Former Japan striker Akihiro Nagashima, who helped Vissel Kobe earn promotion to the J. League first division, said Monday he will retire at the end of the season. Nagashima, a 36-year-old Kobe native capped four times for Japan, said he will make his final appearance in the Emperor's Cup and then try to become a coach.
Nagashima joined the Matsushita Electric club, the forerunner of Gamba Osaka, in the old Japan Soccer League at 18 and had stints with Gamba, Shimizu S-Pulse and Kobe.
He has made 163 league appearances and scored 60 goals.