Yoshitada Yamaguchi

Yoshitada Yamaguchi
Personal information
Full name	Yoshitada Yamaguchi
Date of birth	September 28, 1944 (age 79)
Place of birth	Fujieda, Shizuoka, Japan
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1960–1962	Fujieda Higashi High School
1963–1966	Chuo University
Senior career*
Years	Team
1967–1975	Hitachi
Total
National team
1964–1973	Japan
Teams managed
1989–1992	Japan U-23
1993	Kashiwa Reysol
Honours
Hitachi
Representing Japan
Olympic Games
Asian Games
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Yoshitada Yamaguchi (山口芳忠, Yamaguchi Yoshitada, born September 28, 1944) is a former Japanese football player. He played for the Japan national team.

Biography[change | change source]

Yamaguchi was born in Fujieda on September 28, 1944. After graduating from Chuo University, he joined Hitachi (later Kashiwa Reysol) in 1967. In 1972, the club won the champions at Japan Soccer League and Emperor's Cup. The club also won 1975 Emperor's Cup. He retired in 1975. He played 121 games and scored 15 goals in the league. He was selected Best Eleven for 7 years in a row (1968-1974).

In October 1964, he Yamaguchi selected the Japan national team for 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. At this competition, he debuted and played all matches. In 1968, he was also selected Japan for 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He played 5 matches and Japan won Bronze Medal. In 2018, 1968 Olympics team was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame. He also played at 1966 and 1970 Asian Games. He played 49 games for Japan until 1973.

After retirement, Yamaguchi became a manager for the Japan U-23 football team for 1992 Summer Olympics. However, at the qualification, following Japan's failure to qualify for 1992 Summer Olympics, Yamaguchi resigned. In 1993, he returned to Kashiwa Reysol and managed the club 1 season.

In 2007, Yamaguchi was selected Japan Football Hall of Fame.