Masakiyo Maezono

1.1. Childhood and education

Maezono was born on October 29, 1973, in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. His older brother, who was four years his senior, greatly influenced his early interest in football, leading him to engage with the sport even before entering elementary school. When he was in the second grade of Satsumasendai Municipal Togo Elementary School, he joined the "Togo Boys' Football Team." By the fifth grade, his team had reached the semi-finals of the prefectural tournament. Inspired by videos of Diego Maradona, Maezono spent countless hours practicing dribbling, repeatedly watching Maradona's footage.

Upon entering Satsumasendai Municipal Togo Junior High School, he initially joined the track and field club because the school did not have a football team. However, a football club was established during the third semester of his second year, allowing him to pursue his passion. By his third year, he was selected for the prefectural team. Maezono then enrolled in Kagoshima Jitsugyo High School, where he quickly secured a regular position as a freshman. He participated in the National High School Football Championship for three consecutive years, reaching the finals in his second year during the 69th tournament, where his team finished as runner-up. His high school teammates included Takuya Endo (the eldest of the Endo brothers), Ryuji Fujiyama, and Hiroyuki Nitao. Two years his junior were Shoji Jo and Akihiro Endo, who would later become his teammates on the Atlanta Olympics Japan national team.

1.2. Early career

Maezono's early career was primarily shaped by his progression through school football teams and youth development programs, which laid the foundation for his professional football career.

2.1. Yokohama Flügels

In 1992, after graduating from high school, Maezono joined Yokohama Flügels in the newly formed J.League. His first year was difficult as he struggled to adapt to manager Shu Kamo's aggressive zone press system, spending most of the season with the satellite team. To gain experience, he undertook a two-month short-term training program at Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in early 1993, just before the inaugural J.League season.

Maezono made his official debut on June 5, 1993, coming on as a substitute in the second half of extra time against Verdy Kawasaki. On July 10, 1993, he scored his first J.League goal, which was the winning goal in a match against Yokohama F. Marinos. That year, he played 24 league matches, scoring 2 goals, and started in the final of the 1993 Emperor's Cup, where his skillful dribbling led to a penalty, contributing to Yokohama Flügels' victory-the club's first major title. The team also won their first Asian title, the 1994-95 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

In 1994, Maezono established himself as a regular player, scoring 8 league goals. He continued to be a key player in 1995; on March 22, he scored the winning volley goal against Shonan Bellmare in the Kanagawa Derby, a goal which opposing goalkeeper Nobuyuki Kojima later ranked as the fourth best goal scored against him in his career. On April 15, against Cerezo Osaka, Maezono scored what he considers his career's best goal, dribbling past two defenders and the goalkeeper. This goal was also nominated for the J.League 30th Anniversary Best Goal in the technical category. He finished the 1995 season with 7 goals in 40 appearances.

The 1996 season, which adopted a single-stage system, saw Yokohama Flügels perform exceptionally well, achieving an eight-game winning streak at the start with Maezono, the Brazilian trio (Zinho, Sampaio, and Evair), Motohiro Yamaguchi, and Atsuhiro Miura. They led at the halfway point but ultimately finished third. Maezono had a strong season, scoring 15 goals in total across league and cup competitions, earning him a place in the J.League Best XI for 1996. In June 1996, Sevilla from Spain reportedly approached Yokohama Flügels about acquiring Maezono.

2.2. Verdy Kawasaki and Brazil loan spells

After the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Maezono's desire to play abroad intensified. In his contract negotiations after the 1996 season, he became the first Japanese footballer to use an agent for negotiations, a move that drew criticism at the time. However, Yokohama Flügels maintained that they would only approve an overseas transfer if the full transfer fee of an estimated 350.00 M JPY was paid, leading to a stalemate. It was later revealed that multiple clubs had contacted Yokohama Flügels but Maezono himself was never informed, which led to a growing distrust of the club.

Despite his reluctance to remain in Japan, especially with another J.League team, Verdy Kawasaki, known for allowing Kazuyoshi Miura to move abroad, expressed interest. On January 31, 1997, the final day of the transfer window, Maezono's transfer to Verdy Kawasaki was announced. The reported transfer fee was 350.00 M JPY, then the highest in J.League history, though sources later indicated it was closer to 200.00 M JPY to 250.00 M JPY after negotiations. Maezono cited Verdy Kawasaki's willingness to facilitate an overseas transfer as a key reason for his move. The club's new manager, Hisashi Kato, who had worked closely with the Olympic team as a JFA strengthening committee chairman, held Maezono in high regard.

However, Maezono's performance at Verdy Kawasaki was disappointing; he lacked the passion previously seen in his play and was increasingly benched. His frequent appearances in television commercials during this period also drew public criticism. The team, burdened by injuries and Maezono's struggles, performed poorly, leading to Kato's dismissal midway through the first stage. Maezono later reflected that his inability to move to Spain had broken his spirit, leading to mental distress that adversely affected his play. He also mentioned feeling a deep sense of distrust due to the transfer saga.

In October 1998, Maezono secured a three-month loan move to Santos FC, a prestigious Brazilian club in São Paulo. The initial plan was to join São Paulo FC under Nelsinho Baptista, but the deal fell through when Nelsinho was dismissed. Instead, he joined Santos, managed by Emerson Leão. On October 18, he made his debut in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A against Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute and scoring his first goal just one minute later. Despite this, his playing time remained limited, with only 4 official appearances and 1 goal. However, Maezono described his time at Santos as "exciting" and fulfilling, even from the bench, stating he felt truly "playing football."

In 1999, an extension of his loan to Santos was anticipated, but the club decided against it after acquiring another Japanese player, Tomo Sugawara, stating they "didn't need two Japanese players." On January 25, Maezono's loan move to Goiás EC, a strong club in Goiás state, was announced. He made his debut on March 3, playing a full match and recording an assist. While he initially played consistently, he gradually lost his place in the team due to not fitting into manager Aldos's plans, eventually returning to Japan before his contract expired. Following his time in Brazil, Maezono attempted to secure transfers to European clubs, participating in training with Vitória S.C. in Portugal and PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece. However, neither move materialized into a permanent contract, with the 100.00 M JPY transfer fee demanded by Verdy Kawasaki reportedly being a sticking point for Vitória Guimarães.

2.3. Return to J.League

In 2000, Masakiyo Maezono returned to the J.League, joining Shonan Bellmare (who had been relegated to J2 League that year) on a loan, at the request of former Verdy Kawasaki manager Hisashi Kato. He was expected to be a key player in Shonan's bid for promotion back to J1 League. On September 3, he scored his first professional hat-trick against Vegalta Sendai in the 31st match of the J2 League. Despite his efforts, the team finished 8th, failing to secure promotion. Reflecting on this period after his retirement, Maezono stated that although he and the team did not achieve the desired results, playing nearly 40 matches helped him regain his conditioning, extending his playing career.

In 2001, he returned to Tokyo Verdy (formerly Verdy Kawasaki), the club that still held his player rights, on a six-month contract after three years away. When Yukitaka Omi replaced Yasutaro Matsuki as manager in July, Maezono began to feature more prominently. However, on September 15, during the 5th match of the second stage against Yokohama F. Marinos, while attempting to avoid a collision with goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi after scoring an opening goal in the 35th minute of the first half, his left foot caught the pitch, resulting in a fractured ankle. This injury led to a long-term absence, effectively ending his 2001 season and marking his final appearance in the J.League.

In July 2002, Maezono, along with teammates Yoshihiro Nishida and Keiji Ishizuka, was reportedly informed by the media that they were no longer part of manager Roli's plans. Sports newspapers published statements from Tokyo Verdy officials suggesting that Roli had been dissatisfied with the three players' training attitudes and that they were released after failing to improve. However, Maezono strongly refuted these claims, stating, "The newspapers said so, but from my perspective, there was no clear reason or satisfactory explanation. As for training attitude, I was in rehabilitation, so I hadn't been able to participate in training since Roli became manager. Yet, I was suddenly told, 'I don't intend to use you anymore, so please train separately,' and we trained as a trio... I still have no idea what the problem was."

2.4. K League career

Following his departure from Tokyo Verdy, Maezono sought a transfer to a club in the K League in South Korea through an acquaintance. His first trial was with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, but he was not offered a contract due to "physical issues." However, he was evaluated positively by manager Cho Gwang-rae at Anyang LG Cheetahs and secured a contract. At Anyang, Maezono started in the first 10 consecutive league matches of the season but later found himself out of the starting lineup.

In 2004, he signed with Incheon United, a newly established K League club. Maezono was primarily utilized in cup matches during this period. On August 1, in a match against FC Seoul, he scored his first official goal in South Korea from a penalty kick, which proved to be the winning goal of the match. However, he suffered another injury, fracturing his left ring finger, which kept him out of action for over three months. He returned to play in November, but his contract was terminated at the end of 2004.

2.5. Retirement

In 2005, after his K League contract ended, Maezono traveled to Serbia and Montenegro, where he spent one month training with OFK Beograd in the top-tier league. However, this did not result in a permanent contract. Consequently, on May 19, 2005, Masakiyo Maezono officially announced his retirement as a professional football player.

3.1. Olympic national team

In January 1994, Maezono was called up to the first training camp of the Japan U-21 national team, which aimed to qualify for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, under the management of Akira Nishino. In January 1995, during the Australia International Tournament, Nishino appointed Maezono as captain. Maezono had no prior experience as a captain in his football career. Nishino, while acknowledging that Maezono's personality was not naturally suited for leadership, intentionally appointed him captain to encourage him to play with a greater awareness of the team as a whole, rather than just focusing on individual plays.

Despite already being called up to the senior national team (A-matches) and playing for both squads, in March 1995, a decision was made to prioritize Maezono's commitment to the Olympic team, a choice that also reflected his personal wishes. From May to June 1995, he participated in the Atlanta Olympics Asian First Qualifiers, held in Thailand and Japan, where Japan won all four matches, securing advancement to the final qualifiers the following year.

In March 1996, Maezono competed in the Atlanta Olympics Asian Final Qualifiers in Malaysia. On March 24, in the semi-final against Saudi Arabia, he scored two crucial goals, contributing to Japan's victory and securing a spot in the Olympic main tournament for the first time in 28 years since the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

In July of the same year, Maezono participated in the Atlanta Olympics in the United States. In their opening group stage match, Japan achieved a stunning upset victory against gold medal favorites Brazil, an event famously dubbed the "Miracle of Miami" (マイアミの奇跡_{Miami no Kiseki}^Japanese) in Japan. In their third group match against Hungary, Maezono scored two goals, leading Japan to a 3-2 victory. Although Japan finished tied with Nigeria and Brazil with 6 points, they failed to advance to the knockout stage due to an inferior goal difference.

3.2. Senior national team

Maezono made his international A-match debut for the Japan national football team on May 22, 1994, in a Kirin Cup match against Australia, having been selected by manager Paulo Roberto Falcão. He also played every match at the 1994 Asian Games in October of the same year. After this, he temporarily declined national team call-ups to focus on the Olympic national team.

He rejoined the senior national team on August 25, 1996, after the Atlanta Olympics, in a friendly match against Uruguay, where he scored his first goal for Japan from a free kick. In December 1996, he participated in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. In the second group stage match against Uzbekistan, he scored two goals, one directly from a free kick and another after skillfully dribbling past opponents. However, in the quarter-final match against Kuwait, he struggled and was substituted at halftime, with Japan ultimately losing 0-2 and exiting the tournament in the quarterfinals.

In 1997, Maezono's performance declined due to issues related to his club transfer. He was called up for the Oman round of the 1998 FIFA World Cup Asian First Qualifiers in March but was not given any playing time. Following this, he was no longer selected for the Japan national team. His final appearance for the national team was a friendly match against Thailand in Bangkok on March 15, 1997, which Japan lost 1-3. After Maezono's departure from the national team, Hidetoshi Nakata began to establish himself in the squad, and the two never played together for the senior A-team. Overall, Maezono earned 19 caps and scored 4 goals for Japan.

5.1. Sports commentary and coaching

Currently, Maezono works as a football commentator, appearing on channels such as TV Tokyo and Nippon Television for events including the National High School Football Championship. Simultaneously, he is actively involved in promoting youth football. Since 2007, he has served as a JFA Ambassador. In August 2006, as part of his football outreach activities, he launched the "ZONO Soccer School" for children ranging from kindergarten to elementary school age. In 2008, he joined "TAKE ACTION FC.," a football team composed of former players founded by Hidetoshi Nakata. In 2012, Maezono obtained his JFA S-class coaching license.

5.2. Media and entertainment activities

Maezono's presence in media and entertainment significantly expanded after his retirement from football. Starting on June 22, 2014, he became a regular cast member on Fuji TV's "Wide na Show", marking his first regular appearance on a non-football-related television program. His unique responses, often characterized by excessive nervousness when teased by figures like Hitoshi Matsumoto about his drinking troubles and personal life, have made him a popular figure, leading to an increase in his appearances on variety shows. In 2016, he received a special prize at the "Best Fundoshi Award 2015." In February 2016, he was appointed as the Special Public Relations Manager for the newly established B.League, Japan's men's professional basketball league. On December 24, 2017, Maezono announced his marriage to a 34-year-old dancer, whom he had been dating for ten years.

5.3. Social contributions and controversies

Masakiyo Maezono has made several social contributions, particularly in football promotion and anti-bullying campaigns. However, his post-retirement career has also been marked by a significant public controversy related to his conduct, which he has since addressed through apologies and efforts towards recovery.

6.1. Personal life

Masakiyo Maezono married a 34-year-old dancer on December 24, 2017, after a decade-long relationship. The name "Masakiyo" (真聖), which means "true saint" or "sacred truth," was given to him by his parents, who are Christians, although he himself is not.

6.2. Notable episodes

During the 1996 AFC Asian Cup expedition, Maezono famously brought a large quantity of Nissin Raoh instant ramen, a brand he was promoting through a commercial at the time. Due to the lack of adequate meal support for players during overseas trips, and the difficulty many players faced with unfamiliar local cuisine, Maezono's room became a popular gathering spot after dinner, with teammates eagerly sharing his ramen. Hiroshi Nanami later recalled that "meals were tough. We barely managed to get by with Zono's Raoh. It was really that difficult." This incident reportedly highlighted the need for better support for the national team during overseas expeditions, leading to improvements such as the inclusion of Japanese chefs on future trips.

In 2006, Maezono participated in the Honolulu Marathon, completing the race in 5 hours and 43 minutes.

Since June 22, 2014, he has been a regular on Fuji TV's "Wide na Show", his first regular appearance on a non-football-related program. On the show, he is often playfully teased by Hitoshi Matsumoto and others about his drinking troubles and personal life. Despite his frequent nervousness, which often leads to amusing and awkward responses, his unique personality has significantly increased his appearances on variety shows. On July 5, 2015, he made a public promise that if the Nadeshiko Japan did not win the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, he would shave his head. When Japan finished as runner-up, he fulfilled his promise, debuting his shaved head on the July 12 broadcast of "Wide na Show."

Maezono has admitted that during his playing days, he often left jerseys exchanged with opponents in the locker room because they were sweaty and smelly. This included the jersey he exchanged with Roberto Carlos after the "Miracle of Miami" match at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Following his arrest for assault while intoxicated in 2013, Maezono has actively engaged in self-help groups and awareness activities aimed at recovery from alcohol dependency. On an NHK-BS program titled "More Shikoku: Masakiyo Maezono's Bicycle Pilgrimage - Return Trip," he visited Danjo Garan at Mount Kōya. There, he consecutively discovered two three-leaf pine needles, considered a lucky charm associated with the sankosho (a three-pronged vajra), prompting the guiding monk to remark that he was the "fastest" to find them.

8.1. Club statistics

• J.League debut: June 5, 1993, J.League Suntory Series 7th match, Verdy Kawasaki 1-1 (PK 5-4) Yokohama Flügels (substitute appearance)
• J.League first goal: July 10, 1993, J.League Suntory Series 17th match, Yokohama Flügels 1-0 Yokohama Marinos

Other official matches:

• 1990 National High School Football Championship: 2 appearances, 2 goals
• 1991 National High School Football Championship: 6 appearances, 4 goals (1 PK)
• 1992 National High School Football Championship: 3 appearances, 2 goals
• 1994 Xerox Super Cup: 1 appearance, 0 goals
• 1997 Xerox Super Cup: 1 appearance, 0 goals

All-Star Matches:

• October 10, 1995, JOMO Cup J.League Dream Match JAPAN DREAMS 3-1 WORLD DREAMS
• October 10, 1996, JOMO Cup J.League Dream Match JAPAN DREAMS 1-2 WORLD DREAMS (1 goal)

Hat-tricks:

• May 28, 1995, Atlanta Olympics Asia First Qualifiers: Japan 4-1 Chinese Taipei (goals in 44th, 50th (PK), 61st minutes)
• September 3, 2000, J.League Division 2 Matchday 31: Vegalta Sendai 2-6 Shonan Bellmare (goals in 16th, 54th, 62nd minutes)

8.2. National team statistics

8.3. National team goals

Results list Japan's goal tally first.