Zico believes it was “not a coincidence” that Kobe won two straight J. League titles after Iniesta left the club in 2023.
“It’s an investment. Having a player of Iniesta’s level at your club motivates everyone,” he said.
“You learn because he’s a winner, it improves the performance of the other players and it motivates the supporters. Everything grows.”
Kashima currently top the J. League, even if the days when they could sign Brazilian World Cup winners like Jorginho and Leonardo are long gone.
Zico joined the club when they were in the semi-professional second division and they have since won the J. League a record eight times and the Asian Champions League once.
Zico visits Kashima regularly to interact with fans and sponsors, as well as working with the club’s youth section.
He says the club is “like my son”.
“I watched it being born, grow and become what it is now,” he said.
“We have been able to take my experience in professional football and put it into practice here.
“A son is like that — you educate him and watch him go through life.”
© 2025 AFP