Japanese international midfielder and national superstar Hidetoshi Nakata said Monday he will retire from professional soccer after a decade on the pitch in Japan, Italy and England, a stunner from one of the most popular Boys in Blue.
Japan star Hidetoshi Nakata said he will retire from professional soccer after a 10-year career that spanned three countries and three World Cups.
KYODO PHOTO"I decided half a year ago that I would retire from the world of professional soccer . . . after the World Cup in Germany," Nakata said Monday on his official Web site.
"I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game"
The 29-year-old star, a fashion icon in Japan and twice voted Asia's player of the year, appeared in his third World Cup in Germany.
The Japanese side, however, got the boot after a lackluster performance against Australia, Croatia and defending champion Brazil in the group round.
Nakata joined English club Bolton in August last year after seven years in the Italian League, where he played with Roma, Parma, Bologna and Fiorentina. His first stint was with Japanese team Bellmare Hiratsuka from 1995-98.
At Bolton, Nakata scored one goal in 21 league appearances. A key playmaker for Japan's national team, Nakata played in 77 games, scoring 11 goals.
Last year, he was honored with one of Italy's highest awards -- Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity -- for helping to promote Italy's image overseas.
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