Former Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo was announced MVP of the J-League's first 30 years on Monday, when past stars including Kazuyoshi Miura and Shunsuke Nakamura were also named to the historical best XI as voted by supporters.
The 43-year-old Endo, currently playing for Jubilo Iwata in the second-tier J2, holds the record for 672 J1 appearances after also playing for Yokohama Flugels, Kyoto Sanga and Gamba Osaka -- where he won a long list of silverware including two league crowns and one Asian Champions League title.
"I'm honored. I feel happy to have been selected from the pool of many current and former players," Endo said as he attended the league's 30th anniversary ceremony online.
Miura, the J-League's first MVP in its inaugural 1993 season, when he was playing for Verdy Kawasaki, was the sole forward named to the ceremonial side. The 56-year-old icon is currently at Oliveirense in the Portuguese second division.
Former Celtic favorite Nakamura, who mostly played for Yokohama F Marinos in Japan, joined Endo in the four-man midfield. Former Feyenoord man Shinji Ono, whose best days in Japan were at Urawa Reds, and Kawasaki Frontale talisman Kengo Nakamura, were also chosen.
Former Japan and Marinos defenders Masami Ihara, Naoki Matsuda and Yuji Nakazawa were joined by Marcus Tulio Tanaka, who won league titles both at Urawa and Nagoya Grampus, and Atsuto Uchida, who played for Kashima Antlers on either side of his spell at Schalke, in the five-man backline.
Former Japan and Marinos star Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi won the most votes at goalkeeper.
