Kō Itakura

Itakura's career is marked by a series of historic firsts. He became the first Japanese player to sign for Ajax in the club's 125-year history. He played a key role in Schalke's promotion to the Bundesliga and has been a consistent performer in Europe's top leagues. His elegant, ball-playing style has drawn comparisons to legendary sweepers, and he is widely regarded as one of Japan's finest modern defenders. Still in his prime, he continues to break barriers for Japanese footballers abroad.