Japan midfielder Shinji Ono, playing for Feyenoord in the Dutch first division, signed a management agreement with agent Chiel Dekker of the SFX Sports Group, Ono's Japanese marketing representatives said Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Ono became the first Japanese to lift the UEFA Cup in May 2002 and follows in the footsteps of compatriot Hideki Matsui, who joined forces with Arn Tellem of SFX before inking a three-year, $21 million deal with the New York Yankees last December.
The global talent management and marketing agency includes elite professional athletes such as David Beckham, Michael Owen, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Greg Norman and Andre Agassi among its clients.