title: Naoki Imaya
text: # Naoki Imaya
  
  Naoki Imaya (今矢 直城, Imaya Naoki, born 18 June 1980 in Tokyo) is a former Japanese footballer who played as a midfielder or forward.
  
  ## Career
  
  As a child he moved to Sydney Australia with his parents at age 10. He played for various Australian clubs before moving to Switzerland. He played in the first season of the A-League with the New Zealand Knights before returning to NSW state league football with Marconi Stallions.
  
  In July 2007 he signed a contract with VfB Lübeck, a traditional club from Lübeck in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein playing in the 3rd German Regionalliga Nord. He was released by the club after six months due to financial problems.
  
  ## Coaching career
  
  Imaya is now coaching football to young children in Japan and no longer pursuing a professional career.
  
  