Photo/Illutration Holding the trophy, Yuya Osako, left, and Yoshinori Muto celebrate Vissel Kobe's first J.League title with their teammates on Nov. 25 in Kobe. (Hikaru Uchida)

Instead of brooding, Yuya Osako didn’t sulk after not being named to the Japanese national team for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. 

When Osako learned that he was deprived of a chance to go to the World Cup for the third consecutive cycle, it motivated him to change. 

“Changing of the mind,” he said. “There are good things and bad things for soccer players. What matters is whether you can turn them into your strength.”

That bitter experience set Osako on a path to become the terror of the J.League this season.

The forward led Vissel Kobe to its first J1 League title in the club’s history on Nov. 25 through contributions on and off the pitch.

Osako scored 22 goals this season, joining the ranks of Jubilo Iwata’s Masashi Nakayama and Kawasaki Frontale’s Yoshito Okubo who became the top scorer at age 33 in 2000 and 2015, respectively.

Osako was also named the most valuable player during the J.League Awards ceremony held on Dec. 5.

NO NATIONAL TEAM CALL-UP HAD SILVER LINING

Osako left the German club Werder Bremen, which sank to the second division at the time, to join Kobe in August 2021.

He scored four goals in that season before notching seven in 2022.

In fact, he scored 19 goals in 2013 while he was playing for the Kashima Antlers, the most goals he scored in a single season.

In 2022, Osako suffered from major muscle injuries in the lower right body.

“I had been waking up in the morning because of the pain,” he said.

Far from his best condition, he missed games and played limited time.

In recent years, Osako had remained active as one of main players of the national squad even after his team entered the off-season.

But because he was excluded from the national team this season, he was able to concentrate on his training during a camp.

It allowed him to enhance his physicality and improve his conditioning.

Osako started the season both physically and mentally refreshed, playing in all 34 games and scoring goals.

Meanwhile, he also worked hard outside the field to help the club win the title.

“At my age, I don’t have a sense of rivalry against anyone,” Osako said. “What matters most is the team’s victory.”

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Vissel Kobe forward Yuya Osako poses for photos after winning the top scorer and J.League MVP during the J.League Awards ceremony on Dec. 5. (Jin Nishioka)

ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS

After he joined Kobe in the summer two years ago, he felt that many of his teammates could aim to join the national squad if they made more of an effort.

He was also worried about how little members practiced on their own.

“There are many players who don’t know what to do. And it is our important role to get them on track,” Osako said. “While we let them play in an unconstrained environment, we must also take a tough stance when it’s necessary.”

Osako has shown his younger teammates how to improve their playing skills through his words and training methods.

With Spanish soccer star Andres Iniesta leaving the club this season, Osako was entrusted with a penalty kick on an increased number of occasions.

He scored six goals on penalty kicks alone.

“I must practice hard because I was given the chance,” he said.

His approach inspired midfielder Daiju Sasaki, 24, and defender Tetsushi Yamakawa, 26, to throw their energies into physical training to become the team’s main players and improve its overall performance.

“It seemed that young players had come one step away (from achieving their goals) but remained stuck there,” Osako said. “But they started practicing more. I think Daiju and Tetsu are growing up.”

Kobe had always hovered around the middle of the standings until this season.

However, Osako not only brought the club its first J.League title and earned the top scorer honor, but also has shown his younger teammates what being a true professional is all about. 

“I have always wanted to achieve something with Vissel Kobe,” the striker said. “And I achieved it.”

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