Kerala Blasters FC midfielder Arata Izumi has called time on his football career. The 35-year old midfielder, who has represented ATK, FC Pune City and the Blasters in the Hero Indian Super League, took to social media to announce his retirement. Izumi has played for various clubs in India for more than a decade and has firmly established himself as one of the most recognizable faces in Indian football.

Initial stints in India

Born in Yamaguchi in Japan, Izumi started his career in Indian football with Hero I-League side East Bengal in 2006. After another stint with Mahindra United, Izumi moved to Pune FC, where he enjoyed a fruitful six years, rising through the ranks and earning the captain’s armband. In 2012, Izumi earned his Indian citizenship and made his debut for the national team in 2013. The midfielder would go on to make nine caps for India, including appearances at the 2013 SAFF Championship and the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

Continued success in the Hero ISL

Izumi’s rising stock earned him a transfer to ATK for the second Hero ISL campaign in 2015, where he proved to be an instrumental figure for the Kolkata-based side, making a total of 10 appearances, notching up five goals and an assist in the process. A year later, he would return to his beloved city of Pune, this time representing FC Pune City. However, Izumi managed to make only nine appearances for the Stallions as they finished sixth in the league. The Blasters soon came calling for his services and snatched him up for the 2017-2018 campaign. The veteran midfielder, who was an important figure in the club, made six appearances throughout the campaign before ultimately hanging up his boots.

Plans for the future

Izumi has revealed that his immediate post-retirement plans will be to take up a new challenge at the Reliance Foundation Young Champs academy. The midfielder has completed his AFC ‘A’ license coaching course and will no doubt be on the lookout for coaching ventures in the near future.