Seia Kunori

Seia Kunori
Kunori with Tampines Rovers in 2024
Personal information
Full name Seia Kunori
Date of birth (2001-03-31) 31 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Kyoto, Japan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Tampines Rovers
Number 10
Youth career
Nishijin Chuo SSS
Kyoto Sanga
2016–2018 Higashiyama High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Kansai University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 Albirex Niigata (S) 23 (21)
2024– Tampines Rovers 14 (10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:03, 15 March 2023 (UTC)

Seia Kunori (久乗 聖亜, Kunori Seia, born 31 March 2001), also known in Singapore as just Seia, is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a striker or attacking midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Tampines Rovers.

Early career

High school

While in junior high school, Kunori played for the academy of professional club Kyoto Sanga. He played as a midfielder, but his opportunities were limited due to the form of Shimpei Fukuoka and Genki Egawa.[1] Having failed to establish himself in the Kyoto Sanga youth team, he moved to Higashiyama High School, where he was converted to a striker, and established himself in the team.[1][2]

Kansai University

Kunori committed to playing football at Kansai University. He scored once in the 2022 Emperor's Cup, in a 2–0 win over FC Osaka.[3]

Club career

Albirex Niigata Singapore

In January 2023, it was announced that Kunori would join Singaporean club, Albirex Niigata (S) for the 2023 Singapore Premier League season.[4] He made his debut in the Singapore Community Shield, scoring once in a 3–0 win against Hougang United.[5]

On 5 April 2023, Kunori scored his first hat-trick for the club against Balestier Khalsa with Albirex Niigata (S) winning the game 6–1. On 3 August, he scored four goals against Geylang International in a 6–1 win in which he also get himself his second hat-trick of the season. Kunori helped the club to retained the league title and finishing as the third highest league goal scorer behind Maxime Lestienne and fellow countrymen, Ryoya Tanigushi with 21 goals in 23 league appearances. In the 2023 Singapore Cup fixtures on 24 September, he rescued his team from a 1–0 deficit to draw level at 1–1 against DPMM.

Kunori would go on to win the league title at the end of the season with Albirex Niigata.[6] During the Football Association of Singapore Awards Night, he won the 2023 Young Player of the Year award and also being named in the league 2023 Singapore Premier League 'Team of the Year'.[7]

Tampines Rovers

On 27 January 2024, Kunori moved to Tampines Rovers ahead of the 2024–25 season. He scored a brace on his debut on 12 May in a 3–1 over his former club Albirex Niigata (S). During the club 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two campaign on 18 September, Kunori scored a brace in a 4–2 lost against Thailand club Bangkok United at the Thammasat Stadium.

Style of play

A forward with good technique, skilful dribbler and pinpoint passing ability, Kunori is also highly regarded for his vision and situational awareness.[2] He has been compared to fellow Japanese footballer Daichi Kamada for his style of play.[8]

Honours

Albirex Niigata (S)

Individual

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 Sept 2023.[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup AFC/ACL Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kansai University 2022 – 2[a] 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Albirex Niigata (S) 2023 Singapore Premier League 23 21 1 1 0 0 1[b] 1 25 23
Tampines Rovers 2024–25 Singapore Premier League 20 12 0 0 5 6 0 0 25 18
Career total 37 31 3 2 1 2 1 1 52 42
Notes
  1. ^ Appearances in the Emperor's Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in the Singapore Community Shield

References

  1. ^ a b "京都ユースに昇格できなかった悔しさが原動力、東山のエース・久乗聖亜「もっと怖い選手に」" [Motivated by the frustration of not being promoted to Kyoto Youth, Higashiyama's ace Seia Kunori ``becoming a scarier player]. soccer-king.jp (in Japanese). 12 August 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "22年ぶり選手権出場 チーム導く攻撃の要 久乗聖亜（京都・東山3年）" [Participating in the championship for the first time in 22 years Seia Kunori, the key to leading the attack of the team (Kyoto Higashiyama 3rd year)]. koukouseishinbun.jp (in Japanese). 19 December 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  3. ^ "関西大学（６年ぶり１７回目）" [Kansai University (17th for the first time in 6 years)]. jfa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Seia Kunori (Kansai University) will be joining us for 2023 season!". albirex.com.sg. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  5. ^ Lee, David (19 February 2023). "Football: VAR makes Singapore debut as Albirex win Community Shield with 3-0 victory over Hougang United". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. ^ Tianbao, Lin (2023-09-13). "Six-time champions Albirex Niigata to become local Singapore Premier League side from 2024". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  7. ^ "WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Sports happenings in Singapore (20-26 Nov)". Yahoo News. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  8. ^ "＜東山＞決して驕らない"注目の逸材"久乗聖亜、ついに選手権へ【選手権出場校紹介】" [<Higashiyama> Seia Kunori, the never-to-be-arrogant “remarkable talent” finally enters the championship [Introduction of schools participating in the championship]]. soccer-king.jp (in Japanese). 27 December 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. ^ Seia Kunori at Soccerway


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