Soccer player Anrie Chase says he is determined to shine at German club VfB Stuttgart II.
　"I'll become the best center back in the world and win the European Champions League," he said during a press conference in April at his alma mater, Shoshi High School in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture.
The Japan Under-21 player's contract with the team comes into effect on July 1.

　サッカー・ドイツ１部リーグのシュツットガルトの下部組織チームに７月から入団することが決まったＵ―２１（２１歳以下）日本代表のチェイス・アンリ（１８）。このほど、福島県郡山市の母校・尚志高校で行った入団会見で、「世界一のセンターバックになって、欧州チャンピオンズリーグで優勝する」と闘志をたぎらせた。

　Chase -- known as one of the best defensive players in high school soccer in Japan -- was approached by several European clubs, and spent two weeks training with VfB Stuttgart last autumn.
　The 18-year-old said he was inspired by Japan midfielder Wataru Endo, who plays a key role for the Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, and felt strongly his playing would improve if he joined VfB Stuttgart II, which is the reserve team of VfB Stuttgart.
　Though Chase had the option to ply his trade in the J.League, he decided to hone his skills overseas.

　高校サッカー屈指のＤＦとして注目されていたアンリは昨秋、欧州の複数のクラブから声が掛かかる中、シュツットガルトの練習に２週間にわたり参加。同クラブで中心選手として活躍する日本代表ＭＦ遠藤航らの姿に刺激を受け、「ここにきたら自分がうまくなれる」と強く感じた。Ｊリーグの選択肢もある中、海外で技術を磨くことを決断した。

　Born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, to an American father and Japanese mother, Chase moved to Texas at the age of 3. He returned to Japan in his first year of junior high school and began playing soccer seriously at a school in the city.
　Soccer officials from Fukushima Prefecture approached him while he was in his third year, which led him to Shoshi High School, a school he admires for instilling in its players excellent ball control and passing skills.

　神奈川県横須賀市出身のアンリは米国人の父と日本人の母を持ち、３歳で米国テキサス州に移住。中学１年で日本に戻ると、同市の中学校で本格的にサッカーを始めた。３年時に福島県のサッカー関係者に声を掛けられたことをきっかけに、「パスサッカー」に憧れ尚志の門をたたいた。

　"[At first], he wasn't a good player, by any means," said high school team coach Koji Nakamura. When Chase entered the school, he was still an unknown. "He had an obedient heart and continued training hard to achieve the goals set for him. It was the key to his growth," Nakamura, 49, added.
　Chase gradually improved, and was selected to represent the Japan Under-22 team while in his third year of high school. Chase says Nakamura is like a "second father" to him. Nakamura joined the national team's training camp to coach Chase.
　Chase also expressed his gratitude to the high school soccer team, saying, "Shoshi High School was inspirational in terms of my spiritual upbringing."

　「決して上手ではなかった」。仲村浩二監督（４９）がそう振り返るように、高校入学時は全国的には無名の選手だった。それでも「言われたことを一生懸命やり続ける素直な心が成長の鍵だった」（仲村監督）。成果は徐々に表れ、３年時には飛び級で日本代表Ｕ―２２に選ばれるまでに成長した。アンリは、代表合宿にも駆け付けて指導してくれた仲村監督を「第二の父親」と呼び、「尚志で精神面でも成長することができた」とチームへの感謝を語った。

　VfB Stuttgart Sporting Director Sven Mislintat, who took part in the press conference online, said Chase is tall, a fast mover and a good passer. Mislintat added that like Endo and other Japanese players at the club, Chase works hard without boasting, and is a wonderful person.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　オンラインで会見に参加したクラブのスポーツディレクターを務めるスベン・ミスリンタート氏は「背が高くて動きもいい。パスもうまい」とアンリを評価。同クラブに所属する遠藤ら日本人選手と同様、アンリも「一生懸命頑張るが自慢せず、人間として素晴らしい」と契約の理由を明かした。

　【　２０２２年４月９日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】