Top 5 defenders of 2011

長友選手が，世界のDFベスト５に名を連ねました。世界で頑張る日本人が，このような場所に名を連ねることは励みになりますね。（Sugiuchi）
Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Japan)

At the start of 2011, hardly anyone would have heard of a pint-sized Japanese fullback by the name of Yuto Nagatomo. Then at Cesena, the 25-year-old was still trying to make a name for himself in Italy, having joined from FC Tokyo in the summer of 2010.
However, he impressed Inter scouts sufficiently in his sixteen Serie A appearances for the Nerazzurri to sign him on loan for the rest of the 2010/11 season, sending Davide Santon in the other direction.
And the dynamic defender slotted in seamlessly into Leonardo's starting eleven, scoring two goals in 19 appearances and convincing the Inter hierarchy to sign him on a permanent deal. Since then, he has featured prominently under both Gian Piero Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri.
Nagatomo not only tasted success with Inter, being part of the Coppa Italia-winning squad, but also on the international front, when he helped Japan to the Asian Cup in January, despite missing a penalty in the semi-final shootout victory over Korea Republic.
http://www.espnstar.com/editorial/news/detail/item728056/Top-5-defenders-of-2011/