Yasuhito Endō
Endō playing for Japan in 2008
Personal information
Full name Yasuhito Endo[1]
Date of birth (1980-01-28) 28 January 1980
Place of birth Kagoshima, Japan
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1998 Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Yokohama Flügels 16 (1)
1999–2001 Kyoto Purple Sanga 53 (9)
2001–2021 Gamba Osaka 607 (98)
2020–2021 → Júbilo Iwata (loan) 50 (5)
2022–2023 Júbilo Iwata 52 (0)
International career
1998–1999 Japan U-20 11 (1)
1999 Japan U-23 7 (0)
2002–2015 Japan 152 (15)
Medal record
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Winner2004 China
Winner2011 Qatar
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up1999 Nigeria
AFC U-19 Championship
Runner-up1998 Thailand
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁, Endō Yasuhito, born 28 January 1980) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a midfielder.[3] His brother Akihiro Endō is also a former footballer.

Endō's playing career unfolded entirely within Japan, where he was associated with Gamba Osaka for 20 years. He made his senior international debut in 2002, representing Japan in three World Cups and three Confederations Cups. In the process he earned over 150 caps, scoring 15 goals and becoming the most capped Japanese male player of all time. He is also one of the few players to have made over 1,100 official appearances.

Club career

Endō was born in Kagoshima on 28 January 1980. After graduating from Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School, he joined J1 League club Yokohama Flügels in 1998. In March, he debuted against Yokohama Marinos in the opening game of the 1998 season.[3][4] Largely as a central midfielder, he helped his club win the championship in the 1998 Emperor's Cup. Due to financial strain, the club was disbanded at the end of the season and merged with Yokohama Marinos.

In 1999, Endō moved to Kyoto Purple Sanga with contemporaries Kazuki Teshima and Hideo Oshima. He became a regular player and played many matches. However the club was relegated to J2 League at the end of the 2000 season.

In 2001, Endō moved to J1 club Gamba Osaka. He was a central player for the club for a long time under manager Akira Nishino (2002–2011). He was selected as a J.League Best Eleven 10 years in a row (2003–2012). In 2005, Gamba won the championship in J1 League for the first time in club history. In 2008, Gamba won the championship in AFC Champions League for 2 years in a row as Japanese club (Urawa Reds won in 2007). Gamba also won the Emperor's Cup. Endō was selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year". In 2009, Gamba won the Emperor's Cup for 2 years in a row. Endō was selected Asian Footballer of the Year.

Manager Nishino left Gamba after the 2011 season and the club's performance deteriorated. In 2012, Gamba finished at the 17th place of 18 clubs and was relegated to J2 League. Endō remained with Gamba and Gamba won the champions in 2013 season. In 2014 season, Gamba returned to J1 and won all three major titles in Japan, J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. Endō was selected J.League MVP and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" for the second time.

In October 2020, he joined J2 League side Júbilo Iwata on loan from Gamba Osaka.[5] In December 2021, he joined Júbilo Iwata on a full transfer.[6] In May 2023, Endō was named MVP of J.League's first 30 years.[7]

On 9 January 2024, Endō announced his retirement from professional football, having played in a record of 672 J.League matches.[8]

International career

Endō played in the 1999 World Youth Championship and Japan finished as runner-up, losing to Spain in the final. Since 2002, Endō has been a member of the Japan national team, and was selected for Japan's 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads.[9] He also was a member of the 2004 and 2011 Asian Cup winning teams.

On 24 June 2010, Endō scored from a free-kick against Denmark in a 3–1 win as Japan qualified for the second round of the World Cup.[10]

On 12 October 2010, he became the fourth player to earn 100th full international cap for Japan in a friendly match against South Korea. On 16 October 2012, Endō became Japan's most capped player in a friendly against Brazil.[11] His start in this match was his 123rd appearance for the national team, surpassing Masami Ihara's previous record of 122 caps.[11]

Endō (right) while he is about to free-kick against Vissel Kobe in 2017, flanked by his teammate Yōsuke Ideguchi (left)
Endō playing for Gamba Osaka in an AFC Champions League match against Melbourne Victory

Endō was included on Japan's squad for the 2015 Asian Cup and scored the team's opening goal of the tournament in a 4–0 defeat of Palestine.[12] In the team's next match, he earned his 150th cap as Japan defeated Iraq 1–0.[13] He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.[14]

Style of play

He is considered a cult hero among fans of Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team, attributed to his longevity as a professional athlete, technical ability, leadership, and goal scoring ability. He is also known for his excellent accuracy on free kicks and is revered as one of Japan's most creative midfielders as well as one of the most talented Japanese footballers and playmakers of his generation, this despite only playing domestically in his home country.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15]
Club Season League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup AFC Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kagoshima Jitsugyo HS 1997 —10———10
Yokohama Flügels 1998 1610040——201
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1999 2441020——274
2000 2950061——356
Total 5391081——6210
Gamba Osaka 2001 2943140——365
2002 3051081——396
2003 3042060——384
2004 2993000——329
2005 33102040——3910
2006 259410053413814
2007 3484081—10479
2008 2763010103324411
2009 3210432061104514
2010 30322003010365
2011 334000071—405
2012 345432041—449
2013 33500———335
2014 3465060——456
2015 345403112050586
2016 34220315110454
2017 311104070—431
2018 3411060——411
20192811050——341
2020 1100020——130
Total 6059846106445910163790125
Júbilo Iwata (loan) 2020 15 2 — — — — 15 2
2021 35 3 — — — — 35 3
Total 50 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 5
Júbilo Iwata 2022 310—1 0——320
2023 20 0 2 0 1 0 — — 23 0
Career total 77511350107855910163978141

International

Endō playing for Gamba Osaka in 2011
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Japan[14] 200210
2003111
2004162
200580
200680
2007131
2008163
2009120
2010152
2011130
2012111
2013162
201482
201541
Total15215
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Endō goal.
List of international goals scored by Yasuhito Endō
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
120 August 2003National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan Nigeria
3–0
3–0
Friendly
27 February 2004Kashima Stadium, Kashima, Japan Malaysia
4–0
4–0
Friendly
37 July 2004International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Serbia and Montenegro
1–0
1–0
Friendly
416 July 2007Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnam
2–1
4–1
2007 AFC Asian Cup
56 February 2008Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan Thailand
1–0
4–1
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
67 June 2008Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat, Oman Oman
1–1
1–1
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
76 September 2008Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Bahrain
2–0
3–2
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
814 February 2010National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan South Korea
1–0
1–3
2010 East Asian Football Championship
924 June 2010Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa Denmark
2–0
3–1
2010 FIFA World Cup
1015 August 2012Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan Venezuela
1–0
1–1
Friendly
116 September 2013Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan Guatemala
3–0
3–0
Friendly
1210 September 2013International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Ghana
2–1
3–1
Friendly
132 June 2014Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States Costa Rica
1–1
3–1
Friendly
1414 November 2014Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan Honduras
3–0
6–0
Friendly
1512 January 2015Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia Palestine
1–0
4–0
2015 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

Yokohama Flügels

Gamba Osaka

Júbilo Iwata

Japan

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA — List Of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008.
  3. 1 2 Yasuhito Endō at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)
  4. ↑ "J.League". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Veteran Yasuhito Endo joins J2 Jubilo on loan from Gamba". The Japan Times. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Veteran Yasuhito Endo leaves Gamba to join Jubilo". JapanTimes.Co.jp. The Japan Times. 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "J30: Yasuhito Endo named MVP of J.League's first 30 years". JLeague.co. J.League. 16 May 2023. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Longest-serving Japan international Yasuhito Endo retires". The Japan Times. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Squads on FIFA".
  10. ↑ Sheringham, Sam (24 June 2010). "Denmark 1–3 Japan". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  11. 1 2 "SOCCER/ Endo's Japan record ruined by Brazil thumping". Asahi Shimbun. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Japan opens Asian Cup with 4–0 win over Palestine in Group D". USA Today. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Japan's midfielder Endo reaches 150 int'l caps". Yahoo. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Japan National Football Team Database". Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  15. ↑ Archived 17 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine(in Japanese)
  16. 1 2 "Yasuhito Endo named J-League 30-year MVP, Kazuyoshi Miura, Shunsuke Nakamura in best XI". Mainichi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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