What is the behavior of Japanese players that TARIK, who played at Shonan Bellmare until last year, feels is a waste? (3ページ目)

With that in mind, then, what does Tarik envision for the future? He will be 36 years old in February 2024. He says, "I don't think about my age, just give it everything I've got", but Tarik picked up three injuries this season so may have options other than staying in his current job.

"I'm interested in a lot of things," he said, his eyes still twinkling like a boy's in the latter part of the interview. "So it's difficult to say what I'm going to do now, but I probably won't become a coach. I have sacrificed a lot of things for myself and my family in my almost 20 years as a professional footballer, and if I become a professional coach, especially a manager, it will probably be the same again. But you know, I love football. I think one option would be an agent."

Tarik, who speaks eight languages, is caring and has a warm heart, could certainly help a player's career.

"But if you become a football agent, you have to deal with dangerous people," Tariq replied. "It's a world rife with betrayal, money, lies and that sort of thing. That's not what I want. What I want to do more than anything else is to help young people."

So you're going to start a football school or team?

"I suppose I could do that, but I don't want to use the kids as a business tool. When I was playing in Europe, we used to have a camp for kids every summer. A lot of people and clubs helped us and we organised it for free. On the other hand, there were organisations that took hundreds of euros a day. But I don't think kids should pay money for football, like myself in my younger days. Whether it's on the street or in an academy."

I told him I would love to see that done in Japan.

"If Japan was anywhere near Norway, I would definitely do that. I would definitely live in Hiratsuka and continue to support Shonan. But my family and relatives (including his cousin Mohamed Elyounoussi of FC Copenhagen, who scored against Manchester United in the Champions League on 8 November) are very close and we haven't seen each other for a long time. So perhaps we will take the next step in Norway."

But you never know what life will bring.

"Of course. We're talking about this now, but there could be another turn of events."

The interview had been going on for almost 90 minutes by this point. At the end, Tarik apologized for the length and we shook hands. His grip was soft and strong.