ig-spending Vissel Kobe have
once again been making all
the headlines as the J.League
prepares to kick off the 2019
season, announcing the addition
of a third World Cup-winner,
David Villa, to their increasingly star-studded squad.
Spain’s all-time top scorer, 36-year-old Villa
joins close friend, fellow countryman and former
Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta, 34, and
33-year-old German striker Lukas Podolski
at the league’s most ambitious club.
Vissel’s other big signings include 28-year-old
Hotaru Yamaguchi from Cerezo Osaka – who
himself is a veteran of two World Cups – to shore
up midfield, and Kashima Antlers
full-back Daigo Nishi. They were also
linked with Lazio’s Uruguay defender
Martin Caceres, but he chose to
return to Juventus on loan instead.
Vissel’s self-proclaimed quest
is to be Asia’s number one team,
although Spanish coach Juan
Manuel Lillo’s first challenge still
remains to steer the side into a
first Japanese title.
And it won’t be easy. Podolski
scored just five league goals in 2017
and five again last year. After Iniesta
joined last summer, Vissel slumped from sixth in the
table to a flirtation with relegation. And while Villa
certainly performed well at New York City in MLS,
scoring 80 times in 124 games, he modestly chose
to describe his main strength as “effort” on his
unveiling in Japan.
Kawasaki Frontale, the runaway champions
in 2018, start their campaign for a third consecutive
title with three new Brazilians following the
departure of defenders Elsinho to Shimizu
S-Pulse and Eduardo to newly promoted
Matsumoto Yamaga. Defensive midfielder Eduardo
Neto left in the summer for Nagoya Grampus.
The new faces are striker Leandro Damiao from
Villa is latest
Spaniard to
join Vissel
Striker links up with Iniesta in Kobe
Santos, who was capped 17 times by Brazil from 2011
to 2013, and two defenders: Maguinho from Vila Nova
and Jesiel on loan from Atletico Mineiro.
Akihiro Ienaga, the 2018 J.League Player of the
Year, captain Yu Kobayashi, the 2017 J.League Player
of the Year and top scorer, and 38-year-old creative
midfielder Kengo Nakamura will again be called upon
to provide the backbone of a team where the quality
is proven and only continues to grow.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the runaway leaders in the first
half of last season, slumped to seven losses and two
draws in their last nine league games but have largely
stuck by the same squad. The main addition is that of
experienced striker Douglas Vieira from Tokyo Verdy.
Third-placed Kashima are largely staying with the
squad that won last year’s Asian Champions League.
Their main new face is dependable striker Sho Ito
from Yokohama F.Marinos.
Kashima have, however, bid farewell to Mitsuo
Ogasawara, who played at the 2002 and 2006
World Cups and has now retired at the age of 39. Gen
Shoji, who played at the 2018 World Cup, has left for
Toulouse, and with Nishi’s departure to Kobe there
could be holes to attend to at the back.
Other veterans hanging up their boots include
well-travelled Junichi Inamoto at Hokkaido Consadole
Sapporo, who was capped 82 times by Japan and
is now 39 years of age, and 42-year-old Nagoya
Grampus goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, who was cappedKEY DATES
SEASON STARTS
February 22, 2019
SEASONS ENDS
December 6, 2019MIKE PLASTOWFriendly...Vissel
Kobe’s David Villa
in action against
Los AngelesB
Japan
Experience...Douglas Vieira has joined Sanfrecce HiroshimaDavid Villa modestly chose to describe his main
strength as “effort” on his unveiling in Japan