Former defender Tetsuo Nakanishi will continue to serve as a “special ambassador” for Kawasaki Frontale, the club announced on Tuesday.

The Nagoya native joined the club in its inaugural 1997 season, further contributing to their 1999 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League championship as well as their debut J1 League campaign in 2000.

“This year marks the 20th year since Frontale’s founding and is a crucial turning point for the club,” Nakanishi said. 

“It’s very emotional as someone who joined the team in 1997. Thank you for supporting us all the way through both the good times and the bad.”