Shinji Okazaki, the forward who played a pivotal role in Leicester’s historic Premier League title victory, has declared his intention to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the current season.
Okazaki, now 37 years old, joined Leicester City in the summer of 2015 and made an immediate impact, contributing five goals during his debut season as the Foxes clinched the league title against all odds under the management of Claudio Ranieri.
Currently plying his trade in Belgium with Sint-Truiden, the Japanese international took to Instagram to announce his decision, stating, “I have given my all as a footballer up to now. When I realized that my body was falling apart, I naturally felt I had reached my limits.”
Injuries have plagued Shinji Okazaki’s recent seasons, limiting him to just five appearances for Sint-Truiden in the Jupiler Pro League this campaign, with his last game dating back to December 16.
Okazaki holds a significant place in Japanese football history, ranking third on Japan’s all-time scoring chart with 50 goals in 119 appearances. He was a vital member of the Japanese squad that clinched the Asian Cup in 2011 and represented his nation in three World Cups.
His professional journey began in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse before he made the leap to European football by signing with Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart in 2011. Following a successful stint with German side Mainz from 2013 to 2015, Okazaki embarked on his memorable tenure with Leicester City, featuring 36 times in their remarkable title-winning campaign.
After departing Leicester at the end of the 2018-19 season upon the expiration of his contract, Okazaki briefly joined Spanish club Malaga on a free transfer. However, his stint was short-lived as the club faced financial difficulties, leading to the termination of his contract after just 34 days, before he could make a single appearance for them.
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