Marcus Tulio Tanaka

is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Born in Brazil, he represented Japan at international level.

Club career Born in Palmeira d'Oeste, Brazil to an Italian Brazilian mother and second generation Japanese Brazilian father, Tulio moved to Japan at age 15 to complete his high school studies. After graduation from Shibuya Makuhari High School in Chiba Prefecture in 2001, Tulio joined the J1 League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. In the opening game of the 2001 season on 11 March, he debuted as substitute defender in the tenth minute, replacing the injured Tony Popovic, and scored a goal in the 16th minute. After the debut, he played many matches as centre-back in two seasons. Sanfrecce was relegated to J2 League end of 2002 season.

In 2003, Tulio moved to fellow J2 League side Mito HollyHock. On 10 October 2003, he received approval to naturalise as a Japanese citizen. Playing as a centre-back, he scored ten goals in the 2003 season.

In 2004, after a season at Mito, Tulio returned to the J1 League, joining Urawa Red Diamonds. After the strong performance in 2006 season, which led Urawa to win their first ever J1 League title, he received J.League Most Valuable Player. In 2007, Urawa won their first Asian champions in AFC Champions League. On 22 December 2009, after falling out with the management at Urawa as he was deployed in an unfamiliar position at the back, Tulio joined Nagoya Grampus. He played 168 games and scored 37 goals in 6 seasons and was selected in the team's Best Eleven every season.

In his first season in Nagoya, Nagoya won the champions in 2010 J1 League first time in the club history. Nagoya also won the 2nd place in 2011 season. On 9 January 2016, Nagoya Grampus announced that the club and Tulio were parting ways. Nearly nine months later, on 28 August 2016, Tulio re-signed for Nagoya Grampus under new manager Boško Gjurovski, before leaving Nagoya Grampus at the end of the 2016 season upon the expiration of his contract.

In the off-season of the 2016–17 season, at the age of 35, Tulio signed with J2 club Kyoto Sanga FC.

International career Tulio obtained his Japanese citizenship on 10 October 2003. He scored his first goal for Japan on 15 November 2006 in a 2007 Asian Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. As Japan's captain Yuji Nakazawa later also scored an own goal, the game finished 2–1 for England. On 4 June, he scored for Ivory Coast against Japan in the form of an own goal in the 13th minute of a friendly match. Three minutes later, he injured Côte d'Ivoire attacker Didier Drogba's elbow which was fractured by a high challenge from Tulio.

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he played full time in all four matches as center back with Yuji Nakazawa.

International

Scores and results list Japan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tulio goal.

Honours Urawa Red Diamonds AFC Champions League: 2007 J1 League: 2006 Emperor's Cup: 2005, 2006 Japanese Super Cup: 2006

Nagoya Grampus J1 League: 2010 Japanese Super Cup: 2011

Japan Kirin Cup: 2007, 2008, 2009

Individual Japanese Footballer of the Year: 2006 J.League Most Valuable Player: 2006 J.League Best Eleven: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 J.League 30th Anniversary Team