One-hit wonders. A light in a strange career, which wasn’t made of sparks and constant success. A sudden corner of attention in an otherwise normal trajectory. There are seasons or years like these, with players capable of rising to the occasion when it’s needed the most. Just think of sudden protagonists, who made the front cover for a certain period, without repeating themselves after that season.
“Lost Treasures” is a column that featured a certain number of episodes until now, all talking about these kinds of players in the history of J. League. To pick whom to feature in this column, we looked at all the Best XIs composed by the J. League committee at the end of every season and chose four players who made an enormous leap, just to rarely or not repeat themselves in the successive seasons.
Another specific detail: we picked just J. Leaguers, who enjoyed most of their career in the Japanese championship, albeit there have been two exceptions. It’s been some time since the last piece in this column. We enjoyed a trip to Memory Lane with Douglas, the Brazilian striker who didn’t score that much for a decent time, and then found the form of his life between Hiroshima and Shizuoka.
Today we go back to 2005, to a Japanese player who maybe, with his name, doesn’t say too much to the most recent fans of the J.League. He’s been tied to Osaka for almost the entirety of his career, both on and off-the-pitch. And the goalkeeping position has seen different no. 1s being elected in the “Best XI”, but the story of Motohiro Yoshida is very particular.
The Beginnings
Born in 1974, Yoshida comes from Suita City in Osaka – the future base of the new stadium from Gamba Osaka. He started playing football in the elementary school, enrolling in the Keio University once he reached the age to do so. In 1997, when the time came to turn into a professional player, the J.League was around for just four seasons. There was no J2 even – so Yoshida joined Kashiwa Reysol, where he met a first important person for his life.
Akira Nishino probably doesn’t say that much to fans who got passionate about J.League after Iniesta and Torres came to Japan, but the guy has been a trailblazer for the championship and he was indeed as well the head coach of Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Two decades prior, after two stints with the U20 and the U23 of Japan, Nishino got his first head coach gig with Reysol – he previously spent his whole playing career with Hitachi (the first form of Kashiwa).
Nishino gave Yoshida his first starts in 1999, when the keeper won the first (and only!) trophy of his career, the 1999 J.League Cup (starting in the final and winning at PKs). When Yuta Minami took over as the no. 1, Yoshida moved from Kashiwa to Gamba Osaka, coming home – right when Nishino took over. Unfortunately, no space for Yoshida there – despite Ryota Tsuzuki left for Urawa Red Diamonds, Naoki Matsuyo was the no. 1, and then Gamba brought Yosuke Fujigaya from Sapporo.
The Blossoming
With no more space at Gamba, Yoshida was one of the first to move within the city – joining Cerezo Osaka in the process. It was one of the most incredible seasons in the history of the J.League, with Cerezo fighting all the way to win their first J1 title. They lost in the end (with an incredible story), with Gamba winning their maiden title, but Yoshida played every minute of that 2005 season, and gaining a nomination for the “Best XI”.
Yoshida finally found the consistency he was looking for: he played all matches both in 2006 and in 2007, but Cerezo were not anymore at a championship-fight level. Actually, Cerezo were relegated to J2 in 2006, and it didn’t help that the club moved towards two other options for 2008 – Takashi Aizawa and Hiromasa Yamamoto. Cerezo Osaka didn’t climb back to J1 until 2009, but Yoshida had clearly to move on from there.
Funnily enough, that 2005 “Best XI” entrance was enlightening for Yoshida’s career. He played 45 matches in all competitions that year – more than he ever played in the previous eight seasons as a pro. At 31 years old, he had finally unlocked some potential, like it can happen for goalkeepers, who tend to blossom later in their careers. And still grotesquely enough, those 2005 and 2006 seasons will be the last ones in the top-flight.
The End
With Cerezo staying in J2 and moving towards other keepers, Yoshida decided to leave what three years before was his nest to thrive. Yoshida moved to Avispa Fukuoka, who were also in J2. At that time, Fukuoka started with young Ryuichi Kamiyama, but he got injured and Yoshida took over, keeping his no. 1 spot for 2008 and 2009. When Yuji Rokutan suddenly emerged as an option, Yoshida had to leave again, this time for the Japan Football League.
There was no J3 at the time, and Yoshida accepted to join Machida Zelvia – who are a powerhouse today, but back then hadn’t played yet in pro-football. Yoshida had to split the goalkeeping duties with upcoming Tomohito Shugyo (who just retired in 2024) throughout 2010 and 2011, but Zelvia got promoted in the end to J2. When they were about to start in the pros, Yoshida called it a day and retired.
After such a long career, Yoshida served as a goalkeeping coach for several clubs. First Machida Zelvia, then Gamba Osaka in the youth sector, then Kyoto Sanga and Fagiano Okayama, before (finally) coming home back to Gamba Osaka, this time for the first team. At 50 years old, it’s been full circle for him, who’s always been wanting to come back home – and funnily enough, found a space in the history books with the other side of the town.
