Ken Naganuma

Ken Naganuma (長沼 健, Naganuma Ken, September 5, 1930 – June 2, 2008) was a Japanese football player and manager. He played for Japan national team. He also managed Japan national team. He was the president of the Japan Football Association from 1994 to 1998.

Ken Naganuma
長沼 健
Left (with Dettmar Cramer)
Personal information
Full name Ken Naganuma
Date of birth (1930-09-05)September 5, 1930
Place of birth Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
Date of death June 2, 2008(2008-06-02) (aged 77)
Place of death Japan
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1946–1948 Hiroshima Normal School
1949–1952 Kwansei Gakuin University
1953–1954 Chuo University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955–1967 Furukawa Electric 19 (8)
Total 19 (8)
National team
1954–1961 Japan 4 (1)
Teams managed
1959–1961 Furukawa Electric
1962–1969 Japan
1972–1976 Japan
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Naganuma was born in Hiroshima on September 5, 1930. After graduating from Kwansei Gakuin University and Chuo University, he joined Furukawa Electric in 1955. Furukawa Electric won 1960, 1961 and 1964 Emperor's Cup. In 1961, he was selected first Japanese Footballer of the Year awards. In 1965, Furukawa Electric joined new league Japan Soccer League. He played 19 games and scored 8 goals in the league. He retired in 1967.

National team career

In March 1954, Naganuma was selected Japan national team for 1954 World Cup qualification. At this qualification, on March 7, he debuted and scored a goal against South Korea. He also played at 1954 Asian Games. In 1956, He was selected Japan for 1956 Summer Olympics. However, he could not play for physical condition.[1] He played 4 games and scored 1 goal for Japan until 1961.[2]

Coaching career

In 1959, when Naganuma was player, he became a manager for Furukawa Electric. In 1960, he led the club won to 1960 Emperor's Cup champions. This was the first Emperor's Cup champions as a works team. In 1962, when he was 32 years old, he named a manager for Japan national team as Hidetoki Takahashi successor. He managed Japan with assistant coach Shunichiro Okano at 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. At 1968 Summer Olympics, Japan won Bronze Medal. This is the first time an Asian team won a medal at Olympics. In 2018, this team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He also managed at 1966 Asian Games. In 1969, he resigned after 1970 World Cup qualification and Okano was promoted to new manager.

At 1972 Summer Olympics qualification, following Japan's failure to qualify for 1972 Summer Olympics, Okano resigned and Naganuma became a manager again in 1972. He managed 1974 World Cup qualification and 1974 Asian Games. At 1976 Summer Olympics qualification in April 1976, following Japan's failure to qualify for 1976 Summer Olympics, Naganuma resigned.

Naganuma became a vice-president of Japan Football Association (JFA) in 1987 and a president of JFA in 1994. He also served as vice-president World Cup bidding committee and Japan World Cup Organizing Committee for 2002 World Cup. In 1998, he resigned a president of JFA. In 2005, he was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

On June 2, 2008, Naganuma died of pneumonia at the age of 77.

Club statistics
Club performance League
Season Club League AppsGoals
Japan League
1965Furukawa ElectricJSL Division 16
19662
196700
Total 198

National team statistics

[2]

Japan national team
YearAppsGoals
195421
195500
195600
195700
195810
195900
196000
196110
Total41

National team goals

[2]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 March 1954Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium, Tokyo, Japan South Korea1-5Lost1954 FIFA World Cup Q.

References
  1. Kagawa Soccer Library(in Japanese)
  2. Japan National Football Team Database
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