44-year-old Japanese football legend Shinji Ono has finally hung his football boots after over decades of a superb football career.
The respected football icon called time on his heroic on Sunday, December 3, 2023 after a legendary journey in football spanning the lengths and breadths of Asia and Europe.
According to Japanese outlets, Shinji Ono, was among pioneer Asian players who took their footballing career to Europe, opening the floodgate to the mass influx of Asian players into Europe.
Ono played as an attacking midfielder. He was known for his tactfullness, creativity, and great dribbling skills. He was a typical playmaker at the middle of the park and could steal his way through the toughest of backlines with silky moves, assists, and through-balls.
His flair with ball on his feet earned him a popular nickname "The Genius."
It is rare to see a footballer push his career pass 40 but Ono was able to do it thanks to the massive support by his fans who never had enough of his legendary career.
Shinji Ono was the first Asian player to win a European trophy. The Asian genius clinched the 2002 European Cup with Dutch side Feyenoord. He helped Feyenoord saw off Borussia Dortmund in 2002 UEFA Cup final, a year after joining the club from Urawa Reds.
In 2000, Ono was crowned Asian player of the year. He has played for Japan national team in three different World Cups and had recorded 6 international goals.
Shinji Ono started his professional career with Japanese giants Urawa Reds in 1998 where he won AFC Champions League, Japanese Super Cup Emperor's Cup, and Japanese league title.
He made 79 League appearance for the Japanese giants, scoring 20 goals before moving to Feyenoord in 2001, where he won the European Cup the next year.
After a football sojourn on the shores of Europe, Ono returned to Japan in the twilights of his career. He joined Hokkaidō Konsadōre Sapporo in 2021 in the Japanese league, where he finally call time on his career.
The respected football icon called time on his heroic on Sunday, December 3, 2023 after a legendary journey in football spanning the lengths and breadths of Asia and Europe.
According to Japanese outlets, Shinji Ono, was among pioneer Asian players who took their footballing career to Europe, opening the floodgate to the mass influx of Asian players into Europe.
Ono played as an attacking midfielder. He was known for his tactfullness, creativity, and great dribbling skills. He was a typical playmaker at the middle of the park and could steal his way through the toughest of backlines with silky moves, assists, and through-balls.
His flair with ball on his feet earned him a popular nickname "The Genius."
It is rare to see a footballer push his career pass 40 but Ono was able to do it thanks to the massive support by his fans who never had enough of his legendary career.
Shinji Ono was the first Asian player to win a European trophy. The Asian genius clinched the 2002 European Cup with Dutch side Feyenoord. He helped Feyenoord saw off Borussia Dortmund in 2002 UEFA Cup final, a year after joining the club from Urawa Reds.
In 2000, Ono was crowned Asian player of the year. He has played for Japan national team in three different World Cups and had recorded 6 international goals.
Shinji Ono started his professional career with Japanese giants Urawa Reds in 1998 where he won AFC Champions League, Japanese Super Cup Emperor's Cup, and Japanese league title.
He made 79 League appearance for the Japanese giants, scoring 20 goals before moving to Feyenoord in 2001, where he won the European Cup the next year.
After a football sojourn on the shores of Europe, Ono returned to Japan in the twilights of his career. He joined Hokkaidō Konsadōre Sapporo in 2021 in the Japanese league, where he finally call time on his career.