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

I wondered, “It’s a tremendous opportunity to get into Stuttgart’s top team as a teenager, so why are you so late ……? I was curious, but I didn’t bother to ask. If I needed something, they would have told me, so I would have dealt with it only at that time. I’m the captain, but I don’t carry that person’s life on my shoulders. It is up to the individual.

Endo values each person’s independence and autonomy, regardless of age or experience. That is Endo’s motto.

It is the same at home. Endo, who married at the age of 19 and has four children, is a “big father,” but he does not overwork his children and treats them as human beings. Endo said, “Especially my oldest son, who is in elementary school.

Especially my oldest son, who is in elementary school, it is not good to see him as a child, and his way of thinking is surprisingly solid. I am conscious of treating them as adults, and I think that will naturally be passed on to the younger children. My father was also a man who told me to make my own decisions. As a result, I feel I have inherited his educational policy.

This stance is very European. In Japan, it is common practice for children to sleep in the same bed when they are small, but in Europe, it is common practice for children to sleep in separate rooms from infancy, as they value their time together as a couple. In an environment with values that encourage independence and self-reliance, leaders such as Wataru Endo are highly desirable. Perhaps at Liverpool, he will be able to watch his surroundings carefully and build the best relationships with others while maintaining a moderate sense of distance.

Soccer is a game played by 11 players. If you want to play well on the pitch, you have to build good relationships with everyone. Endo, who is very skilled in this human aspect of the game, has the potential to become a very important member of the team.

Until now, it has been said that it is difficult for a Japanese voluntarist to make it big in Europe, but Endo has the potential to change that. We can only look forward to his rapid progress from here on out.