5 of the greatest Asians to have never played in Europe

#4 Kunishige Kamamoto

Kunishige Kamamoto

The 1960s and 1970s were not particularly productive decades for Japan as a footballing nation but the era did produce one outstanding star: Kunishige Kakamoto.

The Kyoto native made his club debut for Yanmar Diesel, his one and only team, in 1967 and a year later helped Japan’s Olympic Football Team to a surprise Bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was their standout performer, notching a hat-trick against Nigeria during the group stage and doubles in the quarter-final win over France and Bronze medal match against Mexico.

That did not, though, earn him a move to Europe. And so his career played out domestically in Japan, where he scored over 200 goals and was named Japanese player of the year on seven occasions. With the national team, he scored 80 goals - still the record to this day.

When the IFFHS compiled their ranking of the best Asian players of the 20th century, Kamamoto was present and correct at number five.