Japan's Nakata to retire
TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan's best-known soccer player and a veteran of three World Cups, announced his retirement on Monday."Nakata said on his Internet page that he is retiring. There is no mistake," an official at his management company said.
The 29-year-old midfielder was Man of the Match when Japan drew with Croatia in the World Cup last month but his performance was not enough to help his team advance to the second round in Germany.
Nakata lay on the pitch for several minutes after Japan's 4-1 defeat by Brazil in their last group F game in the World Cup. He later wept in the locker room.
"It's the end of an era," one Japanese soccer fan told NHK national television.
Nakata began his career in 1995 with Japanese team Bellmare Hiratsuka and moved to Italian side Perugia soon after his World Cup debut in 1998.
The former Asian Footballer of the Year spent the next seven years in Italy. In 2000 he moved to Roma and was part of the side that clinched the Serie A title in 2001.
He subsequently played for Parma, Bologna and Fiorentina before moving to English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on loan in the 2005-2006 season, although he failed to win a regular first team place.
"The news isn't a surprise as far as I am concerned," said Bolton manager Sam Allardyce on the club website. "Hide has had the time to think about his future and has decided that the best outcome is for him to hang up his boots.
"He's had a glittering career and has achieved plenty in the domestic game," he added.
"He will be remembered as the catalyst of Asian and Japanese football, and also the first Japanese export to European football.
"It was a privilege to work with him last season."
(REUTERS 3 Jul 2006)
Japan legend Nakata retires at 29
Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29.
Nakata, who spent last season on loan at Bolton, played his last game at the World Cup as Japan bowed out at the group stage after losing 4-1 to Brazil.
"I decided half a year ago that I would retire after the World Cup in Germany," Nakata told his official website.
"I will never again stand on the pitch as a professional player. But I won't stop playing the game."
Nakata joined Bolton in August and scored one goal in 21 league appearances.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce paid tribute to Nakata but said he was not shocked at the midfielder's decision to retire at such a young age.
"The news isn't a surprise as far as I am concerned," he said. "Hide has had the time to think about his future and has decided the best outcome is to hang up his boots.
"He's had a glittering career and has achieved plenty in the domestic game.
"He will be remembered as the catalyst of Asian and Japanese football, and also the first Japanese export to European football.
"It was a privilege to work with him last season, and I'd like to wish him well.
"He will always be welcome as a guest at this football club in the future."
Nakata spent seven years in Italy's Serie A, where he played with Roma, Parma, Bologna and Fiorentina.
In 2005 he was honoured with one of Italy's highest awards - Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity - for helping to promote Italy's image overseas.
(BBC Sport 3 July 2006)
