Hiroshi Ochiai

Hiroshi Ochiai
Personal information
Full name	Hiroshi Ochiai
Date of birth	February 28, 1946 (age 78)
Place of birth	Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
1961–1963	Saitama Urawa High School
Senior career*
Years	Team
1964–1965	Toshiba
1966–1984	Mitsubishi Motors
Total
National team
1974–1980	Japan
Honours
Mitsubishi Motors
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Hiroshi Ochiai (落合弘, Ochiai Hiroshi, born February 28, 1946) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Ochiai was born in Saitama on 28 February 1946. After graduating from Saitama Urawa High School, he joined Toshiba in 1964. He played at offensive position. In 1966, he moved to his local club Mitsubishi Motors played in Japan Soccer League (JSL). He played in all 260 league matches in the league until 1981. In 1969, he became a top scorer and the club won the champions at JSL first time. In the 1970s he was converted to defensive position. In 1973, the club won JSL and Emperor's Cup. In 1978, the club won all three major title in Japan; JSL, JSL Cup, Emperor's Cup and he was selected "Japanese Footballer of the Year" awards. He retired in 1984. He played 267 games and scored 56 goals in the league. This 267 games is the second record in JSL after Yoshikazu Nagai (272 games). He was selected Best Eleven 10 times included for 9 years in a row (1973-1981). The club won the league champions 2 times, JSL Cup 2 times and Emperor's Cup 4 times.

In September 1974, Ochiai was selected the Japan national team for 1974 Asian Games. At this competition, on 7 September, he debuted against Israel. After his debut, he played in most games included 1976 Summer Olympics qualification, 1978 World Cup qualification and 1978 Asian Games. In 1980, 1980 Summer Olympics qualification was his last game for Japan. He played 63 games and scored 9 goals for Japan until 1980.

After retirement, in 1988, Ochiai became an assistant coach for Japan national team under manager Kenzo Yokoyama who was teammate at Mitsubishi Motors. In 1992, Ochiai became an assistant coach for Urawa Reds (former Mitsubishi Motors) under manager Takaji Mori.

In 2010, Ochiai was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics[change | change source]

^[1]

Club statistics			League
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals
Japan			League
1966	Mitsubishi Motors	JSL Division 1	14	6
1967			14	13
1968			14	5
1969			14	12
1970			14	2
1971			14	4
1972			14	1
1973			18	2
1974			18	2
1975			18	3
1976			18	1
1977			18	1
1978			18	1
1979			18	2
1980			18	1
1981			18	0
1982			5	0
1983			2	0
1984			0	0
Country	Japan		267	56
Total			267	56