Hiroshi Katayama facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Hiroshi Katayama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | May 28, 1940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Meguro, Tokyo, Empire of Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1956–1958 | Keio High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1959–1962 | Keio University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963–1972 | Mitsubishi Motors | 107 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 107 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1961–1971 | Japan | 38 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Hiroshi Katayama (born May 28, 1940) is a famous Japanese football player. He was a strong defender who played for the Japan national team. His father, Yutaka Katayama, was also well-known as a former president of Nissan USA.
Contents
Playing for Clubs: A Star Defender
Hiroshi Katayama started his football journey in Meguro, Tokyo. After finishing his studies at Keio University, he joined a team called Mitsubishi Motors in 1963. This team later became known as Urawa Reds.
In 1965, Mitsubishi Motors joined a new and exciting league called the Japan Soccer League. Katayama quickly became a key player. He helped his team win the league championship in 1969. He also led them to victory in the Emperor's Cup in 1971, which is a very important football tournament in Japan.
Katayama was known for his excellent defense. He was so good that he was chosen for the "Best Eleven" team for five years in a row, from 1966 to 1970! He played 107 games in the league and scored 3 goals before he retired in 1972.
Playing for His Country: Japan National Team
Hiroshi Katayama first played for the Japan national team on August 2, 1961. At that time, he was still a student at Keio University. His first game was against the Malaya team.
He was chosen to represent Japan in two Summer Olympics. First, he played in the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo. Then, he played in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He played in every single match at both Olympics.
At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Katayama and his teammates achieved something amazing: they won the Bronze Medal! This was a huge moment for Japanese football. In 2018, this special team was honored and selected for the Japan Football Hall of Fame.
Katayama also played in the 1966 Asian Games. His last game for Japan was during the qualification matches for the 1972 Summer Olympics in 1971. Japan did not qualify that year. Overall, he played 38 games for Japan between 1961 and 1971.
Awards and Recognition
Hiroshi Katayama received several important awards for his football skills:
- Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: He was chosen for this top team five times in a row (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970).
- Asian All Stars: He was recognized as one of the best players in Asia in 1968.
- Japan Football Hall of Fame: In 2007, Hiroshi Katayama was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame, which is a very high honor for a Japanese footballer.
See also
In Spanish: Hiroshi Katayama para niños
