The legendary Japanese football player Shinji Ono announced his retirement from the game on Sunday at the age of 44. During his career, he became the first person from his nation to win a European club title.
During a fruitful four years at the Dutch club, Ono was a member of the Feyenoord squad that defeated Borussia Dortmund in the 2002 UEFA Cup final.
Along with Hidetoshi Nakata and Kazuyoshi Miura, the offensive midfielder was a part of a wave of pioneering Japanese players that moved to Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Nicknamed “Genius”, Ono made his international debut as an 18-year-old and played for Japan at the 1998 World Cup in France two months later.
He played at three World Cups and won 56 caps, scoring six international goals.
Ono was named Asian player of the year in 2000 and also had stints with clubs in Germany and Australia, winning the A-League Premiership with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013.
He also won the J. League and Asian Champions League with Urawa Red Diamonds and the 2000 Asian Cup with Japan.
Ono made his final appearance Sunday for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in a 2-0 defeat to Urawa on the final day of the J. League season.
Several of his former Japan team-mates are still playing into their 40s and beyond, including 56-year-old striker ‘King Kazu’ Miura.
