Shinkichi Kikuchi
Position: GK
Born: 12-Apr-1967
Height/Weight: 182/80
Birthplace: Iwate
Previous Teams: Tono HS; Verdy Kawasaki, Tokyo Verdy
Appearances (J1/J2): 185
First Appearance:15-May-1993 Verdy Kawasaki -vs- Yokohama Marinos (at Todoroki Stadium)

Bio

Shinkichi Kikuchi was one of the first goalkeepers to distinguish himself in the J.League, playing as the starting net-minder for Verdy Kawasaki during the team's glory years. His brother, Toshimi, joined Verdy two years after Shinkichi giving Verdy two sets of brothers (the others were "Kazu and Yasu" Miura), as well as one of the two Hashiratani brothers, all playing for the same team.

Some would say that this "inbreeding" was one reason for Verdy's decline in the mid-1990s, but whereas the Miura brothers may have deserved criticism for arrogance and dissipation, Shinkichi Kikuchi was always viewed as a straight arrow, and a quiet but exemplary member of the Verdy team. Not surprisingly, he lasted longer at Verdy than any of the others.

An injury in 1999 nearly ended his career, but he came back in 2000 with Kawasaki Frontale and played well enough for Verdy to reclaim him the following year, to finish out his career at his old club. Though not a flashy or prominent keeper, Kikuchi was always very calm and sure-handed between the posts, and contributed significantly to both of Verdy's championship campaigns in 1993 and 1994.