Yasuhito Endō
Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁, Endō Yasuhito, born 28 January 1980) is a Japanese football player who plays for J1 League club Gamba Osaka.[1] His brother Akihiro Endō is also a professional footballer.
Endo playing for Japan in 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Yasuhito Endo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 28 January 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Gamba Osaka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1995–1997 | Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998 | Yokohama Flügels | 16 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2000 | Kyoto Purple Sanga | 53 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2001– | Gamba Osaka | 595 | (98) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998–1999 | Japan U-20 | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | Japan U-23 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2002–2015 | Japan | 152 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 December 2019 |
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.
Club career
Endo 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.[1][2] 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.
In 1999, Endo 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, Endo 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. Endo was selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year". In 2009, Gamba won the Emperor's Cup for 2 years in a row. Endo 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. Endo remained with Gamba and Gamba won the champions in 2013 season. In 2014 season, Gamba returned to J1 and won all three major title in Japan, J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. Endo was selected J.League MVP first time and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" second time.
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 senior national team, and was selected for Japan's 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads.[3] 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.[4]
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, Endo became Japan's most capped player in a friendly against Brazil.[5] His start in this match was his 123rd appearance for the national team, surpassing Masami Ihara's previous record of 122 caps.[5]
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.[6] In the team's next match, he earned his 150th cap as Japan defeated Iraq 1–0.[7] He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.[8]
Style of play
He is considered a cult hero among fans of Gamba Osaka and the Japanese National Football Team. It is because he has formidable passing 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, despite only playing domestically in his home country.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 14 December 2019[9]
Club | Season | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | AFC | Other* | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Kagoshima Jitsugyo HS | 1997 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
Total | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
Yokohama Flügels | 1998 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
Total | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | |||
Kyoto Purple Sanga | 1999 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 4 | ||
2000 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 6 | |||
Total | 53 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 64 | 10 | |||
Gamba Osaka | 2001 | 29 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 5 | ||
2002 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 6 | |||
2003 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 4 | |||
2004 | 29 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 9 | |||
2005 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 10 | |||
2006 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 14 | |
2007 | 34 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 47 | 9 | ||
2008 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 44 | 11 | |
2009 | 32 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 14 | |
2010 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 5 | |
2011 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 40 | 5 | ||
2012 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 44 | 9 | ||
2013 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 5 | ||||
2014 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 6 | |||
2015 | 34 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 6 | |
2016 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
2017 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 43 | 1 | ||
2018 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 1 | |||
2019 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | |||
Total | 594 | 98 | 46 | 10 | 62 | 4 | 59 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 776 | 125 | |
Career total | 663 | 108 | 50 | 10 | 74 | 4 | 59 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 861 | 136 |
*Includes other competitive competitions, including the Japanese Super Cup, A3 Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and J. League Championship.
International
Japan national team[8] | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2002 | 1 | 0 |
2003 | 11 | 1 |
2004 | 16 | 2 |
2005 | 8 | 0 |
2006 | 8 | 0 |
2007 | 13 | 1 |
2008 | 16 | 3 |
2009 | 12 | 0 |
2010 | 15 | 2 |
2011 | 13 | 0 |
2012 | 11 | 1 |
2013 | 16 | 2 |
2014 | 8 | 2 |
2015 | 4 | 1 |
Total | 152 | 15 |
International goals
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 20 August 2003 | National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | Friendly Match (Kirin Challenge Cup 2003) | |||
2. | 7 February 2004 | Kashima Stadium, Kashima, Japan | Friendly Match (Kirin Challenge Cup 2004) | |||
3. | 7 July 2004 | International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan | Kirin Cup 2004 | |||
4. | 16 July 2007 | My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | |||
5. | 6 February 2008 | Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification | |||
6. | 7 June 2008 | Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat, Oman | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification | |||
7. | 6 September 2008 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification | |||
8. | 14 February 2010 | National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan | 2010 East Asian Football Championship | |||
9. | 24 June 2010 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa | 2010 FIFA World Cup | |||
10. | 15 August 2012 | Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan | Friendly | |||
11. | 6 September 2013 | Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan | Friendly | |||
12. | 10 September 2013 | International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan | Friendly | |||
13. | 2 June 2014 | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States | Friendly | |||
14. | 14 November 2014 | Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan | Friendly | |||
15. | 12 January 2015 | Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia | 2015 AFC Asian Cup |
Honours
Club
- Yokohama Flügels
- Gamba Osaka
- J1 League: 2005, 2014
- J2 League: 2013
- Emperor's Cup: 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015
- J.League Cup: 2007, 2014
- Japanese Super Cup: 2007, 2015
- AFC Champions League: 2008
- Pan-Pacific Championship: 2008
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2008 Bronze Medalist.
International
- Japan
Individual
- Asian Footballer of the Year: 2009
- AFC Champions League Best Player: 2008
- J.League MVP Award: 2014
- Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2008, 2014
- J.League Best Eleven: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
- J.League 20th Anniversary Team
References
- Yasuhito Endō at J.League (in Japanese)
- J.League
- "FIFA.com".
- Sheringham, Sam (24 June 2010). "Denmark 1–3 Japan". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- "SOCCER/ Endo's Japan record ruined by Brazil thumping". Asahi Shimbun. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- "Japan opens Asian Cup with 4-0 win over Palestine in Group D". USA Today. 12 January 2015.
- "Japan's midfielder Endo reaches 150 int'l caps". Yahoo. 17 January 2015.
- Japan National Football Team Database
- Gamba Osaka(in Japanese)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yasuhito Endo. |
- Yasuhito Endō – FIFA competition record
- Yasuhito Endō at National-Football-Teams.com
- Japan National Football Team Database
- Yasuhito Endō at J.League (in Japanese)
- Profile at Gamba Osaka