Suzuki 19 at Red Star

In his twelfth year as a footballer, Takayuki Suzuki will be playing where no Japanese player has gone before: the professional football league in Serbia and Montenegro. But if anyone is tough enough to deal with it all, it's Suzuki. He had to deal with some pretty tough situations and treatment when he was in Brazil and Belgium (not to mention several bumpy events inside Japan), and he has never let it turn him sour. He's kept his eyes on the ball.

Suzuki has signed a full transfer deal with Red Star -- his first full transfer, after being rented out twelve times. The famed club is populated by many SM internationals, and former J-league Nagoya super-favorite Stoykovic, who is now chairman, has been making a huge effort to make this happen. I hear that the club already prepared a residence and car for Suzuki before he had even flown over.

At the press conference held yesterday, Suzuki greeted the press with a few words in Serbian: "Drago¡¡mije¡¥Dobar¡¡dan¡¥¡¡Ja¡¡sam SUZUKI¡¥¡¡Hvala¡¡Sto¡¡ste¡¡dosli¡ª" Today, he is off to Cyprus to join the rest of his new teammates for training before the league resumes on February 18.

Due to this transfer, Suzuki will be withdrawing from National Team duties for the next month's schedule. The Japan NT is meeting in Miyazaki for their annual training on Sunday, but I have not heard whether another forward will be called up to take Suzuki's place.

I am not familiar at all with the league or with Red Star apart from their resume/history, but I will try my best to keep up with his situation over there. I wish the best for him.

Suzuki's three salient characteristics are 1) he's left-footed 2) he's not afraid of the physical 3) he's able to contribute defensively while being in an attacking position (forward). There is some chatter that Red Star may be looking at him to play as a midfielder on the left to take advantage of these qualities. Suzuki is one of those players who is willing to do what is asked of him and doesn't seem to be the type to get hung up on which position he plays, so it shouldn't be a problem with his motivation if they do decide to use him as a midfielder. However, changing positions to midfield may affect his chances on the national team.

Or, it could be an interesting turning point for his footballing career. When asked about the risks involved in going to a new league/club with only five months to go until the World Cup, Suzuki said that he isn't one to make decisions now on what may or may not be half a year away. I think at his age (29) and with his experience, it makes good sense. Other players may have the luxury or the scruples to be skittish about transferring now, but in Suzuki's case I don't think it should be part of the equation.