Yasuhito Endō facts for kids
Endō playing for Japan in 2008
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 January 1980 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kagoshima, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | 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 | 605 | (98) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | → Júbilo Iwata (loan) | 50 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Júbilo Iwata | 51 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 775 | (113) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Japan U-20 | 11 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Japan U-23 | 7 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2015 | Japan | 152 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁, Endō Yasuhito, born 28 January 1980) is a famous Japanese footballer. He played as a midfielder for many years. He is known for his amazing skills and long career.
Endō spent most of his playing time in Japan. He played for Gamba Osaka for 20 years. He also played for the Japanese national team. He played in three World Cups. He also played in three Confederations Cups. He played over 150 games for Japan. He scored 15 goals for his country. This made him the most capped Japanese male player ever. He is also one of the few players to play over 1,100 official games. He holds the record for the most games in the J.League with 672 appearances.
His brother, Akihiro Endō, was also a footballer. But they are not related to Wataru Endō.
Contents
Yasuhito Endō's Club Career
Starting at Yokohama Flügels
Yasuhito Endō was born in Kagoshima, Japan, on January 28, 1980. After finishing high school, he joined Yokohama Flügels in 1998. This was a club in the J1 League. He played his first game in March 1998. He helped his team win the 1998 Emperor's Cup. This was a big championship. Sadly, the club had money problems. It was closed down at the end of that season.
Moving to Kyoto Purple Sanga
In 1999, Endō joined Kyoto Purple Sanga. He quickly became a regular player. He played in many matches for them. However, his club was moved down to the J2 League in 2000.
His Long Time with Gamba Osaka
In 2001, Endō moved to Gamba Osaka. This was a J1 club. He became a very important player for them. He played under manager Akira Nishino for many years. From 2003 to 2012, he was chosen for the J.League Best Eleven team for 10 years in a row.
In 2005, Gamba Osaka won the J1 League championship. This was the first time in the club's history. In 2008, Gamba won the AFC Champions League. This is a big Asian club competition. They also won the Emperor's Cup that year. Endō was named "Japanese Footballer of the Year." In 2009, Gamba won the Emperor's Cup again. Endō was also named the Asian Footballer of the Year.
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After 2011, Gamba Osaka's performance got worse. In 2012, they were moved down to the J2 League. But Endō stayed with the team. Gamba Osaka won the J2 League championship in 2013. This meant they moved back up to J1. In 2014, Gamba Osaka had an amazing year. They won all three major titles in Japan: the J1 League, the J.League Cup, and the Emperor's Cup. Endō was named the J.League MVP and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" for the second time.
Time with Júbilo Iwata
In October 2020, Endō joined Júbilo Iwata. He was on loan from Gamba Osaka at first. Then, in December 2021, he joined Júbilo Iwata permanently. In May 2023, Endō was named the MVP of the J.League's first 30 years.
On January 9, 2024, Yasuhito Endō announced he was retiring from professional football. He played a record-breaking 672 J.League matches during his career.
Playing for Japan
Endō played in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. Japan finished second in that tournament. Since 2002, Endō was a key player for the Japanese national team. He was chosen for Japan's World Cup teams in 2006, 2010, and 2014. He also helped Japan win the AFC Asian Cup in 2004 and 2011.
On June 24, 2010, Endō scored a goal from a free kick against Denmark. Japan won that game 3–1. This win helped Japan move to the next round of the World Cup.
On October 12, 2010, he played his 100th international game for Japan. This was a friendly match against South Korea. On October 16, 2012, Endō became Japan's most capped player. He played his 123rd game for the national team against Brazil. This broke the old record of 122 games.
Endō was part of Japan's team for the 2015 Asian Cup. He scored the first goal for his team in the tournament. They won 4–0 against Palestine. In the next game, he played his 150th game for Japan. Japan won 1–0 against Iraq. He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.
His Playing Style
Fans of Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team really admire Yasuhito Endō. He was known for playing for a very long time. He had great technical skills and was a strong leader. He was also good at scoring goals. He was especially famous for his accurate free kicks. Many people think he was one of Japan's most creative midfielders. He is also seen as one of the most talented Japanese footballers of his time. He achieved all this while only playing in his home country.
What He Achieved
Yasuhito Endō won many awards and championships during his career.
Club Achievements
- Yokohama Flügels
- Emperor's Cup: 1998
- 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: Bronze Medalist in 2008
- Júbilo Iwata
- J2 League: 2021
National Team Achievements
- Japan
- AFC Asian Cup: 2004, 2011
- Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 2007
- Kirin Cup: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
Personal Awards
- 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
- J.League 30th Anniversary Team
- MVP of the J-League's first 30 years
Images for kids
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Endō playing for Japan in 2008
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Endō playing for Gamba Osaka in an AFC Champions League match in 2008
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Endō (rear) looking on as Yosuke Ideguchi takes a free kick in 2017
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Endō playing for Japan at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
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Endō playing for Japan in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Yasuhito Endō para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of men's footballers with the most official appearances
