Shigeyoshi Suzuki

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

Biography
Suzuki was born in Fukushima Prefecture on October 13, 1902. He was a founding member of the football team at Waseda University High School in 1921, and a founding member of the Waseda University football team in 1924. At Waseda, he played with many Japan national team players including Haruo Arima, Misao Tamai, Tamotsu Asakura, Shigeru Takahashi, Shojiro Sugimura, Nagayasu Honda, Ko Takamoro and Michiyo Taki.

In August 1927, Suzuki was selected the Japan national team at the Far Eastern Championship Games in Shanghai. At this competition, on August 27, he debuted as captain against the Republic of China. On August 29, he also played and scored a goal against the Philippines, and Japan won this match, its first victory in an "International A Match". Suzuki played 2 games and scored 1 goal for Japan in 1927.

In 1930, Suzuki became manager for the Japan national team for Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo. He led Japan to the champions. In 1936, he became manager for Japan again and managed at 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. 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 selected to the Japan Football Hall of Fame.

After World War II, Suzuki became an executive in the insurance industry. He died on December 20, 1971 at the age of 69. In 2007, he was selected to the Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics
Japan National Football Team Database

|-
|1927||2||1
|-
!Total||2||1
|}

References

Other websites

Japan Football Hall of Fame at Japan Football Association
Japan Football Hall of Fame (Japan team at 1936 Olympics) at Japan Football Association

Category:1902 births
Category:1971 deaths
Category:Footballers from Fukushima Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:Japanese football managers
Category:Japan national football team managers