The Japanese "Beckham". He didn't enjoy the limelight that's why he walked away. And that's why you haven't heard of him since. Absolute legend and respect his decision.

I first knew about him by reading Maradona's autobiography. He listed 100 players he liked and Nakata was one of them. "if all the Japanese started playing like this, we'd be done for. He knows how to hit the ball, dribble...thank goodness the Japanese are busy with other things, still!"

Unfortunately I think most of us can relate to his story. Most of us grew up playing football as a way to escape a rough childhood for a bit, or because of the big love we had for it. It didn’t matter who you are or where you come from, since in football all of us were united. But now it’s business and money laundering more than anything. Passion died long ago.

Man there's a throwback. Nakata was phenomenal. Sad to hear he retired so early

Nakata was absolute class, playing in serie a when it was still great. football manager legend as well then he just dissappeared.

King Kazu (Miura) opened the door for Nakata to play in the Serie A. But Nakata opened the door for ALL future Japanese talents to play in Europe. From Nakamura at Celtic, Nagatomo at Inter, Kagawa at Dortmund to Mitoma at Brighton. Nakata showed the world that Japanese players has what it takes to play in the best leagues against the best. Legend!

Nakata is a cult hero among Roma fans. We remain thankful for his decisive goals that earned us our last Serie A to date. It saddened me when I learned that he retired at such an early age. Nonetheless, I also came to know that just after that, ashamed of the fact that he didn't know much about his own country, he decided to tour Japan to know more about its cultures and traditions. He's an incredible footballer and a fascinating man. PS: Geat job as usual on the video. I love how you're shedding a light on footballers that the media stopped talking about. Football in the 1990s and the 2000s was just incredibly filled with talent.

Nakata was a great player! He always gave everything for Japan at international level as well!

I remember that match against juventus. Nakata was impressive. He was so calm and composed the whole match. I was 14 at the time, and I only started watching football for a year, and I never knew about miura because we didnt have internet back then. So to me, nakata was the first ever asian player to play in europe. It’s so sad his career didnt progress after moving to parma. I really thought he would succeed there because he would start most games, but I guess the coach had other ideas. So sad to see him losing passion and love for football because he really was a superstar, especially here in Asia.

Really enjoyed making this video, it's a more unfamiliar story and before beggining the research I never thought it would get this interesting

In a way, his early retirement pretty much cemented a legacy that opened a pathway for Asian footballers in European competition.

Once his passion went, it was a wrap, not a lot of people can have the courage to do what he did.

the streets will never forget Hidetoshi. A true baller and sportsman.

Nakafa’s retirement was a massive sign the end of an era, the era that football is just for fun.

True story... While at dinner, I asked Hide if he liked to play golf? His answer... "Not often... because I hate the pressure of holding up the players BEHIND me" ABSOLUTE CLASS!

For all you youngster who were born in the 90s..... he really was big. Even in Italy.

I've met this man... and he's true to himself and has many interests outside of football

weird thing that alot of people never heard about him which is just sad to be honest, a guy playing football purely for fun then getting depressed because football became less about fun and more about money marketing etc, even in this generation where money became the more important than the game itself we see teams trying to make a "super league" that quite honestly i think is gonna turn football to the NFL

Definitely a GOAT. I was living in Japan at this time and he's the biggest reason I started to watch.

Honour. A man of honour. Honour before money. He choose Perugia instead of Juventus for the chance to play football and so on... he makes me think, he makes me wonder... what if no money was involved? Ronaldo, Messi, others...we would have never heard about them

If only we had more players with his mentality, with loyalty like Reus or Totti, football would be much better.

The Serie A was at the highest level at the time when Nakata played there. Some of the famous football players who played in the Italian League were: Ronaldo, Batistuta, Totti, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Maldini etc.

I still have his jersey while I visited Rome! I have two Roma jersey (Nakata and Totti) and I grew up supporting AS ROMA to be honest. It was also coincidence that As Roma won the league title in 2001 when I bought the jerseys. Cheers to my two heroes!

My favourite player for a reason. Always played like he meant it, stayed on his feet whenever possible. He was just so classy, on and off the pitch.

I'm 40 and I remember Nakata very well and his arrival to Serie A

Thank Nakata for renowned Parma's the very last title Coppa Italia 2001 and 5th finish 2002. I always remember the Tridente, Adriano-Mutu-Nakata. Thank him also for saving Bologna 2003. The first half of that season was devastating, only 3 wins, even with the Greats, Signori and Pagliuca. The legendary manager, Carlo Mazzone, who was Nakata's mentor, was super eager to have him. After his arrival, the team was reconstructed around him and boosted up. The last half 7 wins included Roma and Lazio. In Fiorentina, groin and back injuries worsend his conditions. His whole career had been the struggle between the clubs and Japanese national team. Because of fewer talents in Japan at the time, he needed to participate in Friendlies, World Cup qualifications, even U22 games, most of which in the far east. In Bolton, the team clearly got more points per game when he was a starter than when he wasn't. Naturally enough, Sam Allardyce's style didn't fully utilize his quality. Although Nakata's absence from Bolton for Japanese National team made him lose the starter status, he regained it, twice. In the club's first UEFA competition, he helped the team going thru from the group stage to the knockout stage.

I remember him as a kid. He was an incredible player. Albeit a shame be retired early, if your heart is not in something anymore then he made the right choice to hang the boots up.

Back in his prime, most of Japanese players were playing in J league Japan and there were significant skill and mentality gap with Europe top leagues. Nakata wanted to press high and get a ball near the goal during Germany world Cup but captain Miyamoto CB didn’t want to press and stay at the back coz he thoughts its too risky so there was a conflict within the team. If Nakata was born 5-10 years later like Honda or Nagatomo, everyone would agree Nakatas idea but back then, there weren’t many players who were at same level with him.

Really sad to see a player with such a high potential retire so early

Thank you for this homage VDO because not all of his stories were told. He was one of the legends. He was my hero.

i nearly cried at the end of it, nagata you legend

The man played in late 90’s Serie A & didn’t look out of place. There some compliment

I'm a Bolton fan, as a teenager I was often stopped by Japanese tourists on holiday they went absolutely crazy when they saw I had a Bolton shirt on..Nakata is still the most famous Asian player ever.

thank you for this story on Nakata! One of my favourite surprises of the Serie A. I had no idea he had retired early, nor did I have any idea about his issues with prandelli! Very nicely researched bro!

This guy was serious underrated. He was one if the first Japanese trail blazers , maybe that's why.

I appreciate Nakata even more now I saw this video. What a player he was.

This has turned into my favorite channel for soccer content. Excellent work mate.

Thank you for this video!!🙏🏼 I grew up in Japan for the first 12 years of my life from 2003-15 and he was an absolute legendary name, easily the most famous ex Japanese player. Unfortunately, I never watched him play and I was much too young to remember even if I did. I often wondered as a young kid why his name was so famous. Thank you for telling his story💯

Amazing video! Thank you so much, I had been a Nakata fan from the beginning of his career.

Thank you so much for making this video dude, I grew up wanting to play like Nakata while he was at Parma. To me, him and Matias Almeyda where the 2 midfielders I admired the most, their style of play where just awesome.

Nakata was genuinely a great player, he was one of my favourite players when I was a teen, he also hit one of the hardest shots I have ever seen in a match out of nothing, great passer and game IQ as well

Wow, the pure joy of playing football, he has millons so must be having a good time but i want to hug him

Bro nakata was superstar in everysense…footballing sense..and is till today stylish icon…i was a big fan back in the daysss

Hideoshi for AS Roma and parma was awesome his goal against Juve is still one of the best

Man was insanely popular but also absolute quality.

He almost signed for my team Coventry City (confirmed by a lot of sightings in and around Coventry) back in the 2000’s, before his move to Bolton. Amazing player, but it shows his humble character and integrity that he stepped away when the lures of fame and glory overcame him. It’s really admirable. 👏

Your content is expanding to Asian players it’s really good. Loving the contents as always ✨

I'm glad my older brother told me in 2001 to watch Nakata play. I was a witness to his brilliant play and vision. Sad it ended as it did but I guess that is happening not only in football. Consolidation, big corporations, global politics.

i LOVED Nakata!

His hair style is phenomenal among student in my place at that time.. we just go to the barber and say "nakata".. the barber know what to do..

Nakata was just naturally cool, loved watching him play! I forgot that he played in Bolton with Okocha!

He is among the last football player that play because of passion. He choose mid tier club so he know he will be playing all match.. football wonderkid today will never do that..

Much love brother 🙌🔥💯

thank you for highlighting this very well deserved spotlight for Hidetoshi Nakata!

I am going to be honest, I am a young one and I didn't know a single thing about Nakata. As usual I was expecting a talented Superstar to have ruined his potential because of money and glamour. Boy was I glad to be proven wrong, What an absolute legend this guy is. Media should shine light over players like these because he is a proper role model in current day football where everything is a showbiz. Hidetoshi Nakata sure is one of role models now. Not everything is about money fellas

Really cool video. This video alone has made me a huge Nakata fan in 2023

Definitely He’s champion!!!

Este canal é lindo… grande trabalho! Muito bom ver um Português a largar conteúdo de qualidade ❤ nunca fui fã de futebol (pois concordo com a visão do nakata sobre o futebol moderno), mas como designer, recentemente desenvolvi um gosto particular pela estética dos equipamentos da era 2000, (total 90, Teamgeist etc.). Encontrei o teu canal durante a minha pesquisa de conteúdo, e posso dizer que estes videos têm sido CHAVE no despertar desta minha nova paixão. Partiste tudo no video do Mourinho com os seus “velhotes”! Grande respeito e admiração por este projeto! Tens uma óptica e capacidade de análise crítica bastante profunda e equilibrada. Obrigado pelo tempo que investes nisto. Grande abraço!

i remember being very excited when i heard him being linked to man utd. but he ultimately only came to the EPL at the tail end of his career. nakata is a legend. he is still being talked about today.

Man I never fail to miss one of your videos, one of my favorite channels

I was waiting for this video forever.... Thank you so much....

Your videos are amazing. Jeez...I particularly loved this one. As an old time weeb but before that an AsRoma fan, I will never forget Hidetoshi Nakata

What a player..he was the talk of playgrounds in school..one of a handful of talented japanese players out there.

Saw this guy in a restaurant in London. I waved at him and he waved back. Two months later, same restaurant, I saw Ronaldo Phenomino. Amazing.

I always remember his stint at Italian football, especially in Perugia. He was the Asian hero for most of us in east & southeast Asia.

I remembered him so well in the 90's . Phenomenal player. But yeah the money destroyed players .

Love your content man. Keep it up. I just wish there was a new video every day 😊

I still remember when he randomly became a Chief Branding Officer for Tohato, big candy manufacturer that produces many iconic snacks like the Caramel Corn in Japan. That's a random fact about Nakata I'll never forget lol

Great Vid. Love your stuff. Considering you're a Porto fan you should do a video on Jackson Martinez knowing that he disappeared from football so mysteriously

Mate, I miss that era, so many talented players, there are so many star players in every leagues. While we are hearing the same names over and over again in the last decade

his story about talent and passion remind me at cantona reason to retire

Hes literally what all of us thought of the game when we were young. Its a game. Gathering up 20 30 ppl or 10 14 ppl to play 11v11 or 5v5 was always fun. Even now as a 20 year old i enjoy playing 6v6 with friends and amily with my brother who is 24 and my dad whos almost 50.Whoever we play with and against it was always fun. Its like a escape from reality. I used to show up at 6pm and we would play until 3 am like crazy because thats how much we love it, it will never get boring even watching it on football. Everything he said in that last moment of his career is true. Money has already started corrupting the Beautiful game for years now with Manchester City PSG now Newcastle and soon Manchester United aswell. YOu can spend however much you want on players, but you will never buy their passion.

I remember this guy in 1998 World Cup, literally the only japanese futbol player who's name I still remember, the guy was very memorable. I was like 10 or 11, originally rooting for Ronaldo and Brazil offcourse but then I saw Zidane dominate them haha in the final. Epic WC, Davor Suker top scorer

thank you for this video sir

Nakata was a beast.

Love Nakata, I still remember him fondly and frequently even after all these years.

I almost cried. This never happened when I watched a football video. Oh man... Nakata is one of the special candidates for being the G.O.A.T.

He was one of the best players in roma history . We respect him a lot

Your one of the most consistent and creative youtuber right now

such a shame tbh, he played a friendly against my country and they got schooled by him 3-4 players try to dispossess him but he just dribble around them like they were stationary cones. What a legend.

Good video... Keep em coming

Really interesting. I didn't know any of this. Very well told. Great talent can be squashed by poor coach decisions.

To greater success comes responsibility and fame. And fame is not always bearable. Facing it different sets of skills are required and not everyone is willing to go further. He had seen it all but did not choose it. Good for him!

my dad bought me both nakatas perugia shirt and the one he had in roma, except for totti that was the only player or other team shirt i ever got as a kid. thats how impressive he was.

Nakata and Nakamura were a phenomenal link up, pretty sure Nakamura played for some European clubs including Celtic. Great free kick taker

What a story. Thank you for the coverage.

Oh yes Nakata was a fabulous player...And I can't talk about him without thinking of another Legend i grew up watching in the Bundesliga....Yamamuto Akidera..The talented guy who started it all.

Nakata legend

You put so much effort in your videos and I love it 👍

Nakata, Endo, Nakamura, Honda....I loved watching those guys play...true magic=))

There is a time (i think during his perugia time) where 7 of his goals made into top 10 goal of the season. I was in japan those days and he was a phenomenal. There was a sport show in tv exclusively analyzing and discussing about his game play in Serie A every week, making him a role model for school kids and young talents back home. Personally, moving to Roma was his first mistake. He can never get enough game time while totti is there. He could achieve more than shunsuke (celtic) if he choosed the right club that time. After retired, he started his own "sake" (rice wine) brand. Always 1 of my all time favourite player 😍

Nakata was a special player. Destroyed a lot of preconceptions about Asian players.

i still remenber the nakata + nakamura duo , what a gorgeous thing to watch

Well said, legendary Nakata

He was so good that when he played in Roma he made them win the Seria A. Against a juventus which had Zidane, Davis, Van Der Saar, and Del Piero. That was the only time when they won a Seria A. They should have kept him.

It's kinda funny, the first time I saw Nakata was in Inazuma Eleven, a football anime/game where he was one of the best players and easily part of that game's META. When creating a team, you have to think about how to not lose against Nakata. I think that alone speaks about how much of a legend he is.

Love your vids man i always leran something new

Nakata, a name to remember really for me from now

This man was pure class. Beautiful passes and mesmerising play style.

Football is a sport, a game, but large corporations have swamped this game in money, sucking out the fun, and replacing it in toxicity. Everyone knows how toxic this game has become, while at the end of the day its just 90 minutes of kicking around a ball.