Former Japan international football player Masato Kudo dead at 32

FILE–Japan’s Masato Kudo. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI

Former Japan international forward Masato Kudo, who also played for Kashiwa Reysol, Vancouver Whitecaps and Brisbane Roar, died aged 32 following brain surgery, his club Tegevajaro Miyazaki has announced.

Kudo was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the ventricles in the brain and was hospitalized on Oct. 3 after falling ill a day earlier, the Kyodo news agency reported. He died on Friday.

Kudo was an important player during Kashiwa Reysol’s run to the semifinals of the Asian Champions League in 2013, scoring six times in 12 games in that campaign.

He played for the national team in four matches in 2013 and scored two goals.

Along with the entire Japanese football community, we mourn the passing of Masato Kudo and wish to express our most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/H1IQmogF2v

— J.LEAGUE Official (English) (@J_League_En) October 22, 2022

“He made a significant impact in the first division,” third division side Tegevajaro Miyazaki, who Kudo had joined from Roar this year, said in a statement. “He played for Japan and had a great track record but he stayed humble.”

“He had a great attitude, caring about teammates, the club and supporters. We are devastated that such a great player has passed away so early.”

Kudo, who also represented Sanfrecce Hiroshima, scored 60 goals in Japan’s first division during his career.

He won the J-League with Kashiwa Reysol in 2011 and  played for Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS and Brisbane Roar in the A-League.

Brisbane coach Warren Moon said: “He had such a wonderful personality and always turned up to training every morning with a beaming smile on his face.

“He will be greatly missed and our hearts go out to his wife and young daughter at this sad time.”