Masashi Watanabe

Masashi Watanabe (渡辺 正, Watanabe Masashi, January 11, 1936 – December 7, 1995) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan national team.

Masashi Watanabe
渡辺 正
Personal information
Full name Masashi Watanabe
Date of birth (1936-01-11)January 11, 1936
Place of birth Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
Date of death December 7, 1995(1995-12-07) (aged 59)
Place of death Chiba, Chiba, Japan
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
1951 Sotoku High School
1951–1953 Hiroshima Motomachi High School
1958–1961 Rikkyo University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1958 Yawata Steel
1962–1971 Nippon Steel 79 (19)
Total 79 (19)
National team
1958–1969 Japan 39 (12)
Teams managed
1969–1975 Nippon Steel
1980 Japan
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Watanabe was born in Hiroshima on January 11, 1936. After graduating from high school, he joined Yawata Steel (later Nippon Steel) in 1954. In 1958, he left Yawata Steel and entered Rikkyo University. After graduating from Rikkyo University, he joined Yawata Steel again in 1962. In 1965, Yawata Steel joined new league Japan Soccer League. He retired in 1971. He played 79 games and scored 19 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven in 1968.

National team career

On December 25, 1958, when Watanabe was a Rikkyo University student, he debuted for Japan national team against Hong Kong. He played at 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. At 1968 Summer Olympics, he played 5 games and scored 2 goals against Brazil and France. Japan also won Bronze Medal. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He also played at 1962 and 1966 Asian Games. He played 39 games and scored 19 goals for Japan until 1969.[1]

Coaching career

In 1969, when Watanabe played for Yawata Steel (later Nippon Steel), he became a playing manager. He managed the club until 1975. In 1979, he became an assistant coach for Japan national team under manager Yukio Shimomura. At 1980 Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in April 1980, following Japan's failure to qualify for 1980 Summer Olympics, Shimomura resigned a manager. In May, Watanabe was promoted to manager as Shimomura successor. However, just before 1982 World Cup qualification in December, he suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage and replaced to Saburo Kawabuchi.

On December 7, 1995, Watanabe died of heart failure in Chiba at the age of 59. In 2006, he was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

National team statistics

[1]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
195821
195984
196010
196161
196230
196353
196410
196530
196621
196731
196820
196931
Total3912

Awards and honors
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References
  1. "Japan National Football Team Database". Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-05-27.


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