- Title: Japan international Honda joins Mexico's soccer A league
- Date: 18th July 2017
- Summary: PACHUCA, HIDALGO, MEXICO (JULY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) JAPANESE SOCCER INTERNATIONAL KEISUKE HONDA ARRIVING FOR MEDIA PRESENTATION PACHUCA SOCCER PLAYERS SEATED AT MEDIA PRESENTATION HONDA WITH SHIRT FOR PACHUCA SOCCER TEAM HONDA OPENING UP SHIRT TO PUT OVER HIS HEAD HONDA PUTTING ON SHIRT SOCCER PLAYERS FROM PACHUCA ON STAGE AT MEDIA PRESENTATION HONDA STANDING NEXT TO CLUB OFFICIAL AT PRESENTATION HONDA ON STAGE WITH CLUB OFFICIAL AND PLAYER HONDA POSING FOR MEDIA WITH TEAM HONDA STANDING NEXT TO TEAM MATES HONDA POSING FOR MEDIA PHOTOS WITH TEAM MATES HONDA GETTING UP FROM CHAIR AS HIS NAME IS CALLED DURING MEDIA PRESENTATION AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JAPANESE SOCCER INTERNATIONAL KEISUKE HONDA, SAYING: "Good afternoon. Hello to everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am very happy to be here and I want to help the team the best I can." AUDIENCE APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (English with Spanish translation) JAPANESE SOCCER INTERNATIONAL KEISUKE HONDA, SAYING: "I felt they (team) really wanted to get me. I was so happy to hear their project, I thought that I wanted to join this project. (Reporter: Why?) Because they have a passion and they're a good team. Actually, the Japanese don't know what level (of soccer there is) in Mexico but I researched and the level is very high. So I wanted to try new try new leagues and that is Mexico." HONDA HUGGING OFFICIAL AND TAKING SEAT AT PRESENTATION SOCCER FANS CHANTING AND PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR THEIR TEAM SOCCER FANS CLAPPING HANDS AND CHANTING GROUP OF FANS CLAPPING HANDS IN THE AIR AND CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SOCCER FAN, GABRIEL SANCHEZ, SAYING: "The club needs a strengthening in quality and naming him, who is mainly European (in training) so as to boost confident on the field and motivate fans." HONDA SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS HONDA'S CLUB SHIRT HONDA WAVING TO PEOPLE AT PRESENTATION HONDA WALKING OFF STAGE AT PRESENTATION GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE AFTER MEDIA PRESENTATION ON PACHUCA TRAINING FIELD
- Embargoed: 1st August 2017 22:15
- Keywords: Pachuca de Mexico Keisuke Honda new team sports soccer futbol Japanese player joins Mexican team
- Location: PACHUCA, HIDALGO, MEXICO
- City: PACHUCA, HIDALGO, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016Q8W5KV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Japan attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda has joined Mexican side Pachuca, the CONCACAF Champions League holders have announced, two months after leaving AC Milan as a free agent.
Honda, 31, has 86 caps for Japan, scoring 36 goals, and is the only Japanese player to score in two separate World Cups, netting in the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
He joined Milan in January 2014 for a reported 20 million euro ($22.8 million) fee from CSKA Moscow but could not halt the decline of the Italian giants, who finished outside the top five in each of his four seasons at the San Siro.
For the Mexican club, Honda's signing is a boon with fans hopeful he will bring in experience from one of Europe's soccer superclubs.
Pachuca is one of Mexico's most successful soccer clubs, having won six national championships and clinching a Copa Sudamericana final. Pachuca has not disclosed the details of his contract. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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