J. League first-division club Jubilo Iwata have informed former Japan striker Masashi Nakayama that his services will not be needed next season, soccer sources said Tuesday.
Iwata offered Nakayama an adviser's role but the 42-year-old hopes to continue his career with another club.
Nakayama, who is the first division's all-time top scorer with 157 goals and who netted 21 times for the national team, has been limited to two games this season but has not appeared in any league matches.
Nakayama scored 36 goals in 1998 to receive the MVP award and helped Iwata to a two-stage double in 2002.
A member of the 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads, Nakayama scored Japan's first-ever goal at the World Cup in a 2-1 defeat to Jamaica in 1998 in France.