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Former Japan international defender Naoki Matsuda died on Thursday, two days after collapsing with a heart attack during training, leaving the country's football community in mourning.
His death aged 34 was announced by his club Matsumoto Yamaga of the Japan Football League, the third-tier division, where he moved this year after 16 years at J-League first-division side Yokohama Marinos.
Matsuda fell into a coma after a warm-up run on Tuesday morning. He was rushed to hospital, where he was put on life support.
Fans, along with past and present team-mates, flocked to the hospital in the mountain city of Matsumoto, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Tokyo, as Matsuda fought for his life.
His death came just over two weeks after Japan's women's team won the World Cup for the first time.
"I never got to know Matsuda directly but knew what a great player he was having watched him in the J-League last year," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said, according to Kyodo news agency.
Matsuda, known as a gutsy player and valued for his 183-centimetre (six foot) height, was capped 40 times.
The right-back played all four of Japan's matches at the 2002 World Cup, when the Blue Samurai reached the last 16 at home.
But his international career ended in 2005 when he fell out with then national coach and Brazilian legend Zico.
"I can't believe it," said Japan Football Association technical director Hiromi Hara.
"I have managed or coached teams playing against him many times and know what a big presence he had," Hara said.
Matsuda said in his farewell speech to Yokohama fans in December that he lived for the game. "Seriously, I love football for the heck of it," he said.
4 авг 2011
