Football: 2011 Women's World Cup champion Iwabuchi to retire

Mana Iwabuchi, a former Japan forward who contributed to Nadeshiko Japan's 2011 Women's World Cup championship, announced Friday on social media that she is bringing down the curtain on her career.

The 30-year-old, who left English Women's Super League club Arsenal in June, posted "I've decided to retire as a pro soccer player," thanked her fans and announced she would hold a press conference next Friday.

Iwabuchi, who played abroad in Germany and England, competed in three World Cups for Japan and was a key member of Nadeshiko's Tokyo Olympics squad two years ago.

She was not, however, selected to play at this summer's World Cup, when Japan reached the last eight for the first time in two tournaments.

© Kyodo News