Ryuzo Hiraki

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

Biography
Hiraki was born in Sakai on October 7, 1931. After graduating from Kwansei Gakuin University, he joined Yuasa Batteries in 1957. In 1958, he moved to Furukawa Electric. Furukawa Electric won 1960, 1961 and 1964 Emperor's Cup. In 1965, Furukawa Electric joined new league Japan Soccer League. He played 6 games in the league. He retired in 1966.

In March 1954, when Hiraki was a Kwansei Gakuin University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1954 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on March 14, he debuted against South Korea. In 1956, he was selected Japan for 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He also played at 1954, 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. In 1964, he was selected Japan as captain for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, he could not play in the match for injury. After 1964 Summer Olympics, he retired from national team. He played 30 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 1962.

In 1962, when Hiraki played for Furukawa Electric, he became a playing manager as Ken Naganuma successor for the club and managed until 1965. He also served an assistant coach for Japan national team and a manager for Japan U-20 national team. In 1968, he participated as a coach in 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and Japan team won Bronze Medal. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. In 1992, he signed with Nagoya Grampus Eight joined new league J1 League and he managed until 1993.

In 2005, Hiraki was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. On January 2, 2009, he died of pneumonia in Toyota at the age of 77.

Statistics

|-
|1965||rowspan="2"|Furukawa Electric||rowspan="2"|JSL Division 1||6||0
|-
|1966||0||0
6||0
6||0
|}
Japan National Football Team Database

|-
|1954||3||0
|-
|1955||4||0
|-
|1956||3||0
|-
|1957||0||0
|-
|1958||4||0
|-
|1959||10||1
|-
|1960||1||0
|-
|1961||2||0
|-
|1962||3||0
|-
!Total||30||1
|}

References

Other websites

Japan Football Hall of Fame at Japan Football Association
Japan Football Hall of Fame (Japan team at 1968 Olympics) at Japan Football Association

Category:1931 births
Category:2009 deaths
Category:Footballers from Osaka Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:Japanese football managers
Category:Japan Soccer League players
Category:JEF United Chiba players
Category:Footballers at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Category:Footballers at the 1964 Summer Olympics