The early years of the J. League saw many world-class stars arrive in Japan, but few, if any, gave as good service as Dragan Stojkovic.
The Serbian spent seven of his best years as playmaker-in-chief for Nagoya Grampus Eight, while captaining his country at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, as others wound down their careers with one final payday in front of a new and eager audience.
The big names came and went, but the affection the Nagoya public held for "Pixy" stayed with Stojkovic long after he departed to take up the post of Yugoslav FA president in 2001.