is a Japanese former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently the assistant manager of J1 League club, Gamba Osaka.
Endō's playing career unfolded entirely within Japan, where he was associated with Gamba Osaka for 20 years. He made his senior international debut in 2002, representing Japan in three FIFA World Cup and three FIFA Confederations Cup. In the process he earned over 150 caps, scoring 15 goals and becoming the most capped Japanese male player of all time. In addition, he is one of the few players to have made over 1,150 official appearances and holds the record for the highest number of J.League appearances in history, with 672 appearances.
His brother Akihiro Endō is also a former footballer. However, neither of them are related to Wataru Endo.
Club career
Yokohama Flügels Endō was born in Kagoshima on 28 January 1980. After graduating from Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School, he joined J1 League club Yokohama Flügels in 1998. In March, he debuted against Yokohama Marinos in the opening game of the 1998 season. Largely as a central midfielder, he helped his club win the championship in the 1998 Emperor's Cup. Due to financial strain, the club was disbanded at the end of the season and merged with Yokohama Marinos.
Kyoto Purple Sanga In 1999, Endō moved to Kyoto Purple Sanga with contemporaries Kazuki Teshima and Hideo Oshima. He became a regular player and played many matches. However the club was relegated to the J2 League at the end of the 2000 season.
Gamba Osaka
In 2001, Endō moved to J1 club Gamba Osaka. He was a central player for the club for a long time under manager Akira Nishino (2002–2011). He was selected as a J.League Best Eleven 10 years in a row (2003–2012). In 2005, Gamba won the championship in the J1 League for the first time in the club's history. In 2008, Gamba won the championship in the AFC Champions League for 2 years in a row as a Japanese club (Urawa Reds won it in 2007). Gamba also won the Emperor's Cup. Endō was selected as the "Japanese Footballer of the Year". In 2009, Gamba won the Emperor's Cup for 2 years in a row. Endō was selected as the Asian Footballer of the Year.
Manager Nishino left Gamba after the 2011 season and the club's performance deteriorated. In 2012, Gamba finished at the 17th place of 18 clubs and was relegated to the J2 League. Endō remained with Gamba and Gamba won the championship in the 2013 season. In the 2014 season, Gamba returned to J1 and won all three major titles in Japan, J1 League, J.League Cup and Emperor's Cup. Endō was selected as the J.League MVP and "Japanese Footballer of the Year" for the second time.
Júbilo Iwata In October 2020, he joined J2 League side Júbilo Iwata on loan from Gamba Osaka. In December 2021, he joined Júbilo Iwata on a full transfer. In May 2023, Endō was named MVP of J.League's first 30 years.
On 9 January 2024, Endō announced his retirement from professional football, having played in a record of 672 J.League matches.
International career
Endō played in the 1999 World Youth Championship and Japan finished as runner-up, losing to Spain in the final. Since 2002, Endō had been a member of the Japan national team, and was selected for Japan's 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads. He was also a member of the 2004 and 2011 Asian Cup winning teams.
On 24 June 2010, Endō scored from a free kick against Denmark in a 3–1 win as Japan qualified for the second round of the World Cup.
On 12 October 2010, he became the fourth player to earn a 100th full international cap for Japan in a friendly match against South Korea. On 16 October 2012, Endō became Japan's most capped player in a friendly match against Brazil. His start in this match was his 123rd appearance for the national team, surpassing Masami Ihara's previous record of 122 caps.
Endō was included in Japan's squad for the 2015 Asian Cup and scored the team's opening goal of the tournament in a 4–0 victory against Palestine. In the team's next match, he earned his 150th cap as Japan defeated Iraq 1–0. He played 152 games and scored 15 goals for Japan until 2015.
Style of play He is considered a cult hero among fans of Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team, attributed to his longevity as a professional athlete, technical ability, leadership, and goal scoring ability. He is also known for his accuracy on free kicks.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionYasuhito Endō – jubilo-iwata.co.jp. .ClubSeasonLeagueEmperor's CupJ.League CupAFCOtherTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKagoshima Jitsugyo HS1997—10———10Yokohama Flügels19981610040——201Kyoto Purple Sanga19992441020——27420002950061——356Total5391081——6210Gamba Osaka20012943140——36520023051081——39620033042060——38420042993000——329200533102040——3910200625941005341381420073484081—1047920082763010103324411200932104320611045142010303220030103652011334000071—4052012345432041—449201333500———33520143465060——45620153454031120505862016342203151104542017311104070—43120183411060——41120192811050——34120201100020——130Total6059846106445910163790125Júbilo Iwata (loan)2020152————1522021353————353Total50500000000505Júbilo Iwata2022310—10——32020232002010——230Career total77511350107855910163978141
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsJapan200210200311120041622005802006802007131200816320091202010152201113020121112013162201482201541Total15215
Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Endō goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Yasuhito EndōNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 20 August 2003 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan Friendly2 7 February 2004 Kashima Stadium, Kashima, Japan Friendly3 7 July 2004 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Friendly4 16 July 2007 Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam 2007 AFC Asian Cup5 6 February 2008 Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification6 7 June 2008 Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat, Oman 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification7 6 September 2008 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification8 14 February 2010 National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan 2010 East Asian Football Championship9 24 June 2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup10 15 August 2012 Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan Friendly11 6 September 2013 Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan Friendly12 10 September 2013 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan Friendly13 2 June 2014 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States Friendly14 14 November 2014 Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan Friendly15 12 January 2015 Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle, Australia 2015 AFC Asian Cup
Honours Yokohama Flügels Emperor's Cup: 1998
Gamba Osaka J1 League: 2005, 2014 J2 League: 2013 Emperor's Cup: 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 J.League Cup: 2007, 2014 Japanese Super Cup: 2007, 2015 AFC Champions League: 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship: 2008 FIFA Club World Cup: 2008 Bronze Medalist.
Júbilo Iwata J2 League: 2021
Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2004, 2011 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 2007 Kirin Cup: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
Individual Asian Footballer of the Year: 2009 AFC Champions League Best Player: 2008 J.League MVP Award: 2014 Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2008, 2014 J.League Best Eleven: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 J.League 20th Anniversary Team J.League 30th Anniversary Team MVP of the J-League's first 30 years
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps List of men's footballers with the most official appearances
References
External links
Japan National Football Team Database
Profile at Gamba Osaka