Sint-Truiden, a Belgian top-flight club acquired by a Japanese company, will mark its 10th anniversary under Japanese ownership, and 6 players who have previously played for the club are said to be in contention for next year's Japan national team. The club emphasizes balancing player development with business management.
Sint-Truiden, a Belgian top-flight club, will mark 10 years since its acquisition by a Japanese company. Next year's Japan World Cup squad is reported to include 6 players who have previously played for the club, underscoring its position as a gateway for players seeking to reach the world stage.
The club's chief executive officer, Tateishi Takayuki (立石敬之), said he focuses on player development, including watching 3 J.League matches from 5 a.m. on weekends and learning about the players' personalities. Players who have gone on to become key members of the national team include Zion Suzuki (鈴木彩艶), Takehiro Tomiyasu (冨安健洋), Daichi Kamada (鎌田大地), Keito Nakamura (中村敬斗) and Keisuke Goto (後藤啓介). It is explained that these players were transferred to clubs in Japan and overseas for fees ranging from several times their original values to roughly 10 times those values, becoming a source of revenue for the club.
The new season saw 2 Japanese players join the club, and Ryotaro Araki (荒木遼太郎) scored his first goal in the match on the 30th. All 7 Japanese players on the roster appeared in the victory. Japanese players also made up most of the starting lineup last season, when the club finished 3rd in the league.