Kashima Antlers midfielder Gaku Shibasaki may be only 21, but such is the wise head on his young shoulders that 34-year-old club captain Mitsuo Ogasawara already considers him an "old man."
Shibasaki has established himself as one of the J. League's classiest operators in just 2½ years since joining Antlers from Aomori Yamada High School, gliding through midfield with a maturity far beyond his years to emerge as the new star of the seven-time champion Ibaraki club.
But behind the baby face lies an iron resolve. Shibasaki's commitment to his craft has made a deep impression on a team even as experienced as Kashima, and former J. League player of the year Ogasawara believes his young apprentice has the right mentality to take him all the way to the top.