Hidetoshi Nakata, 32, is a former Japanese National footballer who has played most of his career in Europe. Nakata has played for Japan in two Olympic Games (1996, 2000) and three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006). He was one of the first Japanese players to play outside of Japan, in Italy and the UK. During his career in Italy he has won the Italian Championships and Italian Cup. He has received Asia Player of the Year twice. In 2006, after a strong performance in the World Cup Germany, Nakata announced his retirement from professional football. Nakata is known in Asia as a social entrepreneur and fashion icon, regularly attending runway shows and sporting designer fashions.
