Akira Matsunaga (footballer, born 1914)

was a Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team. His brothers Nobuo Matsunaga and Seki Matsunaga also played for Japan national team.

Biography
Matsunaga was born in Yaizu on September 21, 1914. In 1936, when he was a Tokyo Liberal Arts and Science University student, he was selected the Japan national team for 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. At this competition, on August 4, he debuted 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 selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. On August 7, he also played against Italy. He played 2 games and scored 1 goal for Japan in 1936.

In 1937, Matsunaga entered the Imperial Japanese Army and served in World War II with the 230th Infantry Regiment. On January 20, 1943 he was killed in action during the Guadalcanal Campaign at the age of 28.

Statistics
Japan National Football Team Database

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References

Other websites

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

Category:1914 births
Category:1943 deaths
Category:Footballers from Shizuoka Prefecture
Category:Japan international footballers
Category:Footballers at the 1936 Summer Olympics