Masakuni Yamamoto

is a former Japanese football player and manager. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography
Yamamoto was born in Numazu on April 4, 1958. After graduating from Kokushikan University, he joined Japan Soccer League club Yamaha Motors in 1981. First season, the club finished at the bottom place and was relegated to Division 2. In 1982, the club won the champions and was promoted Division 1. The club also won 1982 Emperor's Cup. He retired in 1987. He played 109 games and scored 3 goals in the league.

In December 1980, when Yamamoto was a Kokushikan University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1982 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on December 26, he debuted against China. He played 4 games for Japan in 1981.

After retirement, Yamamoto started coaching career at Yamaha Motors (later Júbilo Iwata) in 1987. In 1995, he became a manager for Japan U-20 national team and managed at 1997 World Youth Championship. In 1997, he returned to Júbilo Iwata. In October 1998, he became an assistant coach for Japan national team under manager Philippe Troussier. After 2002 World Cup, in August, Yamamoto became a manager for Japan U-23 national team and managed at 2004 Summer Olympics. In November 2004, he returned to Júbilo Iwata and became a manager. He resigned in June 2006.

Statistics

|-
|1981||rowspan="6"|Yamaha Motors||JSL Division 1||18||1
|-
|1982||JSL Division 2||16||0
|-
|1983||rowspan="4"|JSL Division 1||18||1
|-
|1984||18||0
|-
|1985–86||22||0
|-
|1986–87||17||1
109||3
109||3
|}
Japan National Football Team Database

|-
|1980||2||0
|-
|1981||2||0
|-
!Total||4||0
|}

References

Other websites

Category:1958 births
Category:Living people
Category:Footballers from Shizuoka Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:Japanese football managers
Category:Japan Soccer League players
Category:Júbilo Iwata players