"Around the new year, I was thinking this season would turn out to be my final season, my ultimate challenge," Abe told a press conference.
 
Abe started his career as a midfielder in 1998 with JEF United Ichihara, where he worked under future Japan coach Ivica Osim, and moved to Urawa in 2007.
 
In his debut season with the club, Abe won the AFC Champions League for the first time as the Japanese side defeated Sepahan of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the final.

Three years later he moved to England and spent two seasons with Leicester before returning to Urawa in 2012 and captained the club to a second AFC Champions League in 2017, when they defeated Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia.
 
Abe, who became a utility player capable of playing in defence as well as in midfield as his career developed, also represented Japan at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and was part of the squad that reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010.