Malaysia international Dion Cools etched his name into the history books on July 5, becoming the first-ever Malaysian footballer to feature in Japan’s top flight, the J.League 1. The 28-year-old made his debut for Cerezo Osaka in the high-stakes Osaka Derby, coming on in the 73rd minute during their 1-0 defeat to city rivals Gamba Osaka at Yodoko Sakura Stadium.
Cools, who recently joined Cerezo from Thai League 1 powerhouse Buriram United, replaced Hayato Okuda shortly after Gamba’s Riku Handa netted the match’s only goal. Despite his limited time on the pitch, the former Club Brugge defender made an immediate impact—showcasing the quality that has earned him recognition as one of Southeast Asia’s top defensive talents.
He nearly marked his debut with a key contribution in the 84th minute, delivering a cross that led to a Rafael Ratão tap-in—only for the move to be ruled offside as Cools had strayed marginally beyond the last defender.
While the night ended in disappointment for Cerezo, Cools’ performance was a bright spot. He recorded a 100% tackle success rate and 82% passing accuracy, earning praise from the club’s official English-language social media channels, which described his display as a “brilliant debut” and encouraged fans to look forward to more from the Malaysian international.