This is his first exclusive interview with syncSPORTS by Rakuten in about two years.Considering Vissel Kobe's historic rise, it feels like a long time ago.After a busy time spent fighting and evolving, Sakai has become a veteran with a wealth of experience in both name and reality. What kind of future does he envision and how will he inspire his juniors?

*This interview was conducted during the Okinawa training camp in January 2025.

–Looking back on the 2024 season, in which you entered as the defending champions, what difficulties did you face in terms of how to fight?

“There’s no doubt that our ‘measures against Vissel Kobe’ have intensified.However, I believe that by implementing an even better fighting style throughout the season against opponents who tried to eliminate our strengths, we were able to play more powerful Soccer.Additionally, each of our new players demonstrated their strengths, which added variety to the team.I think we’ve grown as a team tactically.”

–Have you faced any new challenges on a personal level?

“Every year I try to do different things to make it better than the year before.For example, I can look back on plays that didn’t go well and incorporate a lot of practice to improve them or work on improving my physical condition.Rather than dramatically changing the way I work, it was more like making steady improvements.”

–What goals have you set for yourself for the 2025 season?

“It’s an improvement in the numbers.Especially the goals and assists.I wasn’t able to achieve the numbers I had hoped for last year or the year before, so I would like to contribute to the team in that area as well.Of course, I’m not in a position where I’m always aiming for the goal, so a good balance with defense is important, but I want to improve my finishing accuracy and my movement around the penalty box.”

–Which teammates do you expect to do well this season?

“There are so many I can’t choose (laughs).These are all players we can have high hopes for.If I had to narrow it down to one, it would be Daiju (Sasaki).Although he has steadily improved his skills over the past few years, I don’t think he is satisfied with his current performance.That might be enough for an average player, but Daiju is different.He is a player who can go even further.In terms of number of goals, he is definitely a player who can score more than 10 goals, and I think he had the chances to do so.However, what has not been reached is that there are some things that need to be explored further.I’m hoping he’ll do it this year.”

–You’ll be 34 this year. As a veteran, how do you interact with younger players and juniors?

“I don’t have the mindset of teaching them, but I’m hoping they can learn from watching my play and my attitude towards Soccer.I focus more on communication and sharing opinions, rather than giving advice.We often align our visions and opinions, like this:’At that time, I felt that doing it this way would lead to a better attack, but what do you think?’ I’m conscious of creating an environment that makes it easy to have that kind of communication.”

–What is the secret to staying successful at the forefront for so long?

“It’s really just the basics: having a regular lifestyle, getting enough sleep, taking care of your body, strengthening exercises, and eating well.Everyone gets older, but I think the important thing is to be able to play without letting your body age.As expected, the damage to my body has changed since I entered my 30s compared to when I was in my 20s, so I have become even more careful.On the other hand, the more I work on these things, the more I realize that my body is still capable of moving.I believe that I work harder than players in their teens and twenties.I think it’s thanks to these everyday efforts that I’m able to step onto the pitch with confidence every game, even at this age.”

–I heard that you started playing Soccer a little late.Looking back, what kind of Soccer kid were you?

“I knew from early on that I wanted to play overseas.I started playing Soccer when I was 10 years old, after seeing my childhood friend’s older brother who lived nearby kicking a ball and thinking it looked fun.It’s later than the others around.I wasn’t as good as the kids who played Soccer before, so it made me frustrated and I practiced a lot.I think I’ve always been a competitive person.When I was about 15 years old, I was selected to represent Japan as an under-age player and we toured overseas. I was amazed at the high level of the foreign players and thought, ‘I don’t want to lose.’It was from that time that I started to become conscious of overseas.Ever since then, I have always wanted to play overseas.I think it was good for me to have that awareness five years after starting Soccer.What’s important is not how old you were when you started playing Soccer, but rather that you keep working hard, thinking, ‘I don’t want to lose to anyone, I want to get better.'”

“I want to get better.”The reason he has been able to continue playing at the top level for so many years is because of his dedicated attitude, which has remained unchanged since he started playing Soccer.As Sakai continues to run, a better future awaits Vissel Kobe.

EDIT：Yohsuke Watanabe (IN FOCUS)
TEXT: Kodai Wada