Japan and Bolton midfielder Nakata to retire
TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan's best-known
soccer player and a veteran of three World Cups, announced his
retirement on Monday.
'Nakata said on his Internet page that he is retiring. There is no
mistake,' an official at his management company said.
The 29-year-old midfielder was Man of the Match when Japan drew
with Croatia in the World Cup last month but his performance was
not enough to help his team advance to the second round in
Germany.
Nakata lay on the pitch for several minutes after Japan's 4-1
defeat by Brazil in their last group F game in the World Cup. He
later wept in the locker room.
'It's the end of an era,' one Japanese soccer fan told NHK national
television.
Nakata began his career in 1995 with Japanese team Bellmare
Hiratsuka and moved to Italian side Perugia soon after his World
Cup debut in 1998.
The former Asian Footballer of the Year spent the next seven years
in Italy. In 2000 he moved to Roma and was part of the side that
clinched the Serie A title in 2001.
He subsequently played for Parma, Bologna and Fiorentina before
moving to English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on loan in
the 2005-2006 season, although he failed to win a regular first
team place.
'The news isn't a surprise as far as I am concerned,' said Bolton
manager Sam Allardyce on the club website. 'Hide has had the time
to think about his future and has decided that the best outcome is
for him to hang up his boots.
'He's had a glittering career and has achieved plenty in the
domestic game,' he added.
'He will be remembered as the catalyst of Asian and Japanese
football, and also the first Japanese export to European
football.
'It was a privilege to work with him last season.'
