Urawa Reds and former Japan defender Masami Ihara admitted on Friday that hanging up his boots was a tough decision to make. But Japan's most-capped player made the decision in order to prepare for a new career as a future J. League coach.
"I never wanted to quit playing and when I decided to announce my retirement today, I felt sad as I knew I would have to accept my decision," Ihara said after his press conference at a Saitama hotel.
"I would have carried on if the Reds had offered me a contract extension for next year. But they didn't."