Masao Uchino facts for kids

Masao Uchino (born April 21, 1934 – died April 2013) was a famous Japanese football player and coach. He was known for playing as a forward, which is a player who tries to score goals. He also managed football clubs. He proudly represented the Japanese national team.

Playing for Clubs

Masao Uchino was born in Kanagawa Prefecture on April 21, 1934. After finishing his studies at Chuo University, he joined a football club called Furukawa Electric.

He helped Furukawa Electric win the Emperor's Cup three times: in 1960, 1961, and 1964. The Emperor's Cup is a very important football tournament in Japan.

In 1965, Furukawa Electric joined a new league called the Japan Soccer League. This was a big step for Japanese football. Masao Uchino played in 47 games in this league and scored 19 goals. He stopped playing professional football in 1969.

Playing for Japan

Masao Uchino first played for the Japanese national team on January 2, 1955. He was still a student at Chuo University at the time. His first game was against the team from Burma.

In June 1956, he scored a very important first goal in a game against South Korea. This game was part of the qualification for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Japan later qualified for the Olympics.

Masao Uchino was chosen to play for Japan in the 1956 Olympics. He also played in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games. He played a total of 18 games for Japan and scored 3 goals before 1962.

Coaching Days

In 1966, while still playing for Furukawa Electric, Masao Uchino also became the team's manager. This means he was a "playing manager" – he played in games and also coached the team. He managed the club for one season.

Later, in 1979, he returned to coach Furukawa Electric again. Under his coaching, the club won the 1982 JSL Cup in 1982. He stopped being the manager at the end of the 1983 season.

Club Statistics

National Team Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Masao Uchino para niños