During his university years, he was selected for the Kanto University Selection team in both 2008 and 2009, showcasing his talent among collegiate players.

3.2. Professional Career

Kanakubo began his professional career in 2010, joining Omiya Ardija in the J1 League. He spent three seasons with Omiya Ardija before embarking on a series of loan spells and permanent transfers. In 2013, he was loaned to Avispa Fukuoka in the J2 League. The following year, 2014, saw him on loan again, this time to Kawasaki Frontale in the J1 League.

In 2015, Kanakubo made a permanent move to Vegalta Sendai, where he played until July 2018. He then transferred permanently to Kyoto Sanga FC in the J2 League, remaining with the club until 2020. His final professional club was Mito HollyHock, which he joined in 2021 and played for until his retirement at the end of the 2022 season.

3.3. Transfers and Loans

Jun Kanakubo's career involved several significant transfers and loan agreements:

• 2010:** Joined Omiya Ardija as a professional player.
• 2013:** Transferred to Avispa Fukuoka on a loan deal. His loan period with Fukuoka concluded on January 6, 2014.
• 2014:** On January 7, 2014, it was announced that he would join Kawasaki Frontale on a loan. This loan spell ended on December 4, 2014.
• 2015:** Completed a permanent transfer to Vegalta Sendai.
• July 24, 2018:** Made a permanent move to Kyoto Sanga FC.
• 2021:** Transferred permanently to Mito HollyHock.

3.4. Coaching Career

Following his retirement as a player, Jun Kanakubo transitioned into coaching. Since 2023, he has served as a Junior Youth coach for Mito HollyHock, the last club he played for professionally.