Arata Izumi

is a professional football coach and former footballer who played as a midfielder. He was recently the assistant coach of I-League club Inter Kashi. Born in Japan, Izumi represented India at the international level.

Izumi began his professional career in Singapore with Albirex Niigata Singapore and in his native Japan for Mitsubishi Mizushima before moving to India in 2006. He spent the first three years in India with East Bengal and Mahindra United before spending six seasons with Pune. He then went on to play for Atlético de Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune City, and NEROCA. With NEROCA, Izumi helped the Manipuri club earn promotion to the I-League. He then ended his career playing with the Kerala Blasters.

Club career Albirex Niigata Singapore In 2005, Izumi started his professional football career with Albirex Niigata Singapore of the S.League. Albirex Niigata Singapore was an affiliate of Albirex Niigata of the J.League. Arata grew a reputation for his speed while in the S.League. He then scored his second goal of the season on 30 September 2005 against Woodlands Wellington.

Mitsubishi Mizushima In 2006, after a successful season with Albirex Niigata Singapore in which the team finished 5th in the S.League, He worked 10 hours a day from 5 in the morning to 6 in the evening with the car company and then he spent 2 hours practicing with the football team. Despite scoring 7 goals and gaining 7 assists in 24 games during the 2006 season Izumi could not stop the club finishing in 17th place, 2nd the last that season. At first he struggled to get accustomed to the Indian climate but eventually he found his way. He ended his maiden season with the club with 1 goal and 10 assists in 14 games. He began the 2007–08 I-League campaign with an injury that kept him out of football for six months. Izumi has called his move to Pune as the turning point of his career. On 22 October 2011 Izumi made his 50th appearance for the club in I-League in the opening match of the 2011–12 season against Shillong Lajong. On 24 August 2012 Izumi extended his contract by 2 years with Pune FC.

Atlético de Kolkata In 2015 Izumi was drafted to Atlético Kolkata of the 2015 Indian Super League. He started his campaign for the side with a goal against FC Goa in a high voltage 1-1 clash on 7 October. Six days later on 13 October Izumi scored against Kerala Blasters in 2–1 win which was witnessed by a home crowd of sixty thousand Kolkata fans and legendary Pelé at Salt Lake Stadium. He returned after an injury almost a month later and produced a match winning performance against Kerala Blasters in Kochi, coming off the bench and scoring twice on 84th and 90+3 minutes with his team winning the match 3–2. His last goal came in a 2–3 defeat on 14 December against Mumbai City FC at Salt Lake Stadium on the final match of the group stage.

NEROCA In January 2017, after playing with Pune City, Izumi signed with I-League 2nd Division side NEROCA.

Kerala Blasters On 23 July 2017, Izumi was selected in the 6th round of the 2017–18 ISL Players Draft by the Kerala Blasters for the 2017–18 Indian Super League. He made his debut for the club during their opening match of the season on 17 November 2017 against ATK. He started and played the whole match as Kerala Blasters drew 0–0.

At the end of the season, Izumi announced his retirement from professional football on 18 July 2018.

Style of play

As player he can play anywhere on midfield and also as a False 9. Mostly Izumi likes to operate behind the striker or as a playmaker but also can play in as winger for his crossing abilities. Although, he has been criticized sometimes for lack of consistency throughout his career.

International career On 24 August 2012, Izumi gained Indian citizenship, giving away his Japanese passport in order to do so, thus making him eligible to play for India at the international level. Izumi then made his international debut when he came on in the 64th minute for Lenny Rodrigues as India went on to lose the match 4–2.

Since then Izumi has also been called up to India's 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification squad and their 2013 SAFF Championship squad.

Coaching career After retiring as a player, Izumi took up the role of youth coach with the Reliance Foundation Young Champs, the youth academy division for the Indian Super League.

Personal life Arata was born to Akiko Izumi, a Japanese mother and Narendra Khambholja, a Gujarati father. On 24 August 2012, it was officially announced by his club, Pune FC, that he has received Indian citizenship from the Government of India.

International

Honours India

SAFF Championship runner-up: 2013

East Bengal

Indian Super Cup: 2006 Calcutta Football League: 2006

Mahindra United

IFA Shield: 2008 Mumbai Football League: 2007–08, 2008–09

Pune

I-League runner-up: 2012–13; third place: 2009–10 Durand Cup runner-up: 2014 Bhutan King's Cup runner-up: 2014