‘ Iniesta coup puts J- League on the map’

Tokyo: Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta’s decision to join Japan’s Vissel Kobe could make the J- League a serious option for the world’s top footballers, former Shimizu SPulse manager Steve Perryman said.

The 34- year- old Spanish World Cup winner, who lifted 32 major trophies at Barca and made over 600 appearances for the Catalan giants, completed a big- money move to Japan on Thursday after bidding a tearful farewell to the Nou Camp last weekend.

Iniesta’s Far East move will have been noted by players who might hitherto have considered China a more lucrative destination, Perryman said.

“As soon as a top player like Iniesta decides to go to Japan it becomes an option for other people,” said the former Tottenham Hotspur captain, who coached at J- League clubs S- Pulse and Kashiwa Reysol between 1996 to 2002.

“It gives the J- League credibility but it’s about what Iniesta brings with him in terms of his ethos and work ethic,” added Perryman.

“You want people to lead in the right manner and history tells you that this man does things the right way.”

Perryman moved to Japan in 1996 as assistant coach to Argentine Ossie Ardiles at SPulse.

Perryman expects Iniesta to have as big an impact as the Frenchman on a J- League that has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years.

“Football is about risk, but I’m sure Iniesta will repay Kobe with his professional attitude.

“It has to be backed up by success but I expect the other clubs are looking at that now and asking if they should enter the race for players of this quality.”

Vissel, whose billionaire owner Hiroshi Mikitani is also the CEO of Barcelona’s main sponsor Rakuten, did sign German World Cup winner Lukas Podolski last year.