An Unusual Step Up in Your 30s! Liverpool’s Wataru Endo: The “Human Power” and “Presence of Children” Behind His Great Leap Forward

The 23-24 season of major European leagues started in mid-August. The English Premier League is probably the most popular.

Kaoru Mitoma (26, Brighton), who made a strong impact last season, and Takehiro Tomiyasu (24, Arsenal), who has returned from a long-term injury layoff, have joined Liverpool this season, as has Japan captain Wataru Endo (30).

The 30-year-old’s step up in the world of soccer surprised soccer fans all over the world when he made his first full appearance for Stuttgart in the first round of the DFB Pokal (German Cup) against TSG Bahlingen on August 12, wearing the captain’s jersey. With the Bundesliga opener against Bochum a week later on August 19, he must have been preparing as usual.

However, the situation changed at the beginning of the week. The news of Endo’s transfer to Liverpool came on the morning of August 17 (Japan time). In Europe, where the “mandatory retirement age of 30,” which lowers the market value of older players, is widely accepted, a 30-year-old Japanese player stepping up to Liverpool from Stuttgart, a regular contender to remain in the Bundesliga, is nothing short of a surprise. Endo himself could not hide his surprise.

Manager [Jurgen] Klopp loves a player like Wataru who can win the ball,” said Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

The famous coach was very fond of Endo, who was the dueling champion in Germany in both the 20-21 and 22-22 seasons. It is probably true. Of course, he must have also witnessed Endo’s performance in Japan’s historic defeat of Germany at the 2010 World Cup in Qatar.

Liverpool had lost Henderson (33/Al-Ittefaq) and Fabinho (29/Al-Ittehad), who had been playing in the defensive midfield until last season, and had tried to reinforce with Caicedo (21/Chelsea) and others, but failed. Therefore, Endo was given the chance to join the team. Although it was a “throw-in personnel move,” it is not every day that a Japanese volante goes to the most prestigious club in the world.

As Endo himself said, “Whether or not you can go to the Premier League, which is your dream, depends on luck and timing.

The story went smoothly, and Endo got his big chance of a lifetime, making his official announcement on January 18 and his debut against Bournemouth on January 19, quickly rising to the top of the pecking order.