The all-time great Leicester City player announced his retirement due to his marriage.
The striker, whose current campaign in Belgium has been limited by ailments, will hang up his boots at the conclusion of the season after listening to his body. He turns 38 in April.
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Shinji Okazaki during his 2019 Leicester City farewell match
Shinji Okazaki during his 2019 Leicester City farewell match
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Football player Shinji Okazaki, a title-winning hero, has declared his retirement. The 38-year-old Japanese striker, who was crucial to Leicester City’s 2016 championship, will put up his boots at the end of the current campaign.
Okazaki, who is currently a player for Sint-Truiden in Belgium, has stated that he is “listening to his body” and that he is “reaching his physical limits.” Because of injuries, he has missed the most of the current season due to absences, and he is ending his career. For the striker, it will be the end of his 19 years in the game.
Okazaki’s movement and work ethic were essential to City’s Premier League victory. The Japanese international was a fantastic counterbalance to Jamie Vardy up top and a wonderful winger for Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez. He also contributed some amazing goals, most notably an overhead kick that helped them defeat Newcastle.
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After 137 games and 19 goals in four seasons with City, Okazaki left the team in 2019 and transferred to Malaga, but his contract was canceled before he had even played a game due to financial difficulties. After that, he joined Huesca and assisted in their promotion to La Liga.
He spent two seasons with Huesca before spending a season in Cartagena and then relocating to Belgium. Despite playing 32 games in his debut season, injuries have limited him to just seven substitute appearances in his second season with Sint-Truiden.
“At the end of this season, I have decided to end my career,” Okazaki declared. “As a football player, I gave it my all, but you have to pay attention to your body too. I’m at my physical limit right now. I’ll put in every effort to stay in shape over the next several weeks so I can support the squad and bid adieu to the field.
