Maya Yoshida, the captain of the Japan national football team, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Japan Professional Soccer Players Association, which includes Japanese players who play in the J League and overseas leagues.
This was decided by the annual general meeting and the board of directors of the Japan Professional Soccer Players Association held on the 20th.
Among them, Hideto Takahashi of J2 Yokohama FC, who had been the chairman, has retired, and Yoshida will be the new chairman.
Yoshida is 33 years old.
He is currently the captain of the Japanese national team.
After playing in the J-League and the English Premier League, he played in Sampdoria, Italy's first division last season.
Yoshida's term as player chairman is two years until June 2024.
Yoshida made a comment through the players' association, saying, "I feel that each player needs to think and act seriously for their own value and future, and cooperate and contribute to the development of Japanese soccer. I decided that I should stand up. I am preparing for the World Cup this year. I want all the players to liven up the Japanese soccer world. "