Yasuhito Endo: Japan’s Most-Capped Footballer
Yasuhito Endo: Japan’s Most-Capped Footballer
A record 152 caps, 20 years at one club and a passing range that bent matches to his will. Yasuhito Endo was the metronome of Japanese football — the “Mr. Gamba” whose career outlasted almost everyone’s.
Yasuhito Endo is the most-capped player in Japan’s history, with 152 caps (2002–2015) and three World Cups. A graceful playmaker, he spent two decades with Gamba Osaka, making more than 600 appearances for the club and winning the 2008 AFC Champions League. He played professionally until 2023 — one of the longest careers Japanese football has seen.
In this guide
1. Who Yasuhito Endo is
2. Two decades of Gamba Osaka
3. A national-team record
4. Why he matters
1. Who Yasuhito Endo is
The metronome at the heart of a golden generation.
Yasuhito Endo was a deep-lying playmaker famous for his vision, set-piece delivery and trademark “koro koro” penalty.1 He became the symbol of Gamba Osaka, where he spent the bulk of a career that stretched across more than two decades of professional football.
2. Two decades of Gamba Osaka
Endo made more than 600 appearances for Gamba Osaka across roughly 20 years, the defining club relationship of his career.1 He won the 2008 AFC Champions League and multiple domestic honours, and kept playing into his forties — finishing his professional career in 2023 with one of the highest appearance totals in Japanese football.
3. A national-team record
For Japan, Endo earned a record 152 caps between 2002 and 2015 — still the most of any Japanese player — scoring 15 goals and appearing at three World Cups.1 He was a central figure in the 2011 Asian Cup-winning side and was twice named the AFC’s Asian Footballer of the Year era’s standout midfielder.
4. Why he matters
- He holds the caps record. 152 appearances — the most in Japan’s history.
- He was a one-club symbol. Two decades and 600+ games for Gamba Osaka.
- He defined a generation. The playmaker at the centre of Japan’s rise.
In five lines
- Yasuhito Endo is Japan’s most-capped player ever, with 152 caps.
- He spent around 20 years at Gamba Osaka (600+ appearances).
- He won the 2008 AFC Champions League with Gamba.
- He played at three World Cups and won the 2011 Asian Cup.
- He played professionally until 2023 — a rare longevity.
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Sources & notes
- Yasuhito Endo — 152 Japan caps (record, 2002–2015, 15 goals); ~20 years and 600+ appearances for Gamba Osaka; 2008 AFC Champions League; three World Cups; 2011 Asian Cup; retired 2023. J.League; Wikipedia
A player profile dated 15 June 2026. Current club and totals change — flagged ⚠ items should be confirmed against official sources.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月15日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月15日
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