Koichi Oita facts for kids

Koichi Oita (born April 9, 1914 – died September 11, 1996) was a Japanese soccer player and manager. He played as a defender or midfielder. Oita is best known for being part of the Japan national team that made history at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Playing for Japan: The National Team

Koichi Oita was born in Tokyo on April 9, 1914. In 1936, he was a student at Tokyo Imperial University. That year, he was chosen to play for the Japan national soccer team.

The 1936 Summer Olympics

Oita joined the team for the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. On August 4, he played his first game for Japan against Sweden. Even though he usually played as a midfielder, he played as a defender in this match.

The "Miracle of Berlin"

Japan made an amazing comeback victory against Sweden. This was Japan's first-ever win in soccer at the Olympics! This historic win against a strong team became known as the "Miracle of Berlin" in Japan. In 2016, this special team was honored and added to the Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Oita played one more game for Japan in 1936. On August 7, he played against Italy. In total, he played 2 games for Japan's national team in 1936.

Coaching Career

After he stopped playing soccer, Koichi Oita became a manager. In 1947, he started managing a new club called Sumitomo Metal. He continued to manage this team until 1956.

Koichi Oita passed away on September 11, 1996, in Bunkyo, Tokyo. He was 82 years old.

National Team Statistics

Here's a quick look at Koichi Oita's games for the Japan national team:

See also

In Spanish: Koichi Oita para niños