Japan's Naoki Matsuda Died from Heart Stroke.

Naoki Matsuda, aged 34 was a Japanese footballer who played as a Centre-back/Right back. He was born on March 14, 1977 in Kiryu, Gunma, Japan. Matsuda died on Thursday, two days after collapsing with a heart attack during training, leaving the country’s shocked football community in to mourning. His sudden death was announced yesterday by his club Matsumoto Yamaga of the Japan Football League, where he moved this year after 16 years at J-League first-division side Yokohama Marinos.

International Career:

Matsuda got his first international cap in 2000. He was a part of the Japanese squad for the 2002 FIFA World cup. Matsuda, who was capped 40 times for his country scoring 1 goal, had a reputation for being gutsy and was unusually tall for a Japanese national at 183 centimetres. He has competed in the summer olympics of 1996 and has also won the AFC Asian cup with Japan in 2000 as well as in 2004, he was also part of the Japanese national football team who were placed as the runners-up in the 2001 FIFA Confiderations cup. However, his international career had come to an end in 2005 when he fell out with Japanese football team’s national coach and Brazilian legend Zico.

Early age:

Matsuda began his youth career at Maebashi Ikuei High School at the age of 15 from 1992 till 1994. Soon when he was 18, he was promoted to the first team, Yokoham Marinos where he spent vast majority of his career.

Senior Career:

With Yokoham Marinos, he went on to appear in more than 400 games and won three J. League division one titles and 1 J-League cup in 2001. He scored a total of 14 goals for his club. Matsuda got his first goal for the club back in September 30, 1995 at the Mitsuzawa stadium. Since then, he began to become an established member of the squad and was a very great and experienced leader. Matsuda was selected in the best XI of the J-League divison 1 season twice. In 2000 and in 2002. In 2011, Matsuda signed with Matsumoto Yamage FC.

Former Japan manager Philippe Troussier paid tribute to the defender, saying he was a key member of the World Cup team.“It’s terrible to see someone die at such a young age.” Mr Troussier told Reuters news agency. “It’s a big shock. He was a great guy and I felt a close bond to him. My thoughts go to his family.”

Now, that’s all we can say as well. A great defender, one of the finest defenders of his generation, his life has finally come to an end. We ought to pray for his soul and his family.

Thank you Matsuda for all the great moments, you will be always remembered and will be in the hearts of every football fan.May his soul rest in peace.