Throughout my soccer career, I have encountered many words that lighten the heart and body.
The lingering phonemes might even make him fly higher than anyone else.
Whenever I felt like giving up, someone was always there to support me.
With that kindness, he moved his feet to take even a single step forward.
To the dream above us――.
Tsuyoshi WATANABE is earnestly accumulating the "now" to get even one step closer.
Many obstacles that have been overcome
Maybe because I'm not a perfect person, I find him a little sly and feel a bit envious――.
"He" was included for the first time on October 3, 2019, in the U-22 Japan national team list aiming for the Tokyo Olympics the following year. He, Tsuyoshi WATANABE, who "likes to chat," finally stood at the starting line he had been telling those around him about since he was a child.
This is a place that no one can give up. Watching the ball kicked high by the opposing goalkeeper, you fix your aim on the target. Without flinching against a strong forward, you read the landing spot and firmly plant your foot on the ground. You lift your body into the air and push your head forward a moment earlier. The sound of a thud resonates through your entire body via your forehead. Although you didn’t used to like it that much, at some point it started to feel comfortable. A center back who combines such height and speed has faced many obstacles throughout his football career. Each time, someone has pushed him from behind, and while going back and forth between anxiety and relief, he has taken the next step forward.
"Honestly, there were times when my spirit almost broke. I even wondered if aiming higher was too difficult. But each time, my parents and the people around me had expectations for me."
Chasing after his older brother, he started chasing the ball before he was even aware. He became so absorbed that his entire life revolved around soccer. When he was in elementary school (Obukuro FC / FC Tokyo Soccer School), he was a fast dribbler playing in an attacking position, but upon entering junior high school, he joined FC Tokyo U-15 Fukagawa and was converted to a defensive midfielder by dropping his position. The reason was, "Compared to others, I lacked technique and was small in stature. Until the second year of junior high, I was about the second shortest in my class." Gradually, losing his place there as well, he started playing as a side back because "I had more stamina than anyone else." When he advanced to the third year of junior high, he was unable to participate in any official matches for a whole year. The one who stood on the pitch instead of him was Makoto OKAZAKI, who was two years younger.
"I practiced for one year, and Mako joined the practice for three years. That was the daily routine. At that time, it was tough. More than that, I thought all my classmates were rivals, but I couldn't beat them. That was frustrating. While my classmates were playing in matches, honestly, having to support them was hard."
Watanabe laughed, saying, "Even the coach himself doesn't remember," as he revealed an episode from that time. It was a fleeting moment. Coach Takafumi Yamaguchi (currently the JFA Academy Fukushima coach) told him, "Your parents are tall, so you'll grow taller from now on. Make sure to practice heading properly." His parents and older siblings, who had all been involved in sports, were all big in stature. His father was over 180 cm tall, and his mother was in the mid-160 cm range. However, at the time, he couldn't believe he would grow that tall himself. Yet, for some reason, those words stayed in his heart. He didn't know then that they would later become a golden saying.
Words of wisdom that stayed in my ears
He missed the promotion to FC Tokyo U-18 and entered Yamanashi Gakuin University High School (now Yamanashi Gakuin High School) after receiving an invitation. Later, upon learning the reason, he continued with a wry smile.
"It wasn't about being good or bad, but the head coach said he approached me because my atmosphere was similar to that of a mood-maker player when we won the high school soccer championship."
However, around the time of graduating from junior high school, his height rapidly increased. Along with his higher perspective, something was beginning to change.
"When I missed the promotion to U-18, I thought about many things. But at that time, my parents supported me. 'You have to have the ambition to improve. If you're going to do it, you have to aim for the top, and if you think it's impossible, it's better to quit then.' Hearing that, I felt motivated to work hard at soccer again. Looking back now at being able to play professionally like this, I think the biggest turning point was when I grew a bit bigger and was asked to try playing center back in my first year of high school. That changed my life significantly. It was a position I had never considered before, and it didn't go well from the start. I didn't know how to play it, and I couldn't compete physically, in height, or speed at all."
I thought the words I had kept in mind would come in handy. "First, I'll make heading, which was told to me back then, my weapon," I started staying behind for extra practice. I decided, "I won't go home until I hit it properly," and kept jumping repeatedly toward the suspended pending ball tied with a string. However, there were walls I couldn't overcome with repetitive practice done silently every day alone. Fear was always right beside me.
"It's not just about heading the ball, but I was afraid of competing against opponents. Above all, I was always small in size, so I was scared of colliding and falling."
In that match, he got carried away with a high ball and jumped into the air before the opposing FW. "I thought I mistimed it." However, he felt that his body stayed in the air longer than expected, allowing him to wait for the ball.
"When I was able to return the ball with a header there, I felt like I had grasped something inside myself. By practicing again while being aware of that feeling, I was truly able to change."
By the time I graduated from high school, I was at the very end of the class height order. "Coaches and teammates who knew me in my youth still say this to me," he said, making a gesture as if pressing his palm to the ground, "I used to be like this. It's unbelievable," he laughed it off.
It wasn't just his body that grew bigger and stronger. Using heading, which he had continued to practice as his weapon, his name had become widely known in the high school soccer world before he realized it.
Friends Who Shared Their Dreams
"During matches, I started getting approached by scouts from various clubs. I aimed to become a professional right after high school, but no formal offers came."
To catch the scouts' attention, he had to make a big impact. That stage was supposed to be the 2nd Round against Tokai University Shoyo in the first match of the National High School Comprehensive Athletic Meet in his third year of high school, but Watanabe made a costly mistake. They had already taken a 2-goal lead with only a little time left in the match. Victory was almost in hand, but he pulled an opponent inside the penalty area, received a second yellow card, and was sent off. The team conceded a penalty kick, narrowing the gap to one goal, but they secured advancement to the 3rd Round with a 2-1 win. However, due to the "unnecessary foul," he was suspended from the crucial match against Higashi Fukuoka High School that followed.
"Beforehand, I had heard that many professional scouts would gather for the match against Higashi Fukuoka, who won the High School Championships. But I couldn't play in that important game. The team lost there as well. Afterwards, I talked with the coach, and he said, 'You can't play in the match where the most scouts are said to gather. You just don't have it. It's better for you to go to university than to join a team outside J1 now.' So I gave up on turning professional right after high school. At that time, more than anyone, I felt that I was the one who 'didn't have it.'"
When I entered Chuo University, I had more time than I knew what to do with. During that time, I kept thinking about what I wanted to become.
"Only those who could spend their abundant time on soccer became professionals. My classmate Takumi KAMIJIMA, who came from Kashiwa Reysol U-18, said, 'I have no intention of joining any club other than Reysol.' Then I also decided, 'I want to join Tokyo once again,' and we made it our mutual goal. From the time I enrolled, I never lost the determination to definitely become a professional, and I have kept at it ever since."
However, he never gave up on his dream of "becoming a professional," although he says he was somewhat doubtful and lacked confidence. During his university days, Watanabe had a wonderful encounter with someone who reached out to help him.
Words from Take-san that made me look forward
Mr. Takeshi Sudo, who is one year senior to Watanabe at Chuo University and shared the same dorm room for three years, is a benefactor who supported Watanabe during his university days.
"We spent almost three years together every day. Honestly, he wasn't exceptionally good at football. We played as center backs together, but he wasn't very tall either. However, to me, he was the most respectable person. We talked almost every day, and he was a very passionate person. That was a valuable experience in my life. Even now, Take-san sends me messages before matches saying 'Do your best' and after matches saying 'Nice play'."
Take-san always cared about those around him, and if a player was feeling down, he would immediately ask 'What's wrong?' and sit down with them. He was loved by everyone and was so respected that he wore the captain's armband in his fourth year. That senior always gave advice and would always encourage me by gently patting me on the back.
"When I first enrolled, I made many mistakes that affected our losses. But every time I felt down, someone kept telling me, 'There’s nothing to worry about. You will definitely become a professional.' That support really helped me."
Supported by the seniors who helped me, offers from J.League clubs rarely came. As I entered the winter of my third year at university, I finally reached a crossroads. I had to decide my path. There were three options: aim to become a professional player, start job hunting, or try to become a professional while job hunting.
"I wanted to discuss that, so I sent a message to my parents to talk about it..."
As he started to say that, memories from that time resurfaced, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
I immediately received a reply from my mother, Kazuyo. I was surprised by the message she wrote, and upon reflecting on it, I even felt a slight hint of anger in her words.
"If you are going to job hunt, it's better to give up. Even if going pro is impossible, you can take a year off and then start job hunting. There's nothing to think about; if you give up on becoming a pro, just focus on job hunting."
"I just wanted to meet and talk normally, but it was only at my house that I couldn't even consult."
With a bit of shyness, he said, "But," and added words there.
"Because they know I can't do both soccer and studying. I'm sure they encouraged me thinking, 'If you decide on soccer and try but fail, at least you can accept it.'"
By cutting off all retreat, finally in the summer of his senior year at university, he was invited by FC Tokyo to join their training. He then registered as a Type 2 player and stepped onto the pitch in the J3 match against Azul Claro Numazu. At last, the path to the professional career he had dreamed of opened up. The ones who were more surprised and delighted than anyone else were his parents.
"It was like a dream world for myself as well. Even though I pushed him away like that, I guess he couldn't believe that his own son was entering the world he watched on TV. He kept asking me over and over, 'Are you sure? You're not lying, right?'"
Two Major Entities
After 8 years, I finally wore the blue and red I longed for. However, it was not easy. The professional world allows no shortcuts. Moreover, standing in front of me were Masato MORISHIGE and Hyun Soo JANG, who carried the nation on their shoulders and have long supported the national A team—a thick and high wall to overcome. Even the senior players around me joked, "You've come to the club where it's the hardest to get playing time in the J-League." Even in practice, I could strongly feel their incredible presence.
"You've come to an amazing place"
I thought so, but I had long given up on giving up. I accepted the current losses and followed Hyun Soo JANG's back, listening carefully to his advice during training. By steadily accumulating each day like that, the man's luck, which he probably didn't have before, began to turn in a positive direction.
In his top team debut match on March 6th in the YBC Levain Cup group stage against Kashiwa Reysol, he immediately scored his first goal, and also contributed to a clean sheet victory in his league debut match on April 28th against Matsumoto Yamaga FC. He continued to deliver stable performances in the matches he played thereafter.
"It was going so well that I was scared. I was worried that something bad might happen. But, never imagined..."
This summer, when his confidence was beginning to grow, Hyun Soo JANG transferred to the Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al Hilal. Unexpectedly, a seat became vacant.
"I thought this was all about luck. Being the third choice at that timing was one thing, but I think everything went smoothly."
Filling the gap left by Hyun Soo JANG, he has grown significantly as a center back for the club competing for the league championship. In his first professional year in the J1 League this season, he has appeared in 15 matches and scored 1 goal so far. Along the way, he never forgets to use his mistakes as lessons for the future.
There, the steady footsteps taken so far are reflected. In high school, he set a big goal, looked at the whole picture, and steadily honed the necessary skills. He focused intensively and systematically within a set period. In university, he spoke about his achievements in his own words and built cooperative relationships. In this way, he repeated input and output. He naturally learned how to survive in a harsh world through what he once thought was a detour in his career. This is likely because he has been sincerely pursuing a single goal all along.
"It wouldn't have been strange to give up in middle school. I wondered how I could continue playing soccer. I was always anxious. But after many twists and turns, supported by various people, I am able to stand here now. That's why I believe 'I am lucky.'"
Endless Sky
Even after turning professional, my parents still told me, "Stay humble. You have to be careful not to get carried away, because no one wants to support someone who becomes arrogant. That attitude shows immediately, so be careful." Every time I see that message, I nod in agreement and remind myself to stay disciplined.
"Coach Tetsu NAGASAWA often tells me, 'You are still a player at the very bottom.' I truly agree with that myself. I don't think anyone believed I would become a professional during my junior high school days, and even now, I don't consider myself an outstanding player. I know that if I forget my初心, I will fall back again. That's why I must always remain humble."
Positive words gather around Tsuyoshi WATANABE. This is because the words he speaks are always optimistic, and he is always looking up to higher places. Perhaps that is why smiles naturally overflow.
Watanabe has had a dream since he was a child, one he has talked about with his friends while soaking in the bath at his university dormitory even before turning professional. That dream is to participate in the Tokyo Olympics the following year. Although he had long been expected to be called up, he had never had the chance—until now, when he finally got closer to it. Every time the squad for the age-group national team was announced, Masato MORISHIGE, who slipped in just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics and actually played in the tournament, encouraged him by saying, "It's okay, it's okay. You don't have to rush yet. You'll definitely make it in at the end. Making it in at the end feels the best," giving him a push forward.
"Right now, I also feel a new wall. I know that if I hesitate here, I will be overwhelmed. I want to face it with confidence. I believe that the Olympics lie beyond winning the league. I don't want to miss the chance, and I know what I have to do. If possible, I want to show that figure to the people who have supported me. Take-san has always told me, 'It's okay, it's okay. I can see you joining the pros and playing in the Olympics.' I'm sure he will be very happy. I think it's a fortunate profession to be able to make people happy through what you love."
There is no end to the sky we look up to. The only thing that floats up is the ball. That scenery never changes. There is only one thing to do. Take a step forward there with courage. Honestly and sincerely, he has continued doing that. That is Tsuyoshi WATANABE. Anyone would want to support the back of such a good guy――. After all, WATANABE is a bit sly.
◇Tsuyoshi WATANABE Profile
text by Kohei Baba
photo by Kenichi Arai, Masahito Sasaki
