BioMasaaki Furukawa began his football career in the JSL, with Honda Motor - one of the powerhouses of pre-JLeague football. However, Honda chose to remain an amateur club (and is still non-pro today). Therefore, when the J.League was launched, Furukawa and a few other Honda players opted to join the Kashima Antlers. Anyone who knows JLeague history is aware of the importance that Zico and the Antlers had in the JLeague's early development. The man who usually took up his position between the sticks during Zico's heyday at the club was Masaaki Furukawa. He played a significant role during the Antlers' first league title run, in 1996, as well. However, by the start of Kashima's "Golden Age", in 1998, Furukawa was nearing the end of his career and had been largely edged out of the GK position by younger rivals. He spent one year on loan to Avispa Fukuoka, before returning to Kashima to close out a stellar career. Though his best days were probably back in the semi-pro JFL era, Furukawa's role in those early Kashima exploits earned him a legacy that is fondly remembered throughout the country.
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