Shinzo Koroki will bring an end to his legendary career at the end of 2024, announcing that he will retire after the season.

Koroki is one of the greatest players in the history of the Meiji Yasuda J.League. His 524 appearances rank eighth in J1 history, while his 168 goals are the second-most all-time, and he is the only player to score in 18 consecutive J1 campaigns.

Koroki made his professional debut in 2005 with Kashima Antlers and within two years was a fixture in one of the greatest teams in J.League history, as the team collected a trio of consecutive J1 titles. The forward also won the Emperor’s Cup twice at Kashima and added a J.League Cup crown, in addition to making his Japan National Team debut.

In 2013, Koroki moved to Urawa Reds, where he took his game to new heights. He scored double-digit goals in his first eight seasons with the Reds and was named to the J.League Best XI team in 2017.

Koroki won an Emperor’s Cup and J.League YBC Levain Cup title with Urawa, but he and the Reds shone brightest in continental play. Koroki scored four times as Urawa captured the 2017 AFC Champions League title and followed it up with eight goals as the Reds reached the final two years later.

Koroki helped Urawa to a Japanese-record third Asian crown in 2022, scoring in the first leg of the final as the Reds went on to win, 2-1 on aggregate.

Few players have played as much or scored as many goals as Koroki, and his trophy cabinet is nearly unmatched, with two AFC Champions League championships, three J1 titles, four Emperor’s Cups and three J.League Cups.

Koroki has done it all in his remarkable 20-year career and will walk away as one of the giants of the J.League, but first comes the remainder of the 2024 season and the farewell befitting of a legend.