Former Japan striker Keiji Tamada holds a retirement press conference in Nagasaki on Dec. 11, 2021. (Kyodo)

       NAGASAKI (Kyodo) -- Forty-one-year-old former Japan forward Keiji Tamada is eying a possible transition into coaching, he said at his retirement press conference on Saturday.

       The left-footed speedster played in two World Cups for Japan. He scored the opener against Brazil in the final group game of the 2006 World Cup as Japan eventually lost 4-1 and bowed out of the tournament in Germany.

       "Even when I thought I could still perform, I didn't get the chance to show myself in games," said Tamada, who spent the final three years of his career with J-League second-tier side V Varen Nagasaki.

       "Coaching is one option and I want to go get a license. Hopefully I can establish my own style of exciting, enjoyable football."

       Tamada debuted with Kashiwa Reysol in 1999 before joining Nagoya Grampus in 2006, contributing to their first J1 title in 2010, when he scored 13 goals.

       He had a spell at Cerezo Osaka and again at Nagoya, helping the then J2 side make a quick return to the J1 in 2017 before joining Nagasaki in 2019.

       Tamada also played for Japan at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

       "(My retirement) hasn't sunk in at all. I'm leaving the visible part of the stage but am looking forward to my next career," Tamada said.

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