Shinji Murai

Shinji Murai (村井 慎二, Murai Shinji, born December 1, 1979) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Shinji Murai

Personal information
Full name	Shinji Murai
Date of birth	(1979-12-01) December 1, 1979
Place of birth	Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997	JEF United Ichihara
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2004	JEF United Ichihara	116	(7)
2005–2009	Júbilo Iwata	112	(4)
2010–2011	JEF United Chiba	22	(3)
2012–2013	Oita Trinita	44	(5)
Total		294	(19)
National team
2005–2006	Japan	5	(0)
Honours JEF United Chiba Runner-up J.League Cup 1998
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Murai was born in Chiba on December 1, 1979. He joined his local club JEF United Ichihara (later JEF United Chiba) from their youth team in 1998. He became a regular player as left midfielder from 2001. The club won the 3rd place in the 2001 and 2003 J1 League. He moved to Júbilo Iwata with teammate Takayuki Chano in 2005. He played many matches until 2009 except when he injured in 2006. He left the club with Chano end of 2009 season for generational change and he returned to JEF United Chiba with Chano in 2010. He moved to Oita Trinita in 2012 and played until 2013.

In July 2005, Murai was selected the Japan national team for 2005 East Asian Football Championship. At this tournament, on August 3, he debuted against China. He played 5 games for Japan between 2005 and 2006.

Statistics

Club statistics			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		J.League Cup		Asia		Total
1998	JEF United Ichihara	J1 League	4	1	0	0	0	0	-		4	1
1999			1	0	0	0	2	0	-		3	0
2000			2	0	0	0	2	0	-		4	0
2001			25	1	3	0	5	0	-		33	1
2002			26	2	0	0	5	2	-		31	4
2003			29	2	3	3	3	0	-		35	5
2004			29	1	1	0	5	0	-		35	1
2005	Júbilo Iwata	J1 League	30	0	3	0	1	0	4	0	38	0
2006			11	1	0	0	2	1	-		13	2
2007			23	2	0	0	5	0	-		28	2
2008			24	0	0	0	2	0	-		26	0
2009			24	1	1	0	4	0	-		29	0
2010	JEF United Chiba	J2 League	4	1	2	0	-		-		6	1
2011			18	2	2	0	-		-		20	2
2012	Oita Trinita	J2 League	37	5	0	0	-		-		37	5
2013		J1 League	7	0	0	0	3	0	-		10	0
Country	Japan		294	19	15	3	39	3	4	0	352	25
Total			294	19	15	3	39	3	4	0	352	25

Japan national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2005	3	0
2006	2	0
Total	5	0

Other websites

• Shinji Murai at Soccerway.com
• Shinji Murai at WorldFootball.net
• Shinji Murai at National-Football-Teams.com
• Shinji Murai at FBref.com
• Shinji Murai at J.League (in Japanese)