This is starting to happen quite a lot isn't it?

[The Duck]

Japan World Cup star Naoki Matsuda dies at 34


Japanese footballer Naoki Matsuda has died two days after he collapsed on the training pitch with a suspected heart attack.

The 34-year-old, who represented Japan at the 2002 World Cup, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday. Naoki Matsuda won 40 caps for his country.

He collapsed during a training session with his club, Matsumoto Yamaga, and never regained consciousness.

Former Japan manager Philippe Troussier paid tribute to the defender, saying he was a key member of the World Cup team.

"It's terrible to see someone die at such a young age," Mr Troussier told Reuters news agency.

"It's a big shock. He was a great guy and I felt a close bond to him. My thoughts go to his family."

Fans, friends and former players had gathered at the hospital in Matsumoto to wish the player well.

Matsuda played 40 times for Japan, and won two J-League titles during 15 years with the Yokohama F-Marinos.

He moved to lower league Matsumoto earlier this year.

 

[Modo]

Always sad.
Considering how many footballers there are in the world I wouldn't say that it's common.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

34? Fuckin' hell. Are any of these lads taking 'under the radar' meds?

 

[themn]

*waits for Ross*

 

[Athens]

There was a period of a few years were a few Gaelic footballers and Rugby players dropped dead on the pitch in N. Ireland. Some of them were very young, one was only 18. There was also a young lad who collapsed a few days ago at the Milk Cup, N. Ireland's youth football tournament. They all had underlying heart problems that hadn't been noticed/diagnosed before. I think it's could be a heart defect that for some reason or other has not been picked up before, more than drugs. I'm not ruling drugs out of course...

 

[Halmeister]

It never used to happen though. It's a recent thing over the last ten years or so. Maybe it's to do with training too much and too intensively?

 

[cobrastatus]

This is almost always an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. The only time it comes up on the radar is when you pass out on the field and almost die. Hence the sudden nature of it all. You can train for years upon years and never stress yourself enough to exacerbate it. It's the proverbial ticking time bomb.