Shunsuke Nakamura, currently playing for Yokohama FC in the J.League second division, is set to leave at the end of the season.
The 44-year-old midfielder, known for his lethal left-footed strikes, made 98 appearances for Japan, scoring 24goals, and was a member of the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads.
In J1, the two-time J. League MVP scored 73 goals in 408 games. His 24 free kick goals are the most in league history.
After making his debut for Yokohama Marino in 1997, Nakamura quickly became a household name in the J.League and featured regularly in Japan, but was shockingly overlooked by then-manager Philippe Troussier ahead of the 2002 World Cup.
Nakamura joined Reggina this summer and spent three seasons in Italy’s Serie A before signing for Scottish giants Celtic, where he became a fan favorite and shone in the Champions League for four years.
After half a year with Espanyol in the Spanish League, Nakamura returned to Marino in 2010 before joining Jubilo Iwata in 2017.
Nakamura has been with Yokohama FC since 2019. He played five matches in J2 this season and the team won promotion to J1 on Sunday.
Nakamura has expressed his desire to take on a coaching role in the future.
He has played a total of 46 minutes in five games this season in J2, making his first appearance in five months on Sunday when the side was promoted to J1.
Nakamura has voiced his desire to take up a coaching role in the future.