Japan star Matsuda dies age 34

Former Japan international Naoki Matsuda died in hospital on Thursday aged 34, two days after collapsing from a suspected heart attack.

Defender Matsuda collapsed on Tuesday while training for third-tier team Matsumoto Yamaga.

Believed to suffering from heatstroke, he went into cardio-respiratory arrest and fell into a coma.

Matsuda was rushed to hospital but failed to respond to heart massage and was placed on life support.

“He passed away today at 1:06 pm,” Yamaga president Hiroshi Otsuki said.

“Since Tuesday there has been an outpouring of support from Matsuda fans all over Japan.”

Matsuda made 385 appearances for Yokohama F-Marinos between 1995 and 2010, winning consecutive J-League titles in 2003 and 2004.

He won 40 caps for the Japan national team, appearing in the 2002 World Cup on home soil.