Unwanted in Italy, struck down by the dreaded metatarsal curse, lambasted for crimes against soccer in Nuremburg, and subjected to a torrent of abuse from his own fans during training.
Atsushi Yanagisawa is unlikely to remember 2006 with much fondness.
But the 29-year-old World Cup striker says he has put arguably the worst season of his career behind him and is determined to help bring the glory days back to Kashima Antlers.