Leeds United title star's emotional statement after feeling like 'giving up' in career frustration — YEP 7/5/25

-

By Graham Smyth

One of the star performers of Leeds United's title-winning promotion season has opened up on feeling like giving up en route to the Premier League.

Leeds celebrated their Championship title and promotion back to the top flight with more than 150,000 fans in the city centre on Monday and Ao Tanaka was front and centre on one of the three buses parading the one-mile route. The midfielder played a starring role this season, his first in English football, after a £2.9m move from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the German second tier. A fully fledged Japan international, Tanaka had to bide his time to break into Daniel Farke's starting XI and it took serious injuries for Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to bring about the opportunity. But from October 1 when he first started a Championship game until the thrilling final day of the campaign in Plymouth, Tanaka started 37 games, scoring five goals and adding two assists.

His performances earned him the coveted Players' Player of the Year award and he walked away with the club's Goal of the Season accolade too, at Sunday night's awards bash at Elland Road.

And with the dust now settled on a remarkable first year as a Leeds player, Tanaka has reflected on his eventual rise to the top level of the game. Next season he will kick a ball in a top European league for the first time, aged 26. He admits he should have arrived at this point earlier and frustration with his career progress made him feel like walking away.

Ao Tanaka’s emotional statement

"The season is over," he said in an Instagram post. "It was only after coming to Europe that I felt that my efforts had paid off. It took too long to get to this point, and I think I took a long detour. There were times when I felt like giving up, but I always believed in myself and continued to struggle with what I had, which is why I was able to get this far."

Tanaka insists that reaching this point in his career is just a start and that he will now attempt to make the 'impossible' possible.

"However, I know better than anyone that I haven't accomplished anything yet, and that I've only just earned the right to stand on the starting line," he said. "I'm sure I'll face new challenges and obstacles from now on, but I want to feel joy in them and continue to grow. I'll face myself more than ever and work hard to make the impossible possible for myself."

Tanaka's emotional journey through this past year came to a head in public fashion when he broke down on the pitch and in the dressing room after the late-season win over Middlesbrough. He had to be consoled by team-mate Joe Rodon and manager Farke and admitted he felt empty and exhausted, days after Leeds were booed off by a section of the away support at Luton. That draw at Kenilworth Road was followed by six straight wins to achieve 100 points, a league title and promotion.

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more