Wollongong Wolves have announced the signing of Japanese striker Yuzo Tashiro for the upcoming NPLNSW competition.
Tashiro, 34, has spent his entire career in his homeland but is now set for “the next big challenge” in Wollongong.
“I have had a great career so far and was looking for the next big challenge,” he said through an interpreter.
Tashiro’s most successful spell was with Kashima Antlers between 2005 and 2011 – when he scored 30 goals in 115 games. He won the J-League three times in a row with Kashima in 2007, 2008 and 2009. His most recent stint was with Cerezo Osaka, where he found the back of the net six times in 22 games.
Manager Jacob Timpano believes Tashiro’s signing will cause opposing sides “nightmares”.
“Having Yuzo up front for us is going to be a very big positive for our upcoming campaign. He is a proven goalscorer and his combinations with Patrick Antelmi, Josh Macdonald, and Nico Bernal is going to cause defenses plenty of nightmares,” the 31-year-old manager told reporters.
Wolves play their first two matches of the season away from home against Parramatta and Sydney Olympic before returning to the ‘Wolf Den’ on 26 March.