Is this a dream?
Am I going to wake up shortly to the realisation that Keisuke Honda in a Melbourne Victory polo was just a cruel dream, a figment of my imagination?
That’s what it feels like. I still have to pinch myself to know that this is actually real.
Keisuke Honda, the biggest Asian star since Hidetoshi Nakata, will be playing for Melbourne Victory in the upcoming A-League season. Sure, there may have been better players from a technical point of view, and that’s not to take anything away from Honda who is a heck of a player, but none can match the 32-year-old for pure star power. He is a bonafide superstar.
He may not be at the absolute peak of his powers, that came in the four year stretch between 2010 and 2014 – and visiting Japan in 2013 you didn’t have to walk far to see his face advertising anything and everything – but his star still shines brightly in Japan.
Think it doesn’t? There’s a reason the JFA ditched Vahid Halilhodzic on the eve of the World Cup, and one of the biggest reasons is believed to be pressure from sponsors and broadcasters who feared both Honda and Shinji Kagawa would be cut from the squad by the Bosnian.
Both were selected, and both played key roles in helping Japan reach the quarter finals.
And just last week I was contacted by a Japanese TV network who were wanting to film a segment in Melbourne ahead of Honda’s impending arrival in the city. Expect the press galleries at AAMI Park to be overflowing once the season gets underway.
But don’t just take my word for it.
“At 32, Honda may not be the player he once was but his popularity at home has hardly waned,” Shintaro Kano, who writes for Kyodo News and is one of the leading football journalists in Japan, told me yesterday.
“In terms of success, on and off the pitch, he’s right up there with Kazu Miura and (Hidetoshi) Nakata. (He) still grabs the headlines, and that shouldn’t change even as he heads into the twilight of his career.”
The signing is a significant one for Melbourne Victory too.
The club has spoken ad nauseam about its desire to become one of the biggest clubs in Asia, but it has rarely been backed that up with action, on or off-the-park. Little has been invested in growing the club’s profile and “brand” in Asia, while on-the-field they have struggled to make an impact in the AFC Champions League.
By my reckoning, Honda is the first Asian player to sign for the club since Surat Sukha – and the Thai international departed way back in 2011. That is damning for a club with such lofty ambitions.
But with the most recognisable Asian player of a generation on their books, the club can now look to seriously engage with Asia. Just signing the bleached blonde superstar will have raised their profile, there will be plenty of people in Japan who now know the name Melbourne Victory who didn’t as of a few weeks ago, and those behind-the-scenes at the club will be hoping to leverage his signing into new sponsorship deals.
“If Melbourne want to increase their brand recognition in Asia, then Honda should help as he’s still one of the biggest names in the Asian game,” Kano also told me.
“One thing Honda has done well throughout his career is engagement; during the off-season, he spends a lot of time travelling to work through his soccer schools and he’s always been business savvy.
“He has said one of the allures of playing for Milan was that it gave him an opportunity to learn about the business side of football. Honda will promote himself just fine; the test will be on Melbourne to milk him for what he’s potentially worth.”
If they can’t do that they aren’t even trying. They have talked the talk about Asia, now it’s time to walk the walk. Thankfully, listening to a bullish Anthony Di Pietro on Monday, it seems they are ready to do just that.
But as Kevin Muscat was at pains to point out on Monday, it’s on the field where it matters most, and Victory fans have every reason to be excited by their new signing.
This is a player coming straight off a World Cup, at which he not only had an impact, but scored for the third successive tournament, becoming the first Japanese player to achieve that feat. Just over 12 months ago he was playing in Serie A, and let’s not forget he’s coming off a fantastic season in Mexico’s LigaMX, one of the most underrated leagues in the world.
“As long as he stays fit – and Honda does take care of his body well – he should be more than effective for Melbourne at the A-League level,” Kano continued.
“How many seasons he has left in him remains to be seen, but he now has his sights set on the Tokyo Olympics as an overage player so that should keep him going for a couple more years.”
At 32 he may not be in the absolute prime of his career, but conversely, he’s not beyond it either, and a quick glance at his highlights reel from his time in Mexico will show what he is capable of.
[latest_videos_strip category=”football” name=”Football”]
The lure of playing at Tokyo 2020, as realistic or otherwise as that may be, will be a huge motivating factor for the Japanese superstar, so Victory fans are in for an exciting ride.
And I for one cannot wait to watch it all unfold in front of my very eyes.
As October rolls around and I’m sitting in the stands at the Melbourne Derby in Round 1 watching Honda run around in the navy blue, I’ll still be pinching myself thinking it’s all one big dream.
Nemesis
Guest
"Its a shame that the richest A-League club in Australia gets a $1.6M handout from FFA and Foxtel." It's a shame football fans don't educate themselves about football issues. This is not a handout. This is not FFA money. This is an investment by a sponsor. who thinks this particular investment will improve their annual revenue & profits.
At work
Roar Rookie
For me, Honda is a much bigger name than Ono. As far as who can access the 'handout' I would argue that generally the bottom 6 clubs couldn't afford to put money into getting marquees that are eligible for the FFA/Fox money.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Shinji Ono was a dream signing too, but its debatable he did much for the A-League. We'll have to wait and see how much there is in Honda's tank. Its a shame that the richest A-League club in Australia gets a $1.6M handout from FFA and Foxtel. That marquee fund should only be available to the teams that finish in the botton 6 imho.
Nemesis
Guest
"But an even better idea would be to try and include them in the general season memberships at an additional cost." MVFC has been doing this for the past 3 ACL campaigns. The ACL 3 Game Membership is added on with the click of a button.
pacman
Guest
This excerpt from the FFA Constitution may explain why many of us are unhappy with the FFA: 15.18 Remuneration of Directors A Director may not be paid for services as a Director but, with the approval of the Directors, may be: (a) paid by FFA for services rendered to it; and (b) reimbursed by FFA for their reasonable travelling, accommodation and other expenses when: (i) travelling to or from meetings of the Directors, a Committee or FFA; or (ii) otherwise engaged on the affairs of FFA. We should be looking at other aspects of FFA governance. For instance, is it true that the Socceroos were the most highly paid players at the WC? That is to say, the FFA paid each Socceroo more than any other nation paid their players for competing. Only unpaid directors with no understanding of the sport could enter into such an agreement. Perhaps the buck should not stop at the directors' desks? They rely on expert advice before arriving at their decisions. This advice would, presumably, come from well credentialled employees (those on $200K per annum) playing the back-slapping, glad-handing game so prevalent in the upper echelons of society.
Football is Life
Guest
The PFA vote is worth 7 if I read correctly. I love the fact that the board is cycled every four years board members must be voted in by the congress and Congress must vote on their wages as well. It's been nice Messrs Gallop and Lowy. Farewell gents.
Fadida
Guest
Why should FFA pay for the recruitment of marquees and the clubs contribute nothing? When was the last time a less wealthy club has even been linked with a marquee? Next you'll be wanting FFA to do the ground work as well
Football is Life
Guest
Only a day or so ago a there were comments on the Roar saying "we can't afford and it's not viable". Well dont knock Victory. They're averaging over 20000 members they have a Business Club that requires somewhere in the vacinity of 2000 dollars per year membership and the last l read was that they had around 2000 members just for the business club. MV are building their wealth. Rome was not built in a day but they are leveraging their market. Now is their opportunity to take it to the next level
Redondo
Guest
Apparently Sydney FC are now looking at Alvaro Negredo. But so are Cardiff in the EPL. Would require a few miilion in transfer fees and same again in wages.
At work
Roar Rookie
Fair enough and thanks for your reply. I go into the start of ACL each year with high hopes (warranted or not), so hopefully we (Sydney, Melbourne Newcastle (?)) produce the results. I much prefer the football on the field with ACL, but agree it's more difficult getting big crowds for midweek games. I can only comment on what Sydney did last year, but selling quite affordable 3 game ACL 'memberships' is the way to go. But an even better idea would be to try and include them in the general season memberships at an additional cost.
Football is Life
Guest
I reckon that is a great first step to getting the brand out there and recognised. Then comes tourism and ticket sales....."Come see Honda play in Australia"
Midfielder
Guest
Votes after reading the report State Feds === 55 A-L Clubs === 28 PFA ======== 1 Womens ==== 10 To be allocated Group 1 ==== 2 Group 2 ===- 2 Group 3 === 2 Total 100 votes, the 3 groups believed to be coaches, fustal, & AAFC [NPL Clubs]
Nemesis
Guest
I'll attempt to cover the points you've raised 1) In the 1st ACL (2008) Ernie Merrick gave 100% focus to ACL. Crowds were massive. 25k crowds for midweek against Asian opponents. Fantastic atmosphere. Fantastic quality games. MV won the first. We were beaten by a stoppage time thunderbolt in the 2nd playing Gamba Osaka who eventually won the title that seson 2) In the next ACL, it's true. Ernie Merrick & the players seemed to be disinterested in ACL. It didn't help that the teams that qualified for ACL had to wait nearly 12 months to play in the competition, given the odd way the ALeague was fixtured 3) Since Kevin Muscat has coached MVFC, the ACL has been a huge priority. The Chairman of MVFC has confirmed this. Under Muscat, MVFC has been outstanding in the ACL. Our Away form is poor, but you don't need to have outstanding away form in ACL. You just need to win your home games & jag a point or 2 away. For MVFC to win the ACL, we just have to win every home game. I don't care if we never win away. We win at home & don't lose away, we will be Champions of Asia. Will crowds return? I don't know. I enjoy midweek ACL but in previous work situations it would have been impossible to attend midweek sport in the CBD.
Midfielder
Guest
BREAKING NEWS CRWG report released to public. https://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/new-congress-plan-revealed-499781
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, the limited squad sizes certainly don't help. I think WSW's run to the title certainly hurt their A-League season. They had a horrible A-League season while simultaneously winning the ACL (albeit with a few decent slices of luck along the way!)
At work
Roar Rookie
I'm not trying to single out Victory here, as most clubs haven't focused on the ACL as they should, instead giving more attention or only equal attention to the domestic campaign. This is usually due to not resting key players for ACL matches by trying to do both (ACL & AL) where instead clubs often fail at both. And yes I know about our limited squad sizes and which don't help. Also Victories ACL attendance are not very good in comparison to AL matches, cold this also be down to the club not promoting ACL memberships and more affordable tickets to the Tuesday/Wednesday games... Now don't get all defensive because as I mentioned this isn't just Victory, most clubs haven't succeeded in this regard. If a club is going to claim to to want to conquer Asia they need to actually have a plan to do it, signing Honda is a great way to start!
Nemesis
Guest
Melbourne Victory have entered the Asian Champions League more than any other ALeague club. Our home record in ACL is outstanding. We are now 13 consecutive home matches in ACL without losing. During these 13 matches we've W:8 D:5 Sadly, our Away record is terrible. Facts about MVFC in Asia 2008: 2nd in Group, but only Top team qualified 2010: FAIL 2011: FAIL 2014: Equal 2nd, failed by 1 less GD 2016: Ro16 2018: Missed qualification by 1 point Maybe, the reason MV hasn't performed well in Asia is because we haven't been good enough. Not because MV doesn't take it seriously.
Ian
Guest
why should the FFA fund more than 50% of the payments for Honda when apparently MV are the most profitable A-League club? Then we can hear how MV 'got' Honda into the A-League because of how great they are. Not to worry. I like Honda a lot. But MV got a massive bonus here which most clubs don't receive. Even with stumping up their own cash FFA won't provide this level of assistance.
At work
Roar Rookie
Settle down RF - Paul has provided a slightly different insight, being from a well respected Asian based pundit/journo (?). This is a big signing so why can’t we enjoy some good news for once instead of talking about another FFA crisis.
At work
Roar Rookie
Why should the FFA/Fox fund 100% for clubs who haven’t managed themselves well enough to afford a proper marquee. Well done to MV for running a successful club (on the field and off) to be able to bring in such a quality player. If a less well off club wants a marquee player, the least they can do is stump up some money and then hold their hands out for Fox/FFA to find the rest.