Wataru Endo: I started out as a goalscoring No.9!
Much of his role these days is shutting down attacks, but Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has revealed his football journey actually began as a prolific No.9.
The Japan captain arrived at the Reds from VfB Stuttgart last summer as a 30-year-old with huge experience.
Starting out at Shonan Bellmare and Urawa Red Diamonds in his home country, Endo then spent time with Belgian side Sint-Truiden VV and it was there that he settled into the guise of defensive-minded midfield player.
Speaking on a new podcast, Red Machine, released by LFC’s official publication partner, Kodansha, Endo was asked about the stars he idolised as an aspiring youngster and how much he knew then about the Reds.
“Of course, I watched Liverpool games and I was a big fan of Steven Gerrard,” he said. “His shots from outside the penalty area were always amazing, and also he always put 120 per cent on the pitch.
“[And] Japanese players – Shunsuke Nakamura, for example, because I’m from Yokohama and I followed the club in Yokohama, and Shunsuke Nakamura played there. So I’m a big fan of him.”
Amid a spell along the way in which he was playing at the centre of defence, former Liverpool man Javier Mascherano was another Endo studied.
“For me, it’s always important to win the duels, because I play in defensive midfield,” he said. “When I started playing football, I played No.9 and I scored a lot!
“It’s common in Japan, most of the Japanese football players, if you asked them which position you were when you grew up, almost everyone was a No.9. It’s very common, it often happens with Japanese players, and I was also a No.9.
“Then, after that I started playing almost every position: full-back, No.10, No.8, right-back and No.6. Then I moved to Sint-Truiden in Belgium and I started to play as a No.6 since then. I have played a lot of positions.”
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Endo enjoyed four years at Stuttgart before making the switch to Anfield in August 2023.
Just one day after his transfer to the club was officially completed, the No.3 was thrust into a debut – coming on as a substitute against AFC Bournemouth at his new home stadium.
“It was an amazing moment for me because my dream was to play in the Premier League, and it was like dreams came true,” he reflected.
“The atmosphere of the stadium was also amazing, and You’ll Never Walk Alone is special. To be honest, I couldn’t enjoy the atmosphere because it was my first game and [I had] only four days’ preparation time. So I needed to focus on playing football.
“When I got on the pitch, a few players said something to me, like ‘Take your time’ or ‘Just focus on yourself’. We lost Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] and we had to play with 10 players.”
Endo went on to feature 43 times across all competitions during his first campaign with the club, which coincided with Jürgen Klopp’s last as manager.
On how he approaches his duties within the side, he said: “I always try to let [the team] play comfortably or play easier, that’s what I always think about.
“Everyone has strong points. For example, Macca is good on the ball, Dom [Szoboszlai] has a good shot from outside the penalty box, Curtis [Jones] always has good dribbling to go to the last third.
“I always try to help them do that, that’s what I always try. That’s important [when you’re] playing as a No.6, in my opinion.”
Endo’s maiden season was marked by silverware in the form of the Carabao Cup, with Liverpool defeating Chelsea 1-0 after extra-time in February.
He began the contest at Wembley and played the full 120 minutes of a clash settled by Virgil van Dijk’s header deep into the added half-hour.
“It was the day before the game I knew I was going to start,” recalled Endo. “It was a great moment for me and I think my performance was one of my best games, in my opinion.
“The atmosphere was amazing. I didn’t feel a lot of pressure; I really wanted to enjoy the atmosphere and I really wanted to enjoy the moment of playing the final. That’s what I was thinking.”