J-League: Top 10 assist providers

J-League has produced special talents in and around the world.

Although it’s the goalscorers who walk away with the plaudits most of the time, football is a team sport at the end of the day. At times, all a striker would need to do is tap the ball home after the bulk of the work has been done by another player. J-League has produced great players who have impressed with their assists.

Some of the greatest playmakers and forwards in the game have made the job of strikers quite easy. Playing with such players is a blessing for the forwards. Many times, an assist proves to have more importance in a goal than the finish itself.

Here we take a look at the players of some sensational footballers, who have mesmerized the fans with their eye for killer passes and unselfish style of play. Here are the top ten assist providers from J-League.

10. Takuya Nozawa – 40 Assists

Takuya played a long time for Kashima Antlers, he spent 12 years in the club and made 254 appearances. Even though he didn’t make it to the national team he was a good player and was one of the best in the J-League.

Later on in his career, he was not able to make it into the starting XI and then he made a switch to Australia where he played football semi-professionally and he announced his retirement at the end of the 2020 season while playing for FC Tiamo.

9. Shunsuke Nakamura – 41 Assists

He was a versatile playmaker, with good feet, Nakamura was capable of playing in several midfield positions, including in the centre of the pitch or out wide, although he normally played as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards.

A left-footed player, Nakamura was renowned for his creativity and long-range passing ability, as well as his accuracy from free kicks, making a name for himself as a set-piece specialist. He played for big clubs like Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. He played 98 times for the National team scoring 24 goals.

8. Mitsuo Ogasawara – 41 Assists

He is a club legend for Kashima Antlers and won many trophies with them, He won the J-League, J-League Cup, Emperor’s Cup, and also the AFC Champions League. He was also selected Best Eleven award in the J1 League for five years in a row.

His contribution to Antler’s success is huge, as a player he was a leader on and off the pitch, and with his playing style he used to make fans fall in love with him. He made 55 appearances for the Japan National team.

7. Yuichi Komano – 42 Assists

He was a right-back in his playing days but he was a player who used his blistering pace to go up and down the pitch, his crossing was his best ability as a fullback, and also when defending he was always fulfilling his duty.

Even though he had some big injuries during his career it didn’t stop him from becoming an excellent player who played 78 matches for his national team. In 2022 Komano announced his retirement from football after 23 years of playing professional football at the top level.

6. Yojiro Takahagi – 45 Assists

Every coach would like to have a player like Yojiro who can play at many positions on the field, he can play as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, and also as a winger and striker. It’s his versatility that makes him special.

He does not score many goals but he is a really good assist provider. Even though he played for clubs in other country but there his stint was not so successful, his best time was with Sanfrecce Hiroshima where he played 226 matches.

5. Akihiro Lenaga – 51 Assists

Akihiro is a very experienced player who has played for many different top clubs in Japan he also played for La Liga side Mallorca, he is a player who is good at taking setpieces and is always a threat during free-kicks and corners.

With trickery he can win fouls very easily, he made three appearances for the Japan team and currently, he is 37 years old and still playing for a top side in the J-League Kawasaki Frontale.

4. Kota Mizunuma – 61 Assists

Kota was once called a very talented player who performed very well for the youth international teams, he played for U-17,19,20,21 and U-23 teams where he also captained his side, but the creative winger never got the opportunity to play on the senior team as he only played two matches for the Japan National team.

Currently, playing for Yokohama Marinos he is still a top quality player who with his pace and dribbling ability creates a lot of chances for his teammates.

3. Kengo Nakamura – 61 Assists

Nakamura began his career as a central box-to-box midfielder but later on started to play as a playmaker, He was recognized as a highly efficient passer of the ball, regularly topping the J League for assists throughout his career, as well as being a consistent goal threat and an adept dribbler with determination and strength, despite his relatively small size.

His ability on set-pieces has also been praised especially on the freekicks. He is a legend for Kawasaki Frontale as he spent his entire club career there and made 546 appearances, also making 68 appearances for the Japan National team.

2. Yosuke Kashiwagi – 62 Assists

Yosuke is known for his accurate passing ability, he rarely makes any mistakes as a central midfielder and has really good game intelligence.

He played for Urawa Red Diamonds for 11 years in which he made 311 appearances, he also won the prestigious AFC Champions League with the Reds in 2017. He played for the national team and made 11 appearances.

1. Yasuhito Endo – 94 Assists

Endo is considered a cult hero among fans of Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team, attributed to his longevity as a professional athlete, technical ability, leadership, and goal-scoring ability.

Endo is also known for his excellent accuracy on free kicks and is revered as one of Japan’s most creative midfielders as well as one of the most talented Japanese footballers and playmakers of his generation. He made 152 appearances for the national team and scored 15 goals.

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