Keigo Higashi, the former FC Tokyo midfielder, has announced his retirement from professional football. The 36-year-old will take up a new position as an academy transition coach at Oita Trinita, a club he previously played for, according to gekisaka.jp.
Higashi said he deliberated deeply before making the decision, noting that he thought long and hard about his future. Multiple clubs expressed interest in signing him, but he ultimately chose to end his playing career and move into coaching, as reported by Yahoo! News.
Higashi's career included a stint with Japan's national team and a fourth-place finish at the London Olympics in 2012. He spent 14 years in the top flight before deciding to hang up his boots, according to d menu news.
Oita Trinita officially confirmed his appointment on their website, announcing that Higashi would begin working with the club's academy setup. The former midfielder has also expressed a desire to become a manager in the future, per Yahoo! News.
His return to Oita marks a full-circle moment, as he began his professional career there before moving on to other clubs, including a long spell with FC Tokyo. The transition to coaching represents a new chapter for the veteran player, who will now help develop young talent at the club where it all started.
Higashi's move into academy coaching suggests he is building toward a managerial career, and his experience at both club and international level should serve him well in developing the next generation of players.
