Shinji Okazaki, Premier League Champion, Announces Retirement After Historic Career

Former Japan international Shinji Okazaki, who won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, has announced that he will retire at the end of the season, according to Japanese media reports. Okazaki played a crucial role in Leicester City's historic league title victory under Claudio Ranieri, making 36 Premier League appearances and scoring five goals in the 2015-16 season. One of his most memorable moments was scoring a spectacular overhead winner against Newcastle, which helped put Leicester five points clear at the top of the table with eight games remaining. Ranieri praised Okazaki's contribution to the team, stating that he was important for his pressing abilities and his ability to motivate the players. Okazaki, who is currently playing for Belgian side Sint-Truiden, is also Japan's third-highest scorer of all time, with 50 goals in 119 appearances. He has represented Japan in three World Cups and was part of the team that won the Asian Cup in 2011. Okazaki began his career with J-League club Shimizu S-Pulse and has also played for German clubs Stuttgart and Mainz. As Okazaki prepares to retire, his achievements and contributions to both club and country will be remembered as he leaves a lasting legacy in the world of football.