Associated Press (The Philippine Star)


TOKYO—Former Japan international Naoki Matsuda died Thursday, two days after suffering a cardiac arrest during training, his club said. He was 34.

Matsuda had been in critical condition after collapsing Tuesday during practice with his club Matsumoto Yamaga.

“He passed away today at 1:06 p.m.,” Yamaga president Hiroshi Otsuki said. “Since Tuesday there has been an outpouring of support from Matsuda fans all over Japan.”

Matsuda played 40 times for Japan, including the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He also played 385 J-League games for the Yokohama F Marinos from 1995 to 2010, helping the team to three J-League titles.

Matsuda collapsed after a 15-minute run on Tuesday and after an initial diagnosis of heat stroke, he was later confirmed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. He was unconscious on his arrival at hospital and showed no response to heart massage.

He joined Matsumoto Yamaga of the Japan Football League this year after spending his entire J-League career with Yokohama.