Former Japan and Leicester City forward Shinji Okazaki revealed his dream of guiding his country to the World Cup title as a manager during his retirement press conference on Monday.
After representing the Samurai Blue in three straight World Cups from 2010 and reaching third on their all-time scoring list with 50 goals, the 38-year-old will begin his managerial career at Basara Mainz, a German sixth-tier club he helped establish.
"I want to become Japan manager and win the World Cup," said Okazaki, who undertook a coaching course in England. "I wanted to be at a place where I can fight like I've been doing as a player and going into management was the way."
"I've always thought about managing in Japan (at club level), but when we have this many players testing themselves out in Europe, I thought I had to keep challenging myself too. I also thought I'd forget the frustration I had overseas and allow myself to be coddled in a comfortable environment."
Okazaki announced his retirement in February while with Belgian outfit Sint-Truiden, having suffered from right knee pain and feeling "burnt out" before deciding to hang up his boots. He had been physically unable to play in December but managed to get back into playing condition for his final appearance in May.
"I thought I wanted to quit for the first time in my footballing career. I'd never given things up before," Okazaki said.
Following spells at Shimizu S-Pulse, Stuttgart and Mainz, Okazaki became part of a sporting fairytale with Claudio Ranieri's Leicester as they defied the odds to win their first English Premier League title in the 2015-16 season, a feat the forward fondly remembers.
"Leicester winning the league is something that is still in people's memory and one that will continue to be. I'm really happy to be part of it," said Okazaki, whose most cherished goal of a challenging season was his overhead effort at home to Newcastle.
"Because I was first recognized by my manager and teammates as a hard worker and more of a lubricant, I was replaced after 45 or 60 minutes a lot. Only I knew the frustration, and the only way I could prove myself was through scoring goals. I wanted to push back against the preconceptions and that goal was also memorable in that sense."
Okazaki, who also won the Spanish second-tier title with Huesca to earn promotion to La Liga in 2020, listed off some regrets from his playing days, but said he had outperformed his own expectations over all.
"I couldn't win the World Cup or the Beijing Olympics (in 2008), didn't reach double figures in goals in the Premier League, complete playing in all four big leagues with the Italian Serie A, or play until I'm 40," he said. "But I didn't imagine I'd get this far, and I think that means what I've been doing was right."
"I could have scored more important, memorable goals for Japan. But my hunger allowed me to score the number I have for the country."
