Shinji Okazaki, the former Leicester City player who was part of the club's historic Premier League title-winning team in 2015-16, has announced his retirement from football. The Japan international will end his career after the current campaign, citing physical issues as the reason for his decision.
Okazaki, who spent four years at Leicester, made over 100 appearances for the Foxes and scored 19 goals. He joined Leicester from Mainz in 2015 and played a key role in their remarkable title triumph, scoring five league goals in his first season at the club.
In an Instagram post, Okazaki expressed his gratitude for his football career but acknowledged that his body is "falling apart," leading him to believe he has reached his limits as a player.
Currently playing for Belgian side Sint-Truiden, Okazaki has struggled with a knee injury this season, limiting him to just five league appearances. After leaving Leicester in 2019, Okazaki had brief stints with Malaga, Huesca, and Cartagena before joining Sint-Truiden.
On the international stage, Okazaki made 119 appearances for Japan, scoring 50 goals and becoming the country's third-highest goalscorer of all time. His retirement marks the end of a successful career that included memorable moments at both club and international level.
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