Midfield maestro Nakamura plays last professional match

Yokohama FC mid elder Shunsuke Nakamura played his last match as a professional soccer player Sunday in a J2 league game against Roasso Kumamoto in Kumamoto City. Nakamura, a former member of the national soccer team, will o cially retire at the end of this season.

e 44-year-old was named in the starting 11 for the rst time this season and served as team captain for the game. “I relied on the kindness of my team,” he said. “By way of repaying the favor, I played with a sense of gratitude.”

ough Nakamura was not involved in any decisive moments, his renowned passing skills were in evidence as he distributed the ball to his teammates, and he displayed great close-control skills, even when under pressure from the opposing team. He also showed o his acclaimed free-kick prowess, sending a le -foot cross tantalizingly close to a teammate who was threatening a header near the opposition goal.

Nakamura was substituted a er 60 minutes with his team one goal down. More than 20,000 Yokohama FC supporters applauded the star as he le the pitch and headed for the bench. Yokohama later rallied and eventually triumphed 4-3. Nakamura joined a circle of Yokohama FC players celebrating the victory and was tossed into the air by his teammates to commemorate his nal appearance.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to play in such an atmosphere,” Nakamura said a er the game. “I’m glad to have fought this way in the last match of my career.” (Oct. 25)

Masaki Akizuki / The Yomiuri Shimbun Shunsuke Nakamura takes a free kick during his last match as a professional soccer player at the Egao Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto City on Sunday.