Nagoya Grampus goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak was given a farewell worthy of heroes and legends on Saturday night as his imminent move back to Australia looms closer.
Langerak’s Grampus side may have conceded a shock 2-0 defeat at home at the hands of relegation-battling Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on Saturday evening, however the mood at the Toyota Stadium remains celebratory as Nagoya fans celebrated the tenure of one of their prized sons.
Arriving in Nagoya back in 2018 from Spanish side Levante, Langerak quickly established himself as Grampus’ number one goalkeeper, setting the J.League 1 record of the most clean sheets in a season with 21 throughout the 2021 campaign, as well as setting the record of most consecutive minutes without conceding with 823 minutes during the same campaign.
Langerak is also only the 13th foreign player to have recorded over 200 appearances in the J1, as well as the first Australian to reach that landmark.
His hard work and dedication as Nagoya’s last line of defense earned Langerak the admiration of the club’s fanbase, who viewed him as a legend. His status as a mainstay was also acknowledged by the club, who awarded Langerak the captaincy for the 2024 campaign.
But all good things must come to an end and Langerak is set to leave Nagoya at the end of the 2024 season, returning to Australia to turn out for Patrick Kisnorbo’s Melbourne Victory side. It was at Victory as well that 36 year old Langerak started his career, ensuring that in his twilight years as a player, Langerak’s footballing journey has come full-circle.
When Langerak’s imminent departure was announced, the Nagoya fans quickly gave him special recognition in the team’s first match after the announcement, before organizing a farewell tour of some sorts to send off their hero into the sunset.
Saturday’s farewell ceremony – which involves an impressive tifo display – was only part of the farewell tour organized by both Nagoya and their fans. Nagoya still has around five more matches to be played – including one final home match against rock-bottom Sagan Tosu on November 30th – however one can expect the farewell celebrations to reach its peak on November 2nd, with Nagoya set to take on Albirex Niigata in the 2024 J.League Cup final at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
And after that it’s back to the hustle and tussle of the A-League Men for Langerak, as he’s expected to aid Victory in their quest for their first league silverware since 2018 – with the Vuck coming agonizingly close to ending that drought last season when they lost the 2023/24 A-League Men Grand Final to Central Coast Mariners.