A prolific scorer for the Japan national team, the 38-year-old finished third on their all-time scoring chart with 50 goals in 119 games.
Okazaki, who currently plays for Sint-Truiden in Belgium, posted on Instagram, saying, “I have decided to retire at the end of this season.”
“I have played football to the best of my ability up until this point, but I felt I had reached my limits when I realized my body was failing me.”
Former Japan forward Shinji Okazaki said on Monday that he would be retiring at the end of the current Premier League season. Okazaki was a member of the Leicester City squad that defeated all odds to win the league in 2016. After joining Leicester in 2015, Okazaki played a significant role in their championship-winning campaign, appearing in 36 Premier League games and tallying five goals.
The 38-year-old was also one of the most productive players for the Japan national team, ranking third on their all-time scoring list with 50 goals in 119 games.
In the 2011 Asian Cup, he scored three goals to lead the Samurai Blue to victory. He played for Japan in three World Cups.
Okazaki, who currently plays for Sint-Truiden in Belgium, posted on Instagram, saying, “I have decided to retire at the end of this season.”
“I have played football to the best of my ability up until this point, but I felt I had reached my limits when I realized my body was failing me.”
