Kimito Nono

Kimito Nono
濃野 公人
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-03-26) 26 March 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Ibaraki, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
 Kashima Antlers
Number 22
Youth career
Osaka Dreams
Valentia FC
–2016 Sagan Tosu
2017–2019 Ohzu High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Kwansei Gakuin University 55 (9)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Kashima Antlers 31 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:53, 8 November 2024 (UTC)

Kimito Nono (濃野 公人, Nono Kimito, born 26 March 2002) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a right back for J1 League club Kashima Antlers.[1]

Early life

Nono was born in Ibaraki, Osaka and his father would often take him to watch Gamba Osaka matches. Whilst at elementary school, he moved to Chikushino, Fukuoka and joined Sagan Tosu U-15.[2]

Youth career

Despite playing for Sagan Tosu's U-15 side, Nono decided to attend Otsu High School to continue his footballing journey rather than move up to Tosu's U-18s. At this time, his position was as a forward. In 2019, he scored six goals in 17 appearances in the Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football League.[3]

Nono received an offer from Kwansei Gakuin University, which he accepted. In his first year, he moved first to right-midfield, before settling in the right-back position at the start of his second year. From then on, Nono was a regular player for the university team.[4] The team finished as winners of the JUFA Kansai League in both 2021 and 2022. At the end of his time at the university, he had 64 appearances and scored 10 goals across all competitions.[5]

Club career

Nono received two offers from J1 League clubs.[6] In June 2023, it was announced that he would be joining J1 League team Kashima Antlers for the 2024 J1 League season.[7] Nono made his debut for the club on the opening game of the season in a 3–0 league victory over Nagoya Grampus.[8][9] He became the first college graduate rookie since 1993 to be named in the starting lineup of the opening game for a Kashima side.[10] In April 2024, he scored his first goal for the club, an 85th-minute winner in a 1–0 league win over Kyoto Sanga.[11][12] In his first appearance in the J.League Cup, Nono was sent off in extra time in a 2–1 victory over Vanraure Hachinohe.[13] After scoring two goals in a 3–2 defeat to Shonan Bellmare on 28 September 2024, he picked up a knee injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.[14] Despite missing the last two months of the season, his nine goals in thirty-one appearances meant Nono was selected in the 2024 J.League Best XI.[15] He was the first university graduate rookie since Kaoru Mitoma in 2020 to be inducted into the Best XI.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of end of 2024 season[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
Kashima Antlers 2024 J1 League 31 9 4 0 1 0 36 9
Career total 31 9 4 0 1 0 36 9

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "KIMITO NONO | Kashima Antlers Player". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ "関学DF濃野公人はなぜ鹿島入りを決断したのか。常勝軍団の"立ち返る場所"に魂が震えた。「一番大切にしてきたものがここにはある」 | サッカーダイジェストWeb". www.soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2019 Kimito Nono Result by Season". soccer-db.net. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  4. ^ "関学DF濃野公人はなぜ鹿島入りを決断したのか。常勝軍団の"立ち返る場所"に魂が震えた。「一番大切にしてきたものがここにはある」 | サッカーダイジェストWeb". www.soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Soccer D.B. : Kimito Nono All-Time Record". soccer-db.net. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ^ "関学DF濃野公人はなぜ鹿島入りを決断したのか。常勝軍団の"立ち返る場所"に魂が震えた。「一番大切にしてきたものがここにはある」 | サッカーダイジェストWeb". www.soccerdigestweb.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  7. ^ "濃野 公人選手の2024シーズン加入内定について | 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト". 鹿島アントラーズ オフィシャルサイト | KASHIMA ANTLERS (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. ^ "【鹿島】大卒ルーキーＤＦ濃野公人開幕スタメン「地に足つけて鹿島で結果を残せるように」 - Ｊ１ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Nagoya Grampus vs. Kashima Antlers - 23 February 2024 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. ^ "濃野公人が行き詰まったときに見返す「最高潮のとき」。自らの域を逸脱したことで得られたものとは。". スポーツナビ (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  11. ^ "【鹿島】大卒新人DF濃野公人のプロ初得点＆鹿島1800号で京都に競り勝ち連敗ストップ - Ｊ１ : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Kashima Antlers vs. Kyoto Sanga - 13 April 2024 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  13. ^ "鹿島DFが警告2枚→退場 接触シーンの判定にファン疑問「イーブン」「先に触ってる」". www.football-zone.net (in Japanese). 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  14. ^ "濃野 公人選手の負傷について". www.antlers.co.jp (in Japanese).
  15. ^ "【公式】２０２４Ｊリーグアウォーズ特設サイト". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese).
  16. ^ "「来季は自分がチームを引っ張る」鹿島DF濃野公人がプロ1年目でベストイレブン受賞！". サッカーキング (in Japanese). 10 December 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Soccer D.B. : 2024 Kimito Nono Result by Season". soccer-db.net. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  18. ^ "2024年のJリーグベストイレブンが決定!! 連覇神戸から最多3人、広島・G大阪・鹿島は2人ずつ". Gekisaka (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 December 2024.