Japan is a country that does not lack football talent. They have a lot of players who have been in Europe at a young age. Uchida Tachibana is one of them. Uchida was born in 1988 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. From an early age, he showed outstanding football talent, and was selected for the varsity team in high school and participated in the Japan High School Students' League from 2003 to 2006. Despite his height of only 172cm and a weight of 62kg, his excellent dribbling skills and long-pass attacks make him very dazzling on the court. At the same time, his outstanding performance also attracted J-League powerhouse Kashima Antlers.
In 2006, Kashima Antler signed a contract with Uchida Tachoto, who was not yet 18 years old at the time. Facts have also proved that Kashima Kashima chose him very correctly. Uchida scored 2 goals in 28 league games that season and won the Best Newcomer Award. Between 2007 and 2009, he helped Kashima Antlers win three consecutive league titles as a key player. At this time, he has also begun to show his role in the national team. At the same time, Schalke 04 from the Bundesliga issued an invitation to Uchida Tachibana. A new journey awaits him.
In July 2010, Uchida transferred to Schalke 04 for 1.1 million euros. At that time, Schalke 04 team had a good strength against Raul, Neuer and other superstars. The newcomer Uchida Tachibana did not have the slightest fear of the stage and acted like a strong man. In that season, Uchida took the lead in the champions league with the team coached by Ronnick to reach the top four of the Champions League, setting a new record in team history and winning the German Cup. Uchida's first season at Yuyo can be said to be perfect. At the same time, he also won the Asian Cup with Japan that year. In addition, Chinese player Arthur Junmin also worked with him for one season in Schalke 04. The two young Asian players got along very well in the team. Unfortunately, Arthur Junmin eventually left because he did not have a stable position, which has also become a major regret in Chinese football.
In the following seasons, Uchida played steadily, and even won the Bundesliga half-time best full-back in the 14/15 season. In addition, he played 2,387 minutes in the Champions League, becoming the player with the most playing time in the Champions League in Japanese history. But God was jealous of his talents, and just when people thought he could reach new heights, the injury began to torment him for two years. A torn ligament in his right leg prevented him from standing on the field, and he made only one appearance in the Europa League in two seasons, completely losing his original form. The door of the Japanese national team is no longer open for him.
In order to regain his form, in 2017 he decided to leave Schalke 04, where he had played for 8 years, to go to The Berlin Union in the Bundesliga. But bad luck found him again. He made 2 appearances for the team and was injured again. The team also lost trust in him, leaving him with only illness and sorrow. The player who was supposed to be at the height of the world was so out of the ordinary. His career in Europe also ended without any problems.
In 2018, the 30-year-old Uchida Returned to the place where his dream began with some helplessness to continue chasing his dream. In that year, he won the AFC Champions League with Kashima Antlers. This was perhaps the best consolation for him in years. In 2020, after encountering injuries again, he finally stopped and chose to retire and choose to work as a host. In the January 2022 match between the national football team and Japan, as a commentator, he excitedly shouted and praised him when he saw his former teammate Ha Junmin on the field. The green years at Schalke 04 should be his most precious time.
Injuries are the last difficulty a player wants to face. It always stands in the way of genius. Uchida Tachibana would also be annoyed by this. But in the hearts of the fans, he is one of the best players in Asia. All dreamers deserve our respect.