Marquinhos returns to J.League

Four-time J-League winning striker Marquinhos has returned to the Japanese top flight to sign with ex-club Yokohama F. Marinos.

The 35-year-old Brazilian, who helped Kashima Antlers to league titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as Yokohama in 2003, returns to Japan after a short stint in his homeland with Atletico Mineiro.

The 2008 J-League Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner had left Japan last April, walking out on Vegalta Sendai, due to emotional reasons following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in the island nation.

However, Marquinhos has decided to return to Japan to join Yokohama F. Marinos whom he spent the title-winning 2003 season with, scoring 12 goals in 31 appearances.

Marquinhos, who first moved to Japan in 2001, has also had previous stints at Tokyo Verdy, JEF United, Shimizu S-Pulse, Kashima and Vegalta.