There is a player at Vissel Kobe who crossed the sea at age 22 and went on to excel in Germany, England, and Spain―countries with entirely different languages, cultures, and styles of soccer. Why has Yoshinori Muto always placed himself in challenging environments? And how did he manage to produce results there? Surely, growth happens only after confronting challenges and making it through to the other side.

Muto watched the 2023 FIFA World Cup and felt a surge of frustration at not being there himself.
“As long as I’m a soccer player, I will always aim for that stage, and I want to keep aiming for it.”

“To do that, results become extremely important. That’s why I want to change my training methods, try different things, and push myself to grow even further.”

Never satisfied with the status quo, he keeps pushing himself―an attitude that hasn’t changed since he was young. He joined FC Tokyo while studying at Keio University, and two years later sought a higher level and moved abroad. But in an environment where even his lifestyle was completely different, there was much more to overcome than just a different style of soccer.

“In Germany, everyone eats potatoes instead of rice. That was tough for a rice lover like me. In England, too, I struggled to get used to the local food culture, and on top of that it rains so much there that it was hard to keep my spirits up sometimes. The language was challenging, of course, but I felt real difficulty in terms of culture and environment.”

It was difficult to do his best when he hadn’t adapted to his environment. And beyond getting used to daily life, he also needed to fit in with the team. Even though results are everything, soccer is also a team sport. A forward can’t reach the goal without receiving passes. Earning trust from the team is essential for producing results. Playing overseas made Muto realize the importance of communication more than ever.

“To be a part of the team, I thought I first needed to get them interested in me, to make them think, ‘This guy is interesting’ ― so I’d act the fool sometimes. It was embarrassing, of course. But that got people to talk to me, and I learned that there were some things I had to do even if I didn’t want to do it. Soccer isn’t a game you can play alone. If you’re not the kind of player that makes teammates think, ‘I’d go the extra mile for this guy,’ it just gets tough. I just kept trying all sorts of things that were beyond just my soccer abilities to fit in with the team.”

Keep trying. These words came up again and again in our talk with Muto. Playing abroad, producing results―nothing about it was easy. There were many times he felt like a failure. Even in times like those, he kept his head up and kept trying. Where does that strength come from?

“I think it’s because I’ve experienced so many failures. When you keep trying over and over again, the joy you feel when you succeed is greater, even if you fail during the process. That was how I learned to stop being afraid of failing. The greatest asset I gained from going abroad was perhaps becoming able to think, ‘Failure is good experience.'”

No matter what situation he finds himself in, he has an unwavering belief.

“Whatever you do, aim to be the best. And keep trying.”

At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he played for the Japanese national team. Since joining Vissel Kobe in 2021, he has continued to play in matches as a key player―and now, even as he accumulates years, he keeps driving himself toward greater heights.

“They say that once you’re past 30, your physical capabilities start to decline and you can’t run as much. That’s precisely why I want to be the kind of player about whom people say, ‘Muto has evolved again,’ even after turning 30.”

His commitment to constant effort without resting on his own talent has made him someone who commands respect at Vissel Kobe. But now, his effort is no longer just for himself.

“The younger players are watching, so those of us with experience need to fight harder than anyone, sparing no effort, and keep battling. I believe that will raise the overall level of the team, and that good results will follow.”

A contribution to the team that goes beyond just results. Muto’s presence will surely lift the team to greater levels.

INTERVIEW & TEXT: Chiharu Abe