Sakurai Calls It Quits

After having been released by Ardija at the end of the 2008 season, permanently crocked forward Naoto Sakurai has announced his retirement as a player and accepted a post as a coach to the Squirrels' U12 squad. Sakurai moved to Omiya from Tokyo Verdy 1969 just prior to Ardija's first season in J1, the highlight of his career in orange being goals against Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds. In working with the U12s he joins several other former first team players, including Seiichiro Okuno and Daiki Wakamatsu.

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