{"id":31190,"date":"2023-12-03T20:36:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T20:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/shinji-genius-ono-retires-at-44-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-03T20:36:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T20:36:06","slug":"shinji-genius-ono-retires-at-44-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/shinji-genius-ono-retires-at-44-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Shinji ‘Genius’ Ono retires at 44 | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\nSAPPORO:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese great Shinji Ono retired from football at the age of 44 on Sunday, ending a career that saw him become the first player from his country to win a European club trophy.<\/p>\n

Ono was part of the Feyenoord team that beat Borussia Dortmund in the 2002 UEFA Cup final, during a successful four-year stint with the Dutch club.<\/p>\n

The attacking midfielder was part of a pioneering wave of Japanese players moving to Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, along with Hidetoshi Nakata and Kazuyoshi Miura.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed “Genius”, Ono made his international debut as an 18-year-old and played for Japan at the 1998 World Cup in France two months later.<\/p>\n

He played at three World Cups and won 56 caps, scoring six international goals.<\/p>\n

Ono was named Asian player of the year in 2000 and also had stints with clubs in Germany and Australia, winning the A-League Premiership with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2013.<\/p>\n

He also won the J. League and Asian Champions League with Urawa Red Diamonds and the 2000 Asian Cup with Japan.<\/p>\n

Ono made his final appearance Sunday for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in a 2-0 defeat to Urawa on the final day of the J. League season.<\/p>\n

Several of his former Japan team-mates are still playing into their 40s and beyond, including 56-year-old striker ‘King Kazu’ Miura.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n