Taizo Kawamoto

Taizo Kawamoto
川本 泰三
Personal information
Full name Taizo Kawamoto
Date of birth (1914-01-17)January 17, 1914
Place of birth Seto, Aichi, Japan
Date of death September 20, 1985(1985-09-20) (aged 71)
Place of death Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
1931–1937 Waseda University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Waseda WMW
Osaka SC
National team
1934–1954 Japan 9 (4)
Teams managed
1958 Japan
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Taizo Kawamoto (川本 泰三, Kawamoto Taizō, January 17, 1914 – September 20, 1985) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan national team.

Club career

Kawamoto was born in Seto on January 17, 1914. He played for Waseda WMW was consisted of his alma mater Waseda University players and graduates. The club won the 2nd place at 1940 Emperor's Cup.

In 1941, Kawamoto served in the military for World War II and was detained in the Soviet Union following the war for 4 years (Japanese prisoners of war in the Soviet Union). In December 1949, when he was 35 years old, he returned to Japan and cameback as player at Osaka SC. Osaka SC won the 2nd place at Emperor's Cup 3 times (1951, 1952 and 1953).

National team career

Miracle of Berlin (1936 Olympics 1st round v Sweden on August 4)

In May 1934, when Kawamoto was a Waseda University student, he was elected Japan national team for 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila. At this competition, on May 13, he debuted and scored a goal against Dutch East Indies. In 1936, he was elected Japan for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin and scored a goal against Sweden. Japan completed a come-from-behind victory against Sweden. The first victory in Olympics for the Japan and the historic victory over one of the powerhouses became later known as "Miracle of Berlin" (ベルリンの奇跡) in Japan. In 2016, this team was elected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

After World War II, Kawamoto played at 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification and 1954 Asian Games. He was also a member of Japan as player and assistant coach for 1956 Summer Olympics, but he did not compete. He played 9 games and scored 4 goals for Japan until 1954.[1] On May 3, 1954, he made history by becoming the oldest player to play for Japan national team at the age of 40 years and 106 days.

Coaching career

In 1956, Kawamoto served as assistant coach under manager Shigemaru Takenokoshi for 1956 Summer Olympics. In 1958, Kawamoto namaed a manager for Japan national team as Hidetoki Takahashi successor for 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo. At 1958 Asian Games, Japan fought against Philippines and Hong Kong. However Japan lost both games and he resingned after the competition.

On September 20, 1985, Kawamoto died of stomach cancer in Osaka at the age of 71. In 2005, he was elected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

National team statistics

[1]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
193432
193500
193621
193700
193800
193900
194011
194100
194200
194300
194400
194500
194600
194700
194800
194900
195000
195100
195200
195300
195430
Total94

National team goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 May 1934Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines Dutch East Indies1–7Lost1934 Far Eastern Championship Games
2.15 May 1934Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines Philippines4–3Won1934 Far Eastern Championship Games
3.4 August 1936Hertha-BSC-Platz, Berlin, Germany Sweden3–2Won1936 Summer Olympics
4.16 June 1940Koshien South Ground, Nishinomiya, Japan Philippines1–0Won2600th National Foundation Festival

References

  1. 1 2 Japan National Football Team Database
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