Former Japan captain and Vissel Kobe defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto announced his retirement on Monday.
"I came to the conclusion that what I can do on the pitch is very limited now after seeing my playing time decrease during the season," Miyamoto said at a press conference in Kobe.
The 34-year-old revealed that he turned down contract offers from multiple clubs and will try to obtain a coaching license in Europe after attending a FIFA-sanctioned graduate school.
"After the 2002 World Cup, I had an image of myself playing until the age of 35," he said.
Miyamoto captained Japan at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and earned 71 caps for the national team.