19 Jan 2009(Mon)

Mikitani finds his leader

January 17, 2009: With so many agents and other interested parties around these days, it is rare for a major transfer to be completed without plenty of speculation and build-up.

So the news that Tsuneyasu Miyamoto was joining Vissel Kobe took most people by surprise.

It was not a surprise, however, that so many media turned up at the Grand Prince Hotel in Shinagawa on Friday to see the new grand prince of Kobe.

Tsune, as always, looked like he had stepped out of the pages of a fashion catalogue as he walked into the room, his grey suit brightened by crimson tie.

And despite the disappointment of his premature exit from Red Bull Salzburg, he still managed to project a positive vibe during the formalities of the press conference.

After all those years with Gamba, it wouldn't have surprised me at all if he had stumbled at one point and said "Gamba" instead of "Vissel"; but no, he was the consummate professional in talking of his new challenge to take Kobe into the ACL in 2010.

And that's exactly why Hiroshi Mikitani bought him. He wouldn't say for how much, or for how long the player's contract would run, other than it was a "multiple-year" deal, but the
Rakuten chairman and CEO was very forthcoming in other matters.

I asked him when it had all started, and he replied that he had been made aware in mid-December that Miyamoto might be available.

"I invited him to my house in Kobe on January 2 and had a lengthy discussion with him," Mikitani said.

"We liked his intelligence and his personality on top of his ability. He has played more than 70 times for the national team and, regardless of whether he is formally appointed captain, he will demonstrate his leadership qualities. He will be able to organise the team and bring a strong spirit to the club."

Tsune's profile will also help fill the void left by Yoshito Okubo in the glamour stakes as Vissel try to attract more fans to Home's Stadium.

"Obviously he is very different from Yoshito," Mikitani added. "He is more mature and is very popular among the female football fans, but first of all we like him as a player. That is the most important thing."

I also asked Mikitani what influence losing out on Yuji Nakazawa had on the signing of Miyamoto, and he admitted that had Nakazawa left Marinos for Kobe then the Miyamoto deal would not have happened.

"We are happier to get Miyamoto than the other player. Miyamoto is more of an organiser and is more intelligent, and as a captain he has experienced leadership. Nakazawa has stronger offensive capability, but Miyamoto will organise the defence."

At least Miyamoto will feel appreciated again after his Austrian experience, during which former coach Giovanni Trapattoni tried him at left back and current coach Co Adriaanse didn't try him at all.

ends