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Former Vancouver Whitecaps player Masato Kudo dead at 32

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Oct 21 2022, 5:19 pm
Former Vancouver Whitecaps player Masato Kudo dead at 32
Vancouver Whitecaps FC/Twitter

Sad news out of Japan, as former Vancouver Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo has died. He was only 32 years old.

Kudo underwent brain surgery earlier this week and had been in intensive care.

The Tokyo-born pro soccer player spent one season with the Whitecaps in 2016. After leaving Vancouver, he went on to play back in Japan for Sanfrecce Hiroshima (2017-2020) and Renofa Yamaguchi FC (2019-2020), before a stint in Australia with Brisbane Roar (2020-2021).

Kudo was first selected for the Japanese national team at age 23, scoring two goals for his country in four appearances.

Kudo’s most recent club team, Tegevajaro Miyazaki, shared the news of his passing.

“Kudo was a very successful player who had been active in J1 and had been selected for Japan’s national team. Despite this, he had no arrogance, and had a wonderful attitude of caring not only for himself but also for his teammates, the club, and the supporters,” said Tegevajaro Miyazaki president Keita Nimura, translated from Japanese on the team’s website.

“He was the very embodiment of the club slogan, ‘Sincerity.'”

“Kudo was loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was kind, gracious, and his smile would light up the room,” the Whitecaps said in a statement on their official website.

“Whitecaps FC offer our condolences to Kudo’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

 

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