The crowd erupted in excitement at the spectacular play! The player who showed brilliant teamwork with Nakamura Kengo in Nakamura's retirement match

Four years after his retirement, many legends and spectators came to his retirement match

More than 100 players and 22,014 spectators gathered at the stadium for Nakamura's retirement match, held on December 14, 2024. The first exhibition match was between Nadeshiko Friends and Kengo Friends. In the first half of the second match, members who played alongside Nakamura on the Japanese national team split into the blue and white teams of JAPAN Friends and played a match. The second half was a KAWASAKI Friends match. Members who played alongside Nakamura on Kawasaki Frontale split into the blue and white teams of KAWASAKI Friends and played a match.

The combination of Nakamura and Oniki at the KAWASAKI Friends Match

Nine minutes into the KAWASAKI Friends Match, Nakamura in Blue, with the ball in the center just in front of the penalty area, passes it to Yamamura Kazuya on the left wing. Yamamura cuts in towards the penalty area but is blocked by the defense, passing the ball back to Nakamura. As Yamamura cuts in, Nakamura passes the ball to Oniki and the others who were running into the open space. Oniki passes the ball back to Nakamura with one touch, and Nakamura also makes a one-touch through pass to Oniki who is running towards the goal. Oniki's shot is blocked by the defense, but the brilliant teamwork between Nakamura and Oniki, who create rhythm with one-touch passes, draws cheers.

The commentator commented on this play, "That's demonic." Looking back on Oniki's playing days, he said he was a "dynamo" player, characterized by tenacious defense.

Oniki was a member of Kawasaki Frontale from 2000 to 2006. He then became a coach in 2007, became Kawasaki Frontale's top team coach in 2010, and became the manager in 2017. In other words, for Nakamura, Oniki was a senior member of the team, a coach, and a manager.

Kawasaki Frontale finished second in the J1 League in 2006, 2008, and 2009, but was unable to win the championship. In this situation, Oniki became the manager. That season, the team finally won its first J1 championship.

Nakamura's teamwork with Oniki was indispensable during his playing career

For Nakamura, who has been playing for Kawasaki Frontale since 2003, Oniki has been there for him throughout almost his entire playing career. Nakamura, who has supported Kawasaki Frontale at the top for 18 years, must have been a big presence for Oniki as well. The brilliant combination the two displayed in his retirement match was reminiscent of their playing days. Although it did not result in a goal, the series of plays, which also brought out Nakamura's signature through pass, was sure to be a heartwarming moment for both the players and the supporters.

After the KAWASAKI Friends Match, the MKKP award was announced, which was the player who made Kengo shine the most, and Oniki was chosen by fan vote. Oniki himself never expected that he would win the award, and seemed surprised when he heard the announcement. It is not difficult to imagine that standing next to Nakamura was an emotional moment for the supporters who know the history between the two players. Oniki was described as "the player who made Nakamura shine the most in his retirement match," but even if it had been "the player who made Nakamura shine the most throughout his professional career," it was an MKKP award that supporters could easily accept.

From "Looking back at Kengo's retirement match #3: Who was the player who showed great teamwork with Kengo?"
Distribution date: Saturday, December 14, 2024

*The information in this article has been edited and distributed based on the content at the time of broadcast.