Hidetoshi Nakata

Japanese midfielder who became the first Japanese player in Serie A and won the 2001 title with Roma, earning 77 international caps for Japan.

When Hidetoshi Nakata joined Perugia from Japan in 1998, he became the first player from his country to make a genuine impact in Serie A; when AS Roma paid €13 million to sign him two years later and he won the 2001 Serie A title, he became the most influential Asian footballer in the history of European club football to that point. He developed at Bellmare Hiratsuka and Shimizu S-Pulse before Perugia signed him in 1998 — the first Japanese player to make a major impact in Serie A. His combination of technical ability, vision and professionalism won him the admiration of Italian coaches. AS Roma paid €13 million for him in 2000 and he won the Serie A title in 2001. He later played for Parma, Fiorentina, Bologna and Bolton Wanderers. He earned 77 caps for Japan and was the central figure in their 2002 World Cup run to the round of 16 on home soil. He was named Asia's best player multiple times. He abruptly retired aged 29 in 2006 at the height of his powers, citing a desire to live fully rather than remain in football. He became a global advocate for sustainable fashion and travel. His retirement letter — composed on a train across Europe — described football as completed work.

Technical midfielder with excellent passing range and work rate

Pioneered the path for Asian players in European football

• Serie A 2001 (Roma)
• Asian Player of Year 4x
• 77 Japan caps
• Serie A 2001
• AFC Asian Cup 2000

Club Career

Club	Period	Fee	Apps	Goals
Bellmare Hiratsuka	1995–1998	—	85	16
Perugia	1998–2000	—	48	12
Roma	2000–2001	€13m	30	5
Parma	2001–2004	—	67	5
Bologna	2004–2004	loan	17	2
Fiorentina	2004–2006	—	20	0
Bolton Wanderers	2005–2006	loan	21	1
Japan	—	—	77	11