Osaka: Former AFC Young Player of the Year Yoshito Okubo will retire at the end of the season, his J-League club Cerezo Osaka announced on Friday.
The 39-year-old returned to Cerezo, his first professional club, at the beginning of the current season and featured in this year’s AFC Champions League as Osaka reached the Round of 16.
His decision will bring to an end a career that has seen Okubo finish as the J-League’s leading scorer on three consecutive seasons and also play in Spain and Germany as well as earn 60 caps for Japan. .....
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
![10MA TOPICS! [CHINA FA] [AFC WOMEN'S ASIAN CUP] Shui Qingxia to lead China PR at India 2022](https://image.eaff.com/index/6283.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Moriyasu hails Japan's collective spirit, Ivankovic expects Oman to improve](https://image.eaff.com/index/6282.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] 'Job not done yet', warns Korea Republic's Bento as Advocaat sees bright Iraq future](https://image.eaff.com/index/6281.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Makino to leave Urawa Reds](https://image.eaff.com/index/6280.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [CHINA FA] [AFC ASIAN QUALIFIERS] Group B: China PR fight back to hold Australia](https://image.eaff.com/index/6278.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA]【Match Report】SAMURAI BLUE move up to second place with win over Oman](https://image.eaff.com/index/6279.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Taegeuk Warriors in sight of world finals with 3-0 win over Iraq](https://image.eaff.com/index/6277.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Kim Shin-wook joins Lion City Sailors](https://image.eaff.com/index/6276.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Son urges Korea Republic to remain sharp ahead of Iraq tie](https://image.eaff.com/index/6272.jpg)