Ex-Saints captain Maya Yoshida retires from international football after 4 year absence

Ex-Southampton captain Maya Yoshida has officially retired from international football. Recently, Yoshida played his first international game for Japan after a 4 year absence.

Three days ago, former Southampton captain Jose Fonte called time on a successful career. The Portuguese centre-back also played for the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham, Lille and recent club Casa Pia among others but Fonte’s prime years came at Southampton.

Playing for the Saints, Fonte made 288 appearances and saw the club’s ascent from League One to the Championship to Premier League, and even the Europa League on 2 occasions. As such, replacing him was never going to be easy but Maya Yoshida did a great job as next Southampton captain nonetheless.

Maya Yoshida’s Southampton career

Back in 2017, there were slight fears over who will replace Fonte as the next Southampton captain. But then, up stepped his centre-back partner Maya Yoshida. The Japanese defender wasn’t as physically intimidating as Fonte but his commitment to Southampton’s backline was second to none.

Signed from VVV-Venlo in 2012 for £3m, Yoshida instantly slotted at centre-back to form a rock solid partnership with Fonte. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Yoshida nailed down a regular starter spot although Virgil Van Dijk’s emergence saw next boss Ronald Koeman bring Yoshida into rotation.

On the international stage, Yoshida made over 100 appearances for Japan while he was still at Southampton until January 2020. Overall, Yoshida bid goodbye to St. Mary’s after 194 games played and joined Serie A club Sampdoria and later MLS side, LA Galaxy.

Even at the age of 37, Yoshida is still going strength to strength for LA Galaxy and captained them to MLS Cup win in 2024. For Japan, Yoshida had racked up 126 appearances until yesterday including three World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, where he led the Samurai Blues to eliminate Germany from the group stages and reach the Round of 16.

Maya Yoshida officially retires from international football after 4 year absence

Post 2022 Qatar World Cup, Yoshida was gradually getting overlooked by Japan to favour youngsters in his place. Yesterday, after 4 years, Japan welcomed Maya Yoshida to the team to give him a well-deserved farewell ahead of a friendly against Iceland.

Yoshida started the game as captain and lasted 14 minutes before being taken off for injury concerns. The former Southampton captain received a standing ovation from both Japan and Iceland players while getting subbed off and that officially marked his retirement from international football.

With that, Yoshida finishes his international career with 127 caps and 12 goals. The 37-year-old veteran’s club retirement isn’t much far away, with LA Galaxy possibly being his last club as a professional in a matter of a few years.

Once Yoshida completely retires from football, he will join the growing list of old Southampton teammates like Jose Fonte, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ryan Bertrand, Shane Long, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle in calling time on their careers. One of the Saints’ arguably best eras in modern history is soon coming to an end.

That also brings an opportunity for the current players to shine and cement their legacy as Southampton legends. Hopefully, Saints are in for bright times ahead.