Uchida started his professional career with Kashima, where he won three consecutive J.League titles from 2007 to 2009 before a move to Europe when he signed for German side Schalke 04 in 2010.

He spent seven seasons in Gelsenkirchen, but injuries limited his impact for the club and he eventually moved to second division side Union Berlin on a one-year contract in 2017 before returning to Kashima in 2018.

In his first year back in Japan Uchida helped Kashima to their first AFC Champions League title, playing four times in the competition and scoring a goal at both ends in the 3-2 win over Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the first leg of the semi-finals.

At international level, Uchida represented Japan on 74 occasions at senior level and was a member of the country’s squad at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 and in Brazil four years later.

He also featured for Japan at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and he was a member of Alberto Zaccheroni’s squad as the Samurai Blue won the AFC Asian Cup for a record fourth time in 2011 in Qatar.

Uchida was the starting right-back when Japan defeated Australia in the final thanks to Tadanari Lee’s extra-time goal, adding the 2011 title to those won in 1992, 2000 and 2004.

Photo: AFP