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Yasuhito Endō
Yasuhito Endō against Bahrain June 22 2008.png
Endō playing for Japan in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-01-28) 28 January 1980 (age 45)
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)
Honours
Representing  Japan
AFC Asian Cup
Winner 2004 China
Winner 2011 Qatar
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up 1999 Nigeria
AFC U-19 Championship
Runner-up 1998 Thailand
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Yasuhito Endō (遠藤 保仁, Endō Yasuhito, born 28 January 1980) is a Japanese former footballer who played as a midfielder.

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 and the highest number of J.League appearances in history with 672 appearances.

His brother Akihiro Endō is also a former footballer. However, neither of them are related to Wataru Endō.

Club career

Yokohama Flügels

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. 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.

Kyoto Purple Sanga

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 the J2 League at the end of the 2000 season.

Gamba Osaka

Melbourne Victory v Gamba Osaka mar08
Endō in action for Gamba Osaka in an AFC Champions League match against Melbourne Victory in 2008

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 the J1 League for the first time in the club's history. In 2008, Gamba won the championship in the AFC Champions League for 2 years in a row as a Japanese club (Urawa Reds won it in 2007). Gamba also won the Emperor's Cup. Endō was selected as the "Japanese Footballer of the Year". In 2009, Gamba won the Emperor's Cup for 2 years in a row. Endō was selected as the Asian Footballer of the Year.

明治安田生命J1リーグ【2017シーズン17第25節】G大阪vs神戸-38 (36700119453)
Endō (rear) looking on as Yosuke Ideguchi takes a free kick against Vissel Kobe in 2017

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 the J2 League. Endō remained with Gamba and Gamba won the championship in the 2013 season. In the 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 as the J.League MVP and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" for the second time.

Júbilo Iwata

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

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

International career

Yasuhito-Endo-Japan- 2010
Endō playing for Japan at the 2010 FIFA World Cup

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

On 12 October 2010, he became the fourth player to earn a 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 match against Brazil. His start in this match was his 123rd appearance for the national team, surpassing Masami Ihara's previous record of 122 caps.

Endō was included in 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. In the team's next match, he earned his 150th cap as Japan defeated Iraq 1–0. He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.

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
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
Yokohama Flügels 1998 16 1 0 0 4 0 — — 20 1
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1999 24 4 1 0 2 0 — — 27 4
2000 29 5 0 0 6 1 — — 35 6
Total 53 9 1 0 8 1 — — 62 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 5 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
2020 11 0 0 0 2 0 — — 13 0
Total 605 98 46 10 64 4 59 10 16 3 790 125
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 31 0 — 1 0 — — 32 0
2023 20 0 2 0 1 0 — — 23 0
Career total 775 113 50 10 78 5 59 10 16 3 978 141

International

Yasuhito Endo in national team of Japan
Endō playing for Japan in 2008
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Japan 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
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.
1 20 August 2003 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  Nigeria
3–0
3–0
 Friendly
2 7 February 2004 Kashima Stadium, Kashima, Japan  Malaysia
4–0
4–0
 Friendly
3 7 July 2004 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan  Serbia and Montenegro
1–0
1–0
 Friendly
4 16 July 2007 Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam  Vietnam
2–1
4–1
 2007 AFC Asian Cup
5 6 February 2008 Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan  Thailand
1–0
4–1
 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
6 7 June 2008 Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat, Oman  Oman
1–1
1–1
 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
7 6 September 2008 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain  Bahrain
2–0
3–2
 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
8 14 February 2010 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan  South Korea
1–0
1–3
 2010 East Asian Football Championship
9 24 June 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa  Denmark
2–0
3–1
 2010 FIFA World Cup
10 15 August 2012 Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan  Venezuela
1–0
1–1
 Friendly
11 6 September 2013 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan  Guatemala
3–0
3–0
 Friendly
12 10 September 2013 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan  Ghana
2–1
3–1
 Friendly
13 2 June 2014 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States  Costa Rica
1–1
3–1
 Friendly
14 14 November 2014 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan  Honduras
3–0
6–0
 Friendly
15 12 January 2015 Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]
1–0
4–0
 2015 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

Yokohama Flügels

Gamba Osaka

Júbilo Iwata

Japan

  • AFC Asian Cup: 2004, 2011
  • Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 2007
  • Kirin Cup: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009

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
  • J.League 30th Anniversary Team
  • MVP of the J-League's first 30 years

See also

Kids robot.svg 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
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