Keisuke Honda wants to ‘win everything’ as he reveals why he chose to play for Melbourne Victory
HE had offers to play in Europe and in the US but Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda decided he wanted to continue his glittering career in Australia and for Melbourne Victory. He reveals why and what’s driving him this A-League season.
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MELBOURNE Victory may well have assembled the most talented squad in A-League history, but there is one name that stands out above all others.
Nicknamed “Emperor Keisuke”, Japanese megastar Keisuke Honda has won many UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup games off his own lethal left boot.
While his most recent stint was off Broadway, in Mexico, his Round of 16 World Cup goal for Japan just months ago suggests that, if Honda is no longer at his peak, he’s still damn close.
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Alessandro Del Piero, Harry Kewell, Dwight Yorke and Tim Cahill were all huge signings, but once all the factors are measured, Honda may in fact become the most significant signing in A-League history.
At 32, he’s the youngest of the superstars to come down here and while Kewell and Cahill were bigger names domestically, Honda’s signing raised eyebrows abroad.
Del Piero was massive, but Honda — 37 goals in 98 Japan games and another 88 club goals in 430 games — comes at a time when the A-League needed a shot in the arm and is preparing for substantial growth.
The former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow superstar had many overseas options before choosing Victory, who are clear favourites to win a fifth A-League crown.
“I had many options after the World Cup (in Europe and around the world),’’ Honda told the Herald Sun.
“I had the chance to go back to Europe and play at the top level again. I had options there (USA), some (MLS) clubs were interested in me.
“I played in Mexico last year and it was a really nice experience for me. It was only one year, but I like to feel new atmosphere and new place, new people.
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“No one expected me to come here (Australia), but I also like to surprise people. It’s a difficult challenge for me.
“So far I’m enjoying Melbourne. I’ve been busy since I came here. I will be happy and my family will be happy as well.
“It’s kind of similar to Japan. The people, I think their life standard is pretty high and they’re developed countries and developed cities.”
Make no mistake, this is no PR stunt, Honda wants success.
Social causes may be dear to his heart, while Honda has sensationally decided to juggle professional football with a national coaching role (he debuted as general manager of Cambodia last month).
He’s business minded too, linking up with Will Smith — yes, the Will Smith — to start a venture capital fund and has invested in more than 40 start ups in the last two years.
Honda is engaged in his business interests and speaks with authority, but makes his Melbourne priority clear.
“My story is a little bit unique and I don’t think many soccer players (get involved in things) like that,’’ Honda said.
“First I just focused on success as a soccer player. I wanted to become the best soccer player in the world. After I realised not many people are like me, where I grew up, and I have to appreciate it and I wanted to help them, so I started a soccer school.
“Then I realised I can’t solve poverty or economic problems with soccer, I have to move into a totally different angle. Then I became an investor.
“But my number one focus is soccer. My goal is to win. I want to win everything (at Victory), as much as we can, that’s it.
“Now I am just focused on (producing) at a high level and helping the team.”
Victory coach Kevin Muscat has assembled a rock-star squad in his bid to become just the second team in the A-League era (after Brisbane Roar) to win back-to-back titles.
Honda and former PSV Eindhoven and Sunderland striker Ola Toivonen are both said to have raised the professionalism at Victory.
“My early impressions (of Honda) are exactly what was expected. Fortunately or unfortunately, we’ve watched him compete against our national team,’’ Muscat said.
“But it can’t be just down to one individual, it never is. Everybody’s got to be as supportive of him as he is of the team. The same for Ola, Georg (Niedermeier) and Raul (Buena). We want to be working as the strongest team come round one.”
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Ola Toivonen, striker, 32
At 192cm, the Swede has presence. But don’t be deceived by his height, as his predatory feet loom as the biggest threat for Victory’s A-League opponents this season. Fresh from his superb World Cup goal against Germany four months ago, which underlined his attacking prowess, the former PSV Eindhoven, Sunderland and Toulouse striker (14 goals in 64 games for Sweden) is one of the highest calibre signings in A-League history.
Originally published as Keisuke Honda wants to ‘win everything’ as he reveals why he chose to play for Melbourne Victory