Shinji Ono in his ultimate match for Hokkaido Sapporo (Credit: Twitter)
Father Time has run its course with the Japanese legend, as Ono performed his ultimate recreation on the age of 44 on Sunday in entrance of his house crowd of the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
From the likes of the technical savant Kaoru Mitoma to the composed conductor Shinji Kagawa to the swashbuckling set-piece savant Shunsuke Nakamura, and the electrical enigma Keisuke Honda, Japan has produced a few of the most fun and most interesting expertise in soccer through the years.
But, the roads for all of the above-talked about skills had been paved by one identify that preceeded all of them: one underrated but timeless maestro, Shinji Ono. And Father Time has run its course with the legend, as Ono performed his ultimate recreation on the age of 44 on Sunday in entrance of his house crowd of the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Shinji Ono takes his ultimate bow as his unbelievable profession involves an finish on the Sapporo Dome.Thank you to a one-of-a-variety Japanese soccer expertise and a J.League legend. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/07XdbVn3m8
— J.LEAGUE Official (English) (@J_League_En) December 3, 2023
Ono’s legacy was etched within the stars in 2002, when the Japanese midfielder was the distinction-maker for a celebrated Feyenoord facet, who went on to defeat Borussia Dortmund within the UEFA Cup Final, on an mixture of three-2, with the distinction being made by Ono’s profitable strike within the first leg of the competition.
With his historic win, Ono turned the primary Japanese footballer to win a European trophy. Named Asian Player of The Year in 2023, he was additionally instrumental in inciting the pioneering wave of Japanese gamers making the difficult transfer to Europe, together with the likes of acclaimed gamers equivalent to Hidetoshi Nakata and Kazuyoshi Miura.
Ono’s spoils weren’t discovered solely in Europe although. The globetrotting Japanese took his skills all internationally, as additionally had stints with golf equipment in Australia, the place he gained the A-League Premiership with the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013, earlier than he lastly made the transfer again house in 2014 when he joined the Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Shinji’e exploits in Japan had been already etched in historical past at this level, because the midfielder had beforehand gained the J1 League and Asian Champions League with Urawa Red Diamonds and the 2000 Asian Cup with Japan.
Nicknamed “Genius,” Ono made his worldwide debut as an 18-12 months-previous and performed for Japan on the 1998 World Cup in France two months later.
His total worldwide profession noticed him symbolize the Samurai Blue in three World Cups, incomes 56 caps and scoring six worldwide objectives.
And it was on Sunday, when Ono made his first and ultimate begin within the J1-League in 11 years, donning the captain’s armband together with the No.44 on his again, in a 22-minute swansong that ended with a 2-0 defeat for Sapporo.
But, the end result barely mattered as with each silky contact and cross, the ravenous rapture of the group silenced any sliver of gloom that one could have felt.
“It was a short time with 20 minutes on the pitch, but I feel I could show what I’m capable of,” Ono stated on the put up-match ceremony, which included video messages from former Feyenoord teammate Robin van Persie and former Japan midfielder Junichi Inamoto.
An emotional Ono paid homage to his late mom and along with his ultimate phrases on the largest of phases, he stated:
“Thank you for giving birth to me and letting me meet this wonderful thing called football.”
And so walked away an icon of the Land of the Sun for one final time, upon the belief of his personal daybreak setting in.
